Institute of Development Studies

AfricaAdapt: Southern perspectives on knowledge sharing at Bonn Climate Change talks

11 June 2009

What are the challenges for African researchers wishing to share their work more widely? How can communities share their experiences and learn from others to become resilient to climate impacts? What is the importance of knowledge sharing for UNFCCC talks on climate change adaptation?

These were some of the questions addressed at a lively event hosted by IDS on behalf of the AfricaAdapt network at the Bonn Climate Change Talks on Monday 8 June. At the event, entitled ‘Strengthening knowledge sharing for climate change adaptation in Africa’, panelists from the UNFCCC Secretariat, ENDA Tiers-Monde, AfricaAdapt and the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Co-ordinating Committee (IPACC) stimulated an open dialogue on these issues.

One concern, multiple perspectives

The panel was chaired by Blane Harvey (IDS) and opened with a stock-taking of the role of knowledge sharing within the framework of the Nairobi Work Programme (NWP) by Xianfu Lu (UNFCCC Secretariat). The NWP, implemented through the UNFCCC Secretariat, brings together the efforts of parties and institutions (including IDS) to support climate change adaptation in developing countries. She noted the role of knowledge brokers in synthesizing knowledge from indigenous peoples, academics and scientific centers into useful knowledge tools.

Bringing in the perspectives of African researchers Mamouda Moussa Na Abou, Environment and Development in the Third World (ENDA-TM) reflected on the challenges he has faced as an action researcher. He pointed out the valuable role researchers can play in relaying information between vulnerable communities and decision makers and called on researchers to link their agendas to the local needs of communities.

Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim described her work with the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Co-ordinating Committee (IPACC) in bringing together indigenous knowledge with new technologies to support communities in Africa. Her examples of the use of community mapping tools among nomadic indigenous communities in Africa grounded the discussion in what is possible at the community level. She spoke of how communities benefit from three-dimensional mapping, GPS technology and Google Earth to map their territories, track environmental change, and plan for future climate impacts.

Finally, Binetou Diagne (ENDA-TM, AfricaAdapt) introduced the AfricaAdapt network and highlighted challenges faced by knowledge-sharing intermediaries such as herself. Diagne emphasised the challenge of linguistic and regional barriers; accessing local knowledge; and delivering pertinent information to concerned stakeholders. She also announced the launch of AfricaAdapt’s Knowledge Sharing Innovation Fund, which offers grants of up to US$10,000 for innovative approaches to knowledge sharing to engage marginalised and hard-to-reach communities.

Key questions and points to take home

The panel presentations were followed by a rich discussion with national delegates, NGO representatives, and UN agencies from Africa and elsewhere who attended the event. Participants were particularly interested in the potential for radio and Web 2.0 technologies and their connection with traditional knowledge-holders and protecting the intellectual property rights of indigenous peoples.

Underlying the presentations and discussions at this event was a clear message that these new approaches to knowledge sharing could offer a means through which local experiences and challenges can help shape national and international efforts on climate change adaptation.

Image: Silva Ferretti/Ethiopia/Participatory tools

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