This presentation discusses the critical importance of the “Communication for Development” (ComDev) approach in ensuring that the voices of all stakeholders are heard in the decision-making process that will be needed in Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change, but especially illustrates how ComDev can engage those whose livelihoods are most vulnerable and most dependent on natural resource bases. Illustrative examples will be drawn especially from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean, including the “Voices for CC” initiative in Jamaica as well as best practices in ComDev from RARE Radio in St. Lucia, Toco Radio in Trinidad, among others.

1. ComDev in the Caribbean:
A SIDS Perspective on
Climate Change
Maria Protz, Ph.D.
Caribbean Centre for Communication for
Development (CCCD)
Caribbean Institute for Media and
Communications (CARIMAC)
University of the West Indies (UWI)
Panel: Advancing Adaptation through Communication for
Development
(Technical Session: IIIB)
Monday, February 23rd
, 2009
3rd
International Conference on Community Based
Adaptation to Climate Change
Dhaka, Bangladesh

2. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as those in
the Caribbean are especially vulnerable to Climate
Change.

3. The Caribbean is now even a
“hotter” place to be thanks to CC.
Germanwatch in its 2009 Global Risk Index
ranks countries according to how severely
they have been affected by climate-related
events such as hurricanes and floods.

4. Out of an analysis of almost 150 countries,
six Caribbean Islands were ranked as
Climate change “HOT SPOTS”:
• Dominican Republic – 12th
• Haiti - 16th
• Martinique – 24th
• Dominica – 25th
• Saint Lucia – 27th
• Jamaica - 34th
McLymont, Panos, December 4th
, 2008

5. When di big
breeze blow,
di trees dem
shake!

6. In recent years, natural disasters – such
as floods, landslides, droughts and
especially hurricanes have threatened our
agricultural livelihood base: Ivan (2004),
Dean (2007) and Gustav (2008).

7. CC events also threaten
our biodiversity - critical to
the livelihoods of our
people and also tourism
on which we all depend.

8. Thus, in the Caribbean, the entry point for
considering Climate Change and CBA has
to be through DRM.

9. “Rock Stone a Riva Bottom
nuh kno sun hot!
Who feels it, knows it.
Hence the need for Local
Community based
approaches.

10. There is no “soon come” for farmers in
agriculture. They are not waiting for Climate
Change Science. They are already adapting
whether for good or ill.
Types of Adaptation Measures:
• Moving out of banana production to other
types of low-risk, tuber crops;
• While other farmers in other non-
traditional areas are going into banana
production

11. • Planting of dwarf fruit tree
varieties (Mango, June Plum,
etc.)
• Cultivation of hedgerows as wind
brakes
• Use of pineapple barriers and
productive hedgerows
• Shifting the seasonal sowing
times of specific crops

12. • Planting of nurseries
and extra seedling
materials in case of
hurricanes, etc.

13. To facilitate these positive
adaptation processes, farmers
need to set the science agenda
and need tested information (i.e.,
knowledge) – quickly and timely
- hence the importance of
Communication for
Development.

14. GAPS in the CBA process:
• Farmers’ livelihood adaptation strategies
and technologies are not yet being
documented, validated and tested
(ComDev can help with documentation
and observation)
• Proven farmer-based technologies are not
packaged and shared across islands or
even within island states from one parish
to another (ComDev can help with this
as well)

15. • Extension officers cannot reach all
affected areas (ComDev can help
with ICTs and innovative
communication methods)

16. • Extension services are not familiar with
two-way participatory techniques and need
training (PRCA training is needed)

17. • Livelihood adaptation demands a multi-
faceted approach among a variety of
agencies who do not necessarily work or
coordinate together
• Community expectations are often not
realistic of what rural services can deliver
• Short-term coping strategies that
undermine long-term sustainability are
often selected because alternatives are
not known or promoted (i.e., ganja
cultivation, migration…)
GAPS in CBA, continued..

18. • CBA is understood as a “technical”
matter and not seen within the context of
local culture and community dynamics
• Qualitative and participatory produced
information needs to be linked to GIS
systems imaging and digital formats
• Farmers need to be linked digitally to early
response and warning systems.
GAPS in CBA, continued..

19. Some “Best Practice” examples of
ComDev in the Caribbean that can
possibly be harnessed for CBA in the
agricultural sector:
• Panos – Voices for CC initiative (Jamaica)
• RARE Radio (St. Lucia)
• Taco Foundation (Trinidad and Tobago)
• CABI International
• ICTs4Dev – Jeffery Town, Jamaica
• Among others…

20. PANOS Caribbean
Voices for CC, Jamaica
• HEAR, HEAR Jamaican
entertainers get exposure
to climate change threats
• Youth journalism
program
• Oral history
documentation “Voices
from Mocho” (tales from
back beyond)
• Community newsletters
and publications

21. RARE Radio, St. Lucia
(communicating NRM through long-
running radio drama edutainment)

22. Rural radio, distance learning, media centre,
newspapers, agro tourism and organic agricultural.

23. CABI Caribbean
• Knowledge for Development:
Implementation of and capacity building in
farmer participatory research and training
throughout the region
• Farmer Field Schools in Integrated Pest
Management techniques throughout the
region

24. Commonwealth of Learning (COL)’s
L3 Farmers Lifelong Learning

25. ICTs 4 Dev – Jeffrey Town, Jamaica
(rural radio and multimedia centre)

26. ICT tools for women organic
farmers – the Knowing &
Growing Network

27. And projects, such as:
• The OPAAL (OECS Protected Areas
and Alternative Livelihoods Project) in
the Eastern Caribbean
• The IWCAM (Integrated Watershed
and Coastal Areas Management)
project of the Wider Caribbean.

28. In the Caribbean, CARIMAC’s Caribbean
Centre for Communication for
Development (CCCD) is working to
partner with the best regional practices in
ComDev and to scale up these
experiences as part of regular MOA and
MOE strategic programme planning for
CBA.

29. Thank You
Email: protz@mail.infochan.com