Cecilia's blog

“With habitat loss and biodiversity decline, we have lost valuable climate pattern indicators”

Submitted by Cecilia on 3rd January 2013
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In Mali men and women use climate services differently

By Fatimata Kane and Arame Tall

“Before, our rainy seasons were longer. We were able to predict weather and seasonal changes by observing animal behavior in their natural habitats,” Paul Thiaw, a local Senegalese farmer, told researchers at a recent workshop on climate services. “With habitat loss and biodiversity decline, we have simply lost some valuable climate pattern indicators,” he stressed while adding, “this is where we can benefit from climate service expertise.”

Farmers are constantly facing new environmental challenges, which are threatening food production in some of the poorest regions of the world. One way to reduce vulnerability is through implementing and working with climate services that are relevant for smallholder farmers. Read more »

"Future food security depends on women farmers"

Submitted by Cecilia on 21st December 2012
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by Cecilia Schubert

Robert Carlson, President of World Farmers' Organisation (WFO) took part in the High-level discussion at Agriculture, Landscapes and Livelihoods Day (ALL5) held earlier this month in Doha, Qatar. His message to the audience members was not unclear, as he demanded action on food security and farmers now.

He pointed out that the United Nations has never before been faced with such a critical and enormous challenge - feeding hundreds of thousands of additional human beings every day, under a changing climate. Food production needs to be increased. And farmers need help to adapt.   Read more »

Equity and capacity building: key when scaling-up climate services

Submitted by Cecilia on 21st December 2012
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Equity and empowerment are key components within climate services

by Alexa Jay

In an increasingly uncertain climate, farmers’ traditional knowledge of when to sow and harvest, and when to expect rains, may no longer be enough. Supporting farmers with weather and climate information services for agricultural decision-making is a key strategy for enhancing food security in already vulnerable areas. Existing initiatives have shown that they can in fact reach farmers and provide a valuable service, but the challenge of broadening the impact of climate services in vulnerable communities remains.

In the light of this, the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) Theme 2, “Adapting through managing climate risk,” hosted a workshop on “Scaling Up Climate Services for Farmers in Africa and South Asia” in mid-December in Senegal, to create ways forward for broadening the impact of climate services and making them work for smallholder farmers.

This was done in a collaborative effort partnering up with United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Climate Services Partnership (CSP), and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

What is happening in the field? Read more »

La problématique du droit de l’environnement en Afrique

Submitted by Cecilia on 19th December 2012
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par Caroline Ouanre

La  thématique n’est pas nouvelle. Bien au contraire. Des experts africains sur la question rapprochent l’apparition des premières notions sur le sujet aux années 1968. Mieux, c’est en Afrique que l’on trouverait l’une des premières grandes conventions sur la conservation de la nature et des ressources naturelles…

Mais d’ où vient-il alors que de nos jours encore, la notion paraisse toujours aussi abstraite, surtout à l’heure où la problématique de la protection de l’environnement se pose avec acuité, ou au plan international et du point de vue stricte des changements climatiques, le protocole de Kyoto cherche difficilement un second souffle. Read more »

Les pays moins avancés face à la question du transfert des technologies sur les changements climatiques

Submitted by Cecilia on 19th December 2012
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par Caroline Ouanre 

Ce sujet a fait l’objet d’une minutieuse attention de la part des délégués à cette deuxième journée de la 18e Conférence des Parties (COP-18 sur les changements climatiques (CCNUCC) et 8e Conférence des Parties siégeant en tant que Réunion des Parties au Protocole de Kyoto.

Il faut dire que ce volet, tout comme celui de l’adaptation, du renforcement des capacités, et du financement  est l’une des problématiques essentielles des pays moins avancés face à la question des changements climatiques. Read more »

You get further with a partner when turning research into practice

Submitted by Cecilia on 19th December 2012
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A new program on climate change and adaptation is to be launched

by Olive Thiong'o

Sustainable policy guidelines and community adaptation strategies need to be included when putting research into practice, to achieve value for money. This was the message by development experts at the Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and James Kinyangi, promoting the vital role of partnerships when turning research into action. Photo: N. Palmer (CIAT)Asia (CARIAA) dialogue held in parallel to the COP18 climate negotiations.

The dialogue discussions were focused on the experiences, lessons and key issues to be considered, prior to the launch of the CARIAA CAD program. It’s envisioned that the program will be consortium-led and community-focused, and will attract private investment.

James Kinyangi of the East Africa CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security [CCAFS) took part as an expert on the topic. He put emphasis on partnerships in making reforms. As is the case in CCAFS, multiple partnerships with farmers, the private sector, and the national or regional policy makers work better when it comes to implement the program in the region. Read more »

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