The document summarizes the work of the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) in building resilience to climate change in the agricultural sector in Africa. It provides an overview of ATPS's vision, mission, strategic priorities and projects related to climate change adaptation. Specifically, it outlines completed research projects and case studies on agricultural innovations for climate change adaptation across multiple African countries. It also discusses the development of an Interactive Collaborative Environment platform to facilitate knowledge sharing on this topic in Africa.
1. CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND
AFRICAN AGRICULTURE GRANTEE CONVENING
24-25 February 2011
Project Name: Building Resilience to Climate Change in the
Agricultural Sector through STI Capacity Development in Africa
Grantee : African Technology Policy Studies Network - ATPS
Dr. Kevin Chika Urama,
Ms. Wairimu Mwangi & Dr. Nicholas Ozor
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2. What is ATPS?
A multi-disciplinary network
of researchers, private sector actors, policy
makers and civil society actors promoting the
generation, dissemination, use and mastery of
science, technology and innovation (STI) for
African development, environmental sustainability
and global inclusion.
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3. ATPS Vision
To become the leading international centre of
excellence and reference in science, technology
and innovation systems research, training and
capacity building, communication and
sensitization, knowledge brokerage, policy
advocacy and outreach in Africa.
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4. ATPS Mission
To improve the quality of science, technology and
innovation systems research and policy making in
Africa by strengthening capacity for science
and technology knowledge generation,
communication and dissemination, use and
mastery for sustainable development in Africa.
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5. ATPS Overall Objective
To develop Africa’s STI capacity (knowledge
basis & infrastructure, knowledge circulation &
networks, knowledge conditions & policies)
today for sustainable African development
tomorrow.
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6. ATPS Motto
Building Africa’s Science, Technology and
Innovation (STI) Capacity Today for
Sustainable African Development
Tomorrow.
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8. What we do
Core Functions:
Knowledge Generation (Policy Research
capacity building, Training and sensitization);
Knowledge Brokerage (Building Partnerships for
STI RPP; Stakeholder Dialogue, Knowledge Circulation
and Networking, RPP Champions, … );
Knowledge Dissemination & Outreach –
(Publications, STI Journalism (Radio, TV, Print), Policy
Advocacy);
Knowledge Valorization – (Dynamic Engagement
(P-Q-R-P model); Science Communication, Innovation
Challenge Programs).
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9. How We Do This
Thematic policy research & capacity building
programs;
Cross-cutting Non-thematic (facilitative)
programs.
Together these form Six Strategic Priorities
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10. ATPS Strategic Priorities
Outreach, Knowledge Brokerage
Training & Sensitization
& Stakeholder Dialogue
Research Capacity
Communication
& Policy Advocacy
Building
International Cooperation
& Partnership
Youth & Gender
Empowerment
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11. Other ATPS Programs/Projects on Climate Change
Climate Change Innovation Challenge Awards 2010
25 Research Projects Innovation Incubation activities ongoing in 12 countries including
Nigeria, United Kingdom, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Lesotho, Ghana, Zimbabwe,
Malawi, Ethiopia, Benin Republic and South Africa under the auspices of ATPS Gender
empowerment programs (AYFST & AWFST)
Training and Sensitization of African Parliamentarians &
Parliamentary Staff on Climate Change Policy Development &
Global Dialogues :
- ATPS, UKPOST, SciDEV-Net Training of African Parliamentary staff 22-26
September 2008
- ATPS, UNEP, ICPAC, IDRC sensitization workshop for Kenya Parliamentarians 8-9
October 2009
Training & Sensitization of African Science Journalists,
& Artists
- Working with AFSJ and Nollywood actors to communicate climate change to the
quadruple helix (drama, newspaper articles, popular communication materials
including cartoons and folklores, etc
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12. Our other projects/programs on climate
change adaptation
Representing the African Voice in Global Panels and Policy
Dialogues on Climate Change:
- Co-Chairing the UNEP Facilitated African Adaptation Network (AAN), the African
Chapter of GAN
- Lead Author and SPM taskforce member for the IPCC SREEN Report
- Chair of Sustainable Water Resource Management for the International Resource Panel
Science Communication & Media Engagement
- Green Drinks & World Science Café Program
- Climate Change for Schools Program – targeting primary & Secondary Schools only
- Life Interactive shows on TV and Radio - E.g. ECO Show (KBC), Good morning
Kenya (KBC), LuiOtieno Show (K24), etc
- Science Publications (WPs, SPs, RPs, JA, PBs, PCNs, ….
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13. Our other projects/programs on climate
change adaptation
Mainstreaming Transdisciplinary Climate Change Adaptation
Capacity in Universities and tertiary education in Africa- An
ATPS/UNN/OSI program
African Climate Change Fellowship Program (ACCFP): supported by
START, IRA & AAS and aims at:
– Influencing curriculum review in African universities to include issues of
climate change
– Increasing awareness and knowledge of climate change issues
amongst farming communities in Africa
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14. Objectives of the Rockefeller Foundation Grant
To select research projects on agriculture innovation systems for
climate resilience.
To select case study projects on indigenous and emerging agriculture
innovations for climate resilience.
Complete research projects and case studies on the above.
Develop the structure for a web-based platform for the Interactive
collaborative Environment (ICE).
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15. Key Activities Related to the Grant
Regional Research Projects Countries Status Outputs so far
Covered
Agricultural Innovations for Climate Nigeria, Research 1 Working Paper
Change Adaptation and Food Liberia & completed 1 Research Paper
Security in West Africa: The Case of Sierra 1 Policy Brief
Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone Leone
Agricultural Innovations for Climate Ghana & Research 1 Working Paper
Change Adaptation and Food The Gambia completed 1 Research Paper
Security in Africa: The Ghanaian 1 Policy Brief
Perspective
Agricultural Innovations and Cameroon, Research 1 Working Paper
Indigenous Knowledge as Keys to Equatorial completed 1 Research Paper
Ensuring Food Security in the South Guinea & 1 Policy Brief
West Region of Cameroon Central
African
Republic
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16. Key Activities Related to the Grant
Country Case Studies Countries Status Outputs
Covered
Tracking Effective Indigenous
Adaptation Strategies on Impacts of Tanzania Research 1 Working Paper
Climate Variability on Food Security completed 1 Research Paper
and Health of Subsistence Farmers in 1 Policy Brief
Tanzania
Climate Change Awareness and Nigeria Research 1 Working Paper
Indigenous Adaptive Technologies in completed 1 Research Paper
the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria 1 Policy Brief
Emerging and Indigenous Technology Nigeria Research 1 Working Paper;
for Climatic Change Adaptation in the completed 1 Research Paper;
Farming Systems of Southwest 1 Policy Brief
Nigeria
Wind Resource Assessment for Ghana Research 1 Working Paper
Sustainable Development in Rural completed 1 Research Paper
Ghana- A Science, Technology, and 1 Policy Brief
Innovation Research Capacity Building
Initiative 15
17. Key Activities Related to the Grant
Country Case Studies Countries Status Outputs so far
Covered
An Assessment of Indigenous Climate Nigeria Research 1 Working Paper
Change Adaptation Practices in Completed 1 Research Paper
Smallholder- Agriculture of Southeast 1 Policy Brief
Nigeria
Study of Technological and Farming Nigeria Research 1 Working Paper
Systems Adaptation to Climate Completed 1 Research Paper
Change in Farming Communities of 1 Policy Brief
Enugu State, Nigeria
Knowledge based Integrated Mapping Sierra Leone Research 1 Working Paper
of Climate Change Adaptations: Completed 1 Research Paper
Indigenous Responses, Techno- 1 Policy Brief
Scientific Observations and Future
Outlook for Food Security, Health and
Disaster Management in Sierra Leone.
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18. Key Activities Related to the Grant
Country Case Studies Countries Status Outputs so far
Covered
Sensitizing and Building the Capacity Egypt Research 1 Policy Brief
of Women towards Climate Change Completed
Consequences in Northern Lakes of
Egypt
Enabling Rural Innovation for Climate Malawi Research 1 Working Paper
Change Adaptation and Livelihood Completed 1 Research Paper
Security 1 Policy Brief
Assessment of the Impact and Lesotho Research 1 Working Paper
Adaptive Capacity of the Machobane Completed 1 Research Paper
Farming System to Climate Change 1 Policy Brief
in Lesotho
Assessment of the incidence of Nigeria Research 1 Working Paper
Climate Change and Indigenous Completed 1 Research Paper
Innovative Adaptation Measures in 1 Policy Brief
Northern Nigeria
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19. Development of the Interactive Collaborative
Environment (ICE) – Ongoing
20. Highlight on the Progress to date
Three (3) regional studies on Agricultural Innovations for Climate Change
Adaptation & Resilience capacity development covering Western & Central
African countries completed
Eleven (11) case studies on emerging and indigenous technologies for CCA in
Africa completed
The development of the Framework for the Interactive Collaborative
Environment (ICE) is ongoing.
7 Research Papers in press, and 6 under peer review
2 Policy Briefs in Press, 11 under peer review
11 Working Papers in Press, 2 under peer review
Many Televisions shows, drama and skits have been developed to create
awareness and disseminate the findings on climate change
Database of key stakeholders in agricultural innovation systems of the case
study countries completed 19
21. Early Findings (optional)
Climate Change means different things to different stakeholders
Numerous farmers and farming communities in the study areas have
undertaken various measures to “cope” with climate change impacts
Some of these “coping strategies” have evolved into new prototypes
of indigenous technologies and innovations that could be up-scaled
to improve the resilience capacities of rural communities but financial
constraints and lack innovation incubation facilities and
entrepreneurship skills limit the rural farmer’s capacity to build
resilience in systematic ways
The impacts attributed to climate change by rural farmers are
multifaceted. A more systematic causation study is required to
determine impacts which are due to CC and those that are caused
by inadequate farming practices
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22. The perceptions of climate change differ between the rural and the
urban communities. The urban communities mostly perceive climate
change to be a rural problem and vice versa.
Some farming systems exacerbate the impacts of climate change
while others enhance climate change adaptation
Climate change information (especially emerging adaptation options)
has not been effectively communicated to target audience and
vulnerable people who require it to build resilience capacity
There is absence of climate change policies in most African countries
which is expected to drive the process of adaptation and resilience
capacity
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23. Emerging Opportunities for Collaboration
Innovation Incubation – to nurture & incubate emerging and
indigenous technologies for CCA and resilience capacity building in
rural areas
Further development and implementation of the ICE to facilitate
knowledge flows and value addition
Support for women and the youth empowerment programs
(AYFST, AWFST, AWARD, etc) to engage more developing
technologies for CCA and resilience capacity building in Africa.
Communication Strategies to mainstream agricultural
innovations for CCA in Africa’s development agenda including
the CAADP implementation programs.
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24. Next steps
Finalization of narrative and technical reports to RF
Finalization of the publications processes and submission of
manuscripts to international journals
Finalization of the development of the ICE Framework and
fundraising for the full implementation of the ICE
Continued implementation of the ATPS Climate Innovations Award
program to facilitate the incubation, mainstreaming and up-scaling of
the indigenous technology prototypes emerging from the regional
and country case studies
Increased funding for CC research and capacity building in Africa to
meet the emerging opportunities already identified
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25. African Technology Policy Studies
Network
The Chancery, 3rd Floor, Valley Road
P. O. Box 10081-00100
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254-20-271 4098/ 168/ 498
Fax: +254-20-271 4028
Website: www.atpsnet.org
Email: info@atpsnet.org
Skype address: atpsnet
African Technology Policy Studies Network
By harnessing science and technology, African countries have a
stronger chance of addressing poverty, disease and environmental
destruction… The New African, Vol.494, p. 19
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