Capacity building is key to establish sound climate change adaptation processes, as well as for framing adaptation within development goals. This is particularly significant in Community-Based Adaptation (CBA), where empowering communities is fundamental in order to strengthen their capacity to face climate shocks. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can play a major role for the development of climate change adaptation strategies. Particularly, ICT can be employed in five different levels: • Observation: data collection at global, national and local level; • Analysis: data and capacity sharing, as well as interpretation of possible climate change scenarios and system mapping; • Planning: design of community-based adaptation initiatives. • Implementation and management: translation of adaptation strategies into action, networking with stakeholders at every level and human/natural resources management. • Capacity building: awareness raising, advocacy, training and formal education programmes. Finally, to capitalise the full potential of ICT as a driver for community action, every intervention should be formulated within the Communication for Development (ComDev) framework. A two-way bottom-up and top-down communication system is critical for facing climate change related issues, therefore ComDev is essential to foster community participation, build on local resources and knowledge sharing among different stakeholders.

1. Building capacity in Communication
and ICT applications for CBA
Simone Sala
Federica Matteoli
Research and Extension Division
Natural Resources Department
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

2. The role of Information and Communication
Technologies in Climate Change Adaptation
 Focus on role of ICT in climate change adaptation
(CCA) and community-based adaptation (CBA),
from a ComDev perspective to catalyse local
action
 Addressing the information glocal divide
 Clustering of main experiences and approaches

3. ICT in CCA
Functions and applications
INFORMATION &
COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGY
Record data
and information
Transform data
and information
into knowledge
Broadcast &
Communicate
Information and
Knowledge
Observation
Analysis
Planning
Capacity Building
Networking
Implementation &
Management

4. The role of ICT in CCA
Main applications
 Observation: data collection at global, national and
local level
 Analysis: data and capacity sharing, as well as
development of climate impact outlook
 Planning: support to decision making for designing
climate change adaptation initiatives
 Implementation and management: translation of
adaptation strategies into action through natural
resources management, information dissemination,
monitoring & evaluation and networking
 Capacity building: training and formal education
 Networking: awareness raising and advocacy

5. ICT in Climate Change Adaptation
Main elements and process
Observation
Analysis
Planning
Implementation
&
Management
Capacity Building
Networking
Policy makers
Institutions
NGOs
Local institution
&
Communities
Stakeholders at
all levels
Researchers at
global-national
level

6. Towards a ComDev approach
for ICT application in CBA
Observation
Analysis
Planning
Implementation &
Management
Capacity
Building
Networking
Facilitate
participatory
problem
analysis and
adaptation
planning
Empower local
people to take
control of their
adaptation
processes
Promote
local
information
networks
Link rural
knowledge
and
information
systems
Help integrate
indigenous and
scientific knowledge
Ensure
information
flows among
concerned
groups
Facilitate the
translation of
uncertainty
into policies
Facilitate data
collection
at local level

7. Building capacity
in Communication for CBA
 Communication for Sustainable Development Initiative (CSDI)
 Background
 ComDev is already integrated in the Agenda of many
institutions, such as WB,FAO,UNESCO...
 ComDev is used from NRM to conflict resolution, from health
to environmental issues
 However, ComDev is not integrated in CCA
 Requests
 Institutions, local NGOs and organizations request to integrate
ComDev in CCA projects
 Local people ask for information about CCA
 FAO has accepted the challenge to test ComDev methodologies for
CCA through CSDI

8.  CSDI: a global programme on communication for NRM
and CCA
 Effective applications and management of ComDev
strategies, tools and services for CCA
 Improved capacities and partnerships in
communication for sustainable CCA
Communication for Sustainable Development
Initiative (CSDI) – Objectives

9.  Innovative communication strategies and services
 Environmental communication strategies, plans and
tools implemented in at least 4 countries
 Improved knowledge and skills on environmental
communication (studies, e-fora, knowledge
platforms)
 Environmental communication projects and
initiatives designed and promoted
 Strategic partnerships on ComDev for CCA and NRM
CSDI
Expected outputs

10.  Methodologies and tools
 Approaches, best practices, and training materials on ComDev for CCA
 Knowledge sharing and Partnerships
 Networking and partnerships for mainstream ComDev services through
regional and thematic. Regional Platforms for capacity building and
advocacy: Near East; Onda Rural; Central America; Indigenous People
o Support to field projects
 Communication Action Plans
o Congo
o Bangladesh
o Caribbean region
o Bolivia
o Technical Advice to field projects upon request
CSDI
Main activities

11. Next steps
 Develop and test ComDev approach and methods for
CBA
 Systematize lesson learned and best practices in
ComDev for CBA
 Strengthen capacity through knowledge networks
(Central America, Indigenous People, South America,
Near Asia) and regional consultations on ComDev for
CCA
 Consolidate and expand the CSDI partnerships
 Virtual consultation on Communication for CBA
(April 2009)
 Global community of practice on Communication for CBA

12. We welcome you to join us!
 simone.sala@fao.org
 federica.matteoli@fao.org