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Science-Policy Dialogue: Experiences from
Learning Alliances in East Africa

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The policy challenge
Limited capacity
& capacity
building
Insufficient
attention to
gender
Lack evidence
that informs
policy
Limited
stakeholder
inclusion
Harmonization&
coordination
challenges
At formulation
Policies focus on
short term
climate impacts
Non-functional
structures
Limited
awareness of
policies
Political
interference
Limited
enforcement
Cross-cutting
issues not
priority
Limited
capacity to
interpret
At implementation
…focusing on climate change, NRM & agriculture policies
…gaps occur at different governance levels

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Objective and design
Influence and link policies and institutions from national to local level for the development
and adoption of climate-resilient and gender-responsive food systems
LAs were central to the design in order to bridge highlighted gaps
• Policy analysis
• Policy actor
networks
• CSA trade-offs
• Analysis of
gender in policy
• Scenario-
guided policy
development
• Enhanced human
capacity for CCA
• Better-informed
investment
decisions for CCA
• Inclusive policy
formulation and
implementation
• Collective CCA
effort
Multi-stakeholder
learning alliances
• Co-learning
• Information
exchange
• Development of
tools + strategies
• Engagement
actions
Outcomes
Collective learning + engagementKnowledge creation
Activities Processes
KAS changes

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Influencing
change in
policies
Tanzania NEP
ASSP Uganda
NAP-Ag
Climate change
mainstreaming
guidelines,
MAAIF, Ug
Scaling of LAs
6 District Local
governments,
Ug & Tz
• Non-state actors in LA
demanded own review
of ASSP & submitted
position paper
• Invited to participate in
NAP-Ag
Opportunity for Non-state actors (LA
members) to officially participate in
the review
• Participatory local
adaptation planning (tool)
• Integrated climate change
in five year district
development plans
• Ordinances
National & district LAs
participated in consultations
& validation as a group
• Community levels, Tz
• Implemented by 5 non-
project districts, Ug
• Adopted by 4 partners
on bilateral projects, Ug
Learning Alliance Achievements
Participatory land use mapping has been
pivotal for local adaptation planning
Targeted engagement e.g. Uganda Parliament;
Tanzania Parliament & Water Commission
LA stories: a wanted group for e.g. actor inclusion,
content validation, information dissemination

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LA participants’ outlook
The Climate Change Department, Uganda:
• Scaling out LA as a tool for operationalizing article 6 of the UNFCCC on capacity building
• Formerly operated 4 different forums on CC but now uses the LA to reach majority actors
Lushoto district, Tanzania:
• Is institutionalizing LA into the district frame, scaled out to villages and appointed
‘ambassadors’ that monitor and report on activities
• Is engaging the council over budget provisions from own source
The national LA in Uganda has trimmed down to interested members that have remained
engaged, pool resources and work together as a team for specific engagement actions
The Tanzania national level alliance has integrated roles and thematic
areas in the Tanzania CSA Alliance and CSA Task Force
Challenges reported
• Keeping momentum among members
• Financing joint activities
• Managing expectations at community
level
Observations
• LAs have more impact at local level –
presence of regular actions
• They matter at national level for
engagement purposes - keeping
momentum?

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Lessons learnt
• Sustainability: institutionalize in government
structures
• Link to value chain; important for private sector
involvement
• The need for an interested champion/institution to
keep momentum in space and time
• Actor inclusiveness: identify & attend to issues
that are of common interest to stakeholders
• Tangible benefits: policy initiatives must link with
initiatives that deliver e.g. technologies.
P.Muchunguzi@cgiar.org
L.Jassogne@cgiar.org
E.Ampaire@cgiar.org

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Some links to our work
Ampaire, E. L., Jassogne, L., Providence, H., Acosta, M., Twyman, J., Winowiecki, L., & van Asten, P. (2017). Institutional challenges to
climate change adaptation: A case study on policy action gaps in Uganda. Environmental Science & Policy, 75, 81–90.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2017.05.013
Ampaire, E., Okolo, W., Acosta, M., Jassogne, L., Twyman, J., Muindi, P., & Mwongera, C. (2016). Barriers to successful climate change
policy implementation in Tanzania. CCAFS Info Note. Copenhagen, Denmark: CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture
and Food Security (CCAFS). Available online at: www.ccafs.cgiar.org
Rutting, L., Tumuhereze, M., Ampaire, E., Muchunguzi, P., Acosta, M., Okiror, J. F., & van Asten, P. (2016). Scenario-guided policy planning
in Uganda. Lessons learnt from participatory scenario policy reviews of two policies and two strategic plans. CCAFS Info Note.
Copenhagen, Denmark. CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). Available online at:
www.ccafs.cgiar.org
Muchunguzi, P., Ampaire, E., Acosta, M., Rutting, L., Tumuhereze, M., Mwongera, C., Okiror, J. F., & van Asten, P. (2016). Scenario guided
policy planning: processes, comparisons, and lessons from East Africa. CCAFS Info Note. Copenhagen, Denmark. CGIAR Research
Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). Available online at: www.ccafs.cgiar.org
Okolo W, Twyman J, Ampaire E, Acosta M (2015). Policy Discourse and Climate Change Adaptation: the case of Nwoya and Rakai,
Uganda. CCAFS Info Note. CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). Copenhagen (Denmark).
Available online at: www.ccafs.cgiar.org
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er1j9R_DKxQ
Blogs: Policy engagement blogs: https://ccafs.cgiar.org/blogs/related/policy-action-for-climate-change-adaptation-in-east-africa