Climate Change and Social Learning

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/32729

The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) is catalyzing—with key partners—new thinking and action around participatory ‘social’ research and learning approaches to enhance food security in the context of climate change. To this end, a Climate Change and Social Learning (CCSL) initiative was launched in early 2012 to look at ways that more participatory learning approaches can improve the impact of research for development programs.

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Applying social learning where ‘business-as-usual’ solutions no longer work for complex problems and programs
(Brief, 2016-12-15) Le Borgne, Ewen
Key messages • Social learning facilitates sharing and learning beyond individuals to networks and systems. Through a facilitated, iterative process of joint work, dialogue and reflection, new shared ways of knowing emerge that lead to changes in practice. • Social learning has real potential to unlock change and transform relationships between actors involved in complex programs and/or dealing with ‘wicked problems’. Adversely it is not advisable to pursue for simple initiatives. • Social learning offers many thematic and pragmatic entry points to be embedded in the CGIAR research programs around partnerships, innovation systems, monitoring and evaluation.
Solving ‘wicked’ problems: can social learning catalyse adaptive responses to climate change?
(Working Paper, 2016-11-15) Epp, Marissa van; Garside, Ben
Social learning approaches can catalyse knowledge co-creation and action, so have the potential to help solve complex ‘wicked’ problems such as climate change and food insecurity. This working paper synthesises evidence from five diverse initiatives employing social learning approaches in response to such problems using the Climate Change and Social Learning initiative’s monitoring and evaluation framework. It finds initial evidence that key factors in social learning approaches can lead to clear learning outcomes with resulting positive changes in values and practice. Links to longer-term development outcomes are also evident in several completed initiatives.
Global food efficiency of climate change mitigation in agriculture
(Report, 2015-11-10) Kleinwechter, U.; Levesque, Antoine; Havlík, Petr; Forsell N; Zhang Y; Fricko O; Obersteiner, Michael
Concerns exist regarding potential trade-offs between climate change mitigation in agriculture and food security. Against this background, the Global Biosphere Management Model (GLOBIOM) is applied to a range of scenarios of mitigation of emissions from agriculture to assess the implications of climate mitigation for agricultural production, prices and food availability. The “food efficiency of mitigation” (FEM) is introduced as a tool to make statements about how to attain desired levels of agricultural mitigation in the most efficient manner in terms of food security. It is applied to a range of policy scenarios which contrast a climate policy regime with full global collaboration to scenarios of fragmented climate policies that grant exemptions to selected developing country groups. Results indicate increasing marginal costs of abatement in terms of food calories and suggest that agricultural mitigation is most food efficient in a policy regime with global collaboration. Exemptions from this regime cause food efficiency losses
The geographical distribution of climate finance for agriculture
(Report, 2014-06-01) Hoogzaad J; Hoberg J; Haupt, F.
From 2010 to 2012, climate finance in the agricultural sector shifted dramatically to increase public funds for adaptation (USD 155 to 314 million) and decrease private funds for climate change mitigation (USD 289 to 48 million), primarily due to declining carbon prices in 2010 and 2011 and countries’ commitments to fast-start finance under the UNFCCC. Emerging economies such as China, South Africa, Brazil, Uzbekistan and Mexico were the main beneficiaries from carbon-market finance for mitigation, while Sub-Saharan Africa was the main beneficiary when finance shifted to adaptation. The bulk of mitigation finance in 2010-2012 from carbon markets went to reducing N2O emissions from fertilizer production, followed by using agricultural residues as a biomass energy source, or as a source of biogas and reduced tillage projects. Ethiopia was the single largest recipient of dedicated adaptation finance (USD 25 million in 2010, 2011 and 2012) A broader approach to climate finance that supports sustainable intensification, more resilient agricultural practices and low emissions development over the long-run would support more stable and evenly distributed investment.
Climate readiness indicators for agriculture
(Brief, 2015-10-31) Wollenberg, Eva Karoline; Zurek, M.; Pinto, Alex de
Countries vary in their institutional technical and financial abilities to prepare for climate change in agriculture and to balance food security, adaptation, and mitigation goals.Indicators for climate readiness provide guidance to countries and enable monitoring progress. Readiness assessments can enable donors, investors and national decision-makers to identify where investments are needed or likely to be successful. Examples of climate readiness indicators are provided for five work areas: 1. governance and stakeholder engagement, 2. knowledge and information services, 3. climate-smart agricultural strategy and implementation frameworks, 4. national and subnational capabilities and 5. national information and accounting systems.
Workshop report: national planning or phase 1 of the CCAC paddy rice component in Bangladesh
(Report, 2015-10-27) Rahman S; Sander, Björn Ole
This workshop was conducted as part of the mitigation strategies in rice production project, implemented with support from the agriculture initiative of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. The project is carried out in Bangladesh, Columbia, and Vietnam with the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Climate Change (CCAFS), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and leading research and agriculture organizations in Vietnam. The objectives of this workshop were to 1) share experiences with applying and scaling up the AWD technology for paddy rice in Bangladesh, 2) identify key areas, partners, and aspect of work that need to be addressed, and 3) develop a detailed national plan for Phase I of the CCAC Rice Component.
Directory of finance sources for climate change mitigation in agriculture
(Other, 2015-10-27) Basak R
This directory includes information on potential sources of funding for projects that seek to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in agriculture in low-income countries. To meet food security needs as well as commitments to reducing GHG emissions, a number of countries have been interested in how to access climate finance. For decades it has been well known that improved rural finance can support farm innovation by providing the capital resources for initial investments. Investments have been made in improved irrigation, seedlings, machinery, or other inputs that are constraints for many poor farmers, as well as in efforts to facilitate farmer innovation through extension, demonstration sites, and support for farmer organizations and farmers’ experiments. With international pledges to provide finance for climate change and the need to reduce emissions in ways that also achieve sustainable development, new kinds of finance for agriculture are becoming rapidly available. Yet many people in the agriculture sector remain unaware of these sources or the means for accessing them. This directory was prepared at the request of the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) to contribute to research outcomes in low emissions agriculture. CCAFS and its partners have been supporting research for the development of low emissions paddy rice, livestock, pasture management, agroforestry and fertilizer use in production systems of smallholder farmers in low-income countries. As part of this research CCAFS aims to support the scaling up of appropriate practices through policy and climate finance mechanisms, such as Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs). This product is intended to support national governments in reaching donors and accessing such finance to reach their full potential impacts. To this end, the directory provides an inventory of all known potential climate finance providers. It aims to answer the following questions for each of the potential funding sources: • Would the organization fund low emissions agriculture projects (via grants, loans or other type of financing)? • Are there specific grants and funding windows that would be most appropriate? • Are there countries or sectors of focus? • Are there any mandatory requirements for projects? • What are the funding amounts (minimum and maximum)? • What details are required for the proposal? • Is there a minimum financial return required for projects (e.g., a given Return on Investment)? • What other financial indicators would normally be used to assess a project? • What kinds of entities do they usually fund? Private? Public? Only governments? • Are there specific indicators required to monitor adaptation or mitigation for grant projects funded by this organization? • Who are the key contact points within the organization for any additional technical questions?
Implementing smallholder carbon projects: building local institutional capacity through participatory action research
(Brief, 2015-03-30) Shames, Seth; Heiner, Krista; Kapukha, Martha; Kiguli, Lillian; Masiga, Moses; Nantongo Kalunda, Pauline; Sempala A; Recha, John W.M.; Wekesa, Amos
Two smallholder agricultural carbon projects in East Africa engaged in a participatory action research process to identify ways local actors could take on larger management roles within the projects. Key lessons from this process were: * Community-based intermediaries can play a leading role in land- management trainings and supportive roles in carbon measurement and marketing. * Local government participation is critical to project success. * Local NGOs and private-sector actors can play central roles in training, providing agricultural inputs and linking farmers to markets. * Standardized training and curricula are important for scaling up. * Women’s roles in projects can grow if project benefits are aligned with their needs and trainings are made more accessible. * Agricultural benefits are more important than carbon payments for participating farmers. * Strengthened local and national policies in support of sustainable agricultural land management are needed to scale up project benefits.
Effects of nitrogen fertilizer and manure application on storage of carbon and nitrogen under continuous maize cropping in Arenosols and Luvisols of Zimbabwe
(Report, 2016-03) Mujuru, Lizzie; Rusinamhodzi, Leonard; Hoosbeek, M.R.; Nyamangara, Justice
Soil organic matter (SOM) is important for long-term crop productivity through maintenance of soil quality and is also now receiving attention due to its potential for climate change mitigation. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the effects of 9 years of fertilization on soil organic carbon (SOC) and total organic nitrogen (TON) and their fractions for the 0–50 cm profile in clayey (Luvisols) and sandy (Arenosols) soils in Murewa District, Zimbabwe. Three treatments were assessed: unfertilized (Control), nitrogen fertilizer (Nfert) and nitrogen fertilizer plus cattle manure (Nfert+manure). Density fractionation was used to assess the distribution of SOC and TON in three SOM fractions and their sensitivity to fertilization in fields 0–50 m away from homesteads (Homefields) and > 100 m away from homesteads (outfields). The relationship between light and heavy fraction organic carbon (C) were analysed to determine equilibrium levels that give an indication of carbon storage potential. In clayey soils total organic C under Nfert+manure was 4% higher than Nfert and 16% higher than the control. In sandy soils, SOC stocks were lowest in the control and highest in Nfert treatments at all depths. Nine years of fertilization significantly influenced SOC concentrations and storage up to 20 cm depth, below which stocks and concentrations of C and N were statistically insignificant. Distribution of C and N in density fractions showed greater stabilization under Nfert+manure in clayey soils, whereas it was greater under Nfert in sandy soils. Estimation of equilibrium levels suggested that homefields had potential to store more C, whereas outfields and control treatments had limited capacity due to attainment of lower equilibrium levels. Application of manure can be a low-cost alternative for enhancing soil quality and promoting soil C sequestration under conventionally tilled continuous maize cropping systems in Zimbabwe.
The happy families of social learning – mapping the complex domains of learning and social change
(Brief, 2014-12-01) Le Borgne, Ewen; Jackson, Carl; Schuetz, Tonya; Förch, Wiebke; Cranston, Pete
Various broad fields are connected with social learning and are effectively playing as related families. This Learning Brief outlines research fields related to social learning.
Monitoring and Evaluating Social Learning: A Framework for Cross-Initiative Application
(Working Paper, 2014-12-30) Epp, Marissa van; Garside, Ben
The Climate Change and Social Learning Initiative is a cross-organisation group working to build a body of evidence on how social learning methodologies and approaches contribute towards development targets. Together with a select number of participating initiatives from a variety of organisations, we are working towards establishing a common monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework for new projects and programmes using a social learning-oriented approach. The aim is to more systematically collect evidence, analyse results and share learning on when and how research initiatives and beneficiaries may benefit from a social learning-oriented approach in the context of climate change adaptation and food security. This working paper presents an M&E framework consisting of a theory of change and 30 primary indicators across four key areas: iterative learning, capacity development, engagement, and challenging institutions. This framework will be accompanied by a forthcoming implementation guide for participating initiatives, as well as a strategy for peer assist, data collection and analysis by the CCSL Initiative.
Climate change social learning sandbox
(Brief, 2014-07-01) Jackson, Carl; Cranston, Pete; Le Borgne, Ewen
The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) through its theme on Decision Making has since 2010 been exploring what communication and learning approaches might be appropriate in this new and constantly changing context. Jointly held workshops highlighted that for problems like climate change and development it is not sufficient to direct experts to evaluate the issue and advise policymakers or affected people how to respond. Instead, we need ongoing, flexible, consultative processes that develop a collective understanding and response. develop a collective understanding and response. One of the outcomes of the workshops was the establishment of a Sandbox as a mechanism to sustain work on the ideas and activities around Climate Change Social Learning (CCSL) that had surfaced during the workshop.
Social learning and sustainable development
(Journal Article, 2014-01) Kristjanson, Patricia M.; Harvey, Blane; Epp, Marissa van; Thornton, Philip K.
Social learning in practice: A review of lessons, impacts and tools for climate change
(Working Paper, 2013-10) Harvey, Blane; Ensor, Jonathan; Garside, Ben; Woodend, John; Naess, Lars Otto; Carlile, Liz
The aim of this report is to provide a detailed review of documented social learning processes for climate change and natural resource management as described in peer-reviewed literature. Particular focus is on identifying (1) lessons and principles, (2) tools and approaches, (3) evaluation of social learning, as well as (4) concrete examples of impacts that social learning has contributed to. This paper has sought to contribute to reflections on the role that social learning might play and the impacts it might have in supporting decision making on climate change, agriculture and food security. Understanding social learning is important if we wish to respond effectively to increasingly complex and “wicked” problems such as climate change; to break down barriers between producers and users of research, and increase the capacity of organisations to learn. This study, conducted on behalf of the Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) program of the CGIAR, offers a range of framings and evidence of successful social learning approaches. It reflects on how this evidence relates to the existing change areas already being pursued by the CCAFS programme and on the gaps that are revealed through an analysis of a bounded set of literature.
Catalysing learning for development and climate change: an exploration of social learning and social differentiation in CGIAR
(Working Paper, 2013-09) Shaw, Alison; Kristjanson, Patricia M.
There is convergence between current theory and practice in global environmental change research and development communities on the importance of approaches that aim to ‘engage and embed’, i.e. engage diverse and relevant actors in knowledge creation and embed scientific information into societal contexts. Social learning has emerged as a way to both approach and characterise innovative ways of doing this. Defined here as “a change in understanding that goes beyond the individual to become situated within wider social units or communities of practice through social interactions between actors within social networks” (Reed et al. 2010), a social learning approach situates scientific research as just one form of specialised knowledge amidst other contextual knowledge. Co-learning – by bringing diverse knowledge and social worlds together to exchange needs, values and norms – is considered necessary for addressing complex, wicked problems and for building decision processes and adaptive structures that help navigate uncertain futures. Including socially differentiated groups into processes of knowledge creation and decision- making may fundamentally alter what questions are asked, how changes in practices are framed and how to break down systemic patterns of vulnerability and marginalisation. This paper investigates the synergies (and trade-offs) associated with integrating socially differentiated stakeholders and/or groups – the poor, women, elderly, youth and indigenous – into social learning processes aimed at addressing poverty reduction, livelihood development and longer term resilience. An exploratory scan of CGIAR identifies projects that engage socially differentiated groups in processes of social learning. Cases were characterised for their treatment of i) the particular context, including rationale for the engagement of socially differentiated groups, ii) the design of engagement interfaces, iii) the type of learning loops occurring, iv) particular channels that contributed to learning across networks and, where applicable, v) the outcomes and lessons from the learning process. The findings suggest that diverse forms of social differentiation and learning are occurring across many of CGIAR’s fifteen research centres. This is in part due to institutional reform that has put an increasing emphasis on gender strategies and monitored development outcomes. A more explicit recognition of the role and ‘added value’ that social learning research approaches have can enhance its visibility and ultimately the effectiveness of CGIAR’s vast research partnerships.
A new relevance and better prospects for wider uptake of social learning within CGIAR
(Working Paper, 2013-09) Gonsalves, Julian Francis
Relying entirely on survey information and personal exchanges with over 70 scientists from within the CGIAR network, this working paper attempts to achieve a better understanding of the scope of social learning related efforts undertaken in CGIAR and main issues of relevance to more current efforts, such as that planned by the CGIAR program on Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). A wide range of methods was identified, where groups of people learn in order to jointly arrive at solutions to pressing food security problems. This methodological diversity is considered a strength given that they represent the different contexts that the research community is responding to. Relying on experiential evidence from professionals within the CGIAR network, the working paper further explores if the reformed CGIAR and the new structural and programmatic setup offer improved prospects for the inclusion of social learning approaches in CCAFS. A range of working definitions of social learning – from the literature – is proposed to meet the special needs/context of scientists. The stocktaking exercise also attempts to identify what is needed to foster an enabling environment for social learning. Key propositions are derived from the findings of the stocktaking exercise. Relying on secondary information provided by respondents, case overviews of exemplary and mature examples of social learning from within CGIAR were developed with the purpose of highlighting that CGIAR does already have a tradition to build upon in future work. Finally, an illustrative listing of current CGIAR projects provided to support the stocktaking objectives of this effort.
A pathway to change
(Brochure, 2012-12) Kristjanson, Patricia M.; Le Borgne, Ewen
People and communities can be amazingly resourceful and innovative when adjusting to change, yet the challenges today are hugely complex. How can we work together to make the changes needed if we are to feed 9 billion people while taking care of the environment?
Transformative partnerships for a food-secure world
(Video, 2013-03-17) CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security
Learning together transforms agriculture and lives. Narrated by food policy leader Lindiwe Majele Sibanda.
Five key institutional change areas for adopting a social learning methodology with CCAFS and the CGIAR system: a synthesis paper
(Report, 2013) Carlile, Liz
The CGIAR Research Programme on Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) is co-constructing a strategy for Climate Change Communication and Social Learning (CCSL). Not to be confused with the general CCAFS Communication Strategy for disseminating materials and raising profile etc, CCSL is about an attempt to fundamentally change how CGIAR scientists and the communities they work with and for, communicate their shared knowledge and experience and learn together. It is about ensuring a relevant and dynamic transformative change that truly recognises the needs of communities facing the harsh realities of climate change today not just in 50 years time.
Climate change and social learning (CCSL): supporting local decision making for climate change, agriculture and food security
(Brief, 2013-05) Carlile, Liz; Ballantyne, Peter G.; Ensor, Jonathan; Förch, Wiebke; Garside, Ben; Harvey, Blane; Patterson, Zachary; Thornton, Philip K.; Woodend, John
The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS1) is challenging its own community of scientists and partners to understand the importance of co-created knowledge in finding solutions to local climate change issues. Local communities dealing with the daily realities of climate change risk, adaptation and mitigation don’t have time to wait. They need an immediate way to combine their own knowledge with that of others to build better solutions. CCAFS believes it can use the concept of social learning to challenge the CGIAR family and others to adopt new ways of working, forge new partnerships and co-create new knowledge to support more collective local decision making on climate change.

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