CBA9 Report: Community based adaptation and the private sector, Nairobi, Kenya, 26-30 April 2015

by Natalie Suckall

The role of the private sector in enhancing community adaptation was one of the big questions to emerge during the 9th International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation in Nairobi, Kenya.

During four days of discussion and debate we heard from researchers, practitioners and community members who welcome private sector involvement in adaptation and development … and we heard from those who questioned the morality of profit-making organisations benefiting from the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.

Amongst the stories of success, Salaton Ole Ntutu and Stephen Ole Kisotu, representatives of Kenya’s Massai community, praised M-Pesa, the country’s mobile-phone money transfer and micro-financing service, which they use to buy cows and send money to remote friends and family. Since the launch of M-Pesa in 2007, over 13 billion Euro has been transferred across the network. For many Massai, the service has been life changing. It has put an end to expensive and time consuming bus journeys to physically deliver money and it has increased business productivity. Both are important aspects of adaptation. Speed of transfer means that during events such as drought money can be sent to family in an instant. And increased business productivity enables a household to invest in resilience enhancing activities, such as education and health.

We also heard from Jason Spensley from the UNFCCC’s Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) who highlighted CTCN’s involvement in attracting private sector investment in crop drying practices in Mali where post-harvest loss is likely to be increased by climate change. For Jason Spensley, the take home message is that if the private sector can make profit in the face of climate change, investment will be forthcoming.

But how do we know that investment will lead to successful adaptation? And what about the broader moral question; is it right that profit making companies benefit from poverty?

The first question is perhaps a little easier to answer. Simply, we can never be sure a new investment will lead to success. But as Salameel Huq (IIED/BCAS) pointed out, during a session on enhancing the effectiveness of adaptation, perhaps this doesn’t matter. In fact, perhaps we should seek failure in order to understand what works, and more importantly, what doesn’t work. This point was echoed by Clare Shakya, from the UK’s Department for International Development, where failure is now discussed in a more transparent and constructive way than has previously been the norm, and where high-risk entrepreneurial adaptation initiatives are encouraged.

The second question is more difficult to answer; is it right to make money from poverty? The exploitation of vulnerable farming communities is not new and even in the context of learning from failure, few would suggest we actively follow strategies that we know will lead to mal-adaptation and increased vulnerability. Perhaps though, instead of viewing the private sector as being solely motivated by greed, it is possible to envisage a more nuanced situation; one where both farmer and business gain from a partnership.

For example, Suresh Patel from the Kenya Private Sector Alliance explained how local farmers’ poor understanding of economics of production and agricultural markets resulted in the small-holders he works with selling their cassava for less than it cost to produce. Conversely, the same farmers expected local buyers to purchase baobab fruit at vastly inflated prices. The buyers refused and the fruit remains unsold and uneaten.

But if farmers had some understanding of business, as well as access to real-time crop prices, they may be more likely to expect and achieve favourable rates. M-Farm, a Kenyan organisation, is a ‘transparency tool’ that links farmers to buyers and provides information on current market trends. Sellers download an app, or send an SMS, to receive the latest crop prices. The technology can’t prevent the kind of fluctuations in crop prices that climate variability creates. But it can help farmers remain one step ahead.

Even the most laudable private sector initiatives are, at least in part, driven by self-interest and the drive for profit. Arguably, these qualities are an unavoidable part of the human condition. We cannot avoid them, but we can regulate them. For example, a text based phone service that charges customers excessive prices to receive information is exploitative. Rules around maximum charges could prevent this.

There is great potential for the private sector to offer innovative solutions to development and adaptation challenges. However, regulation is necessary if the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people are to benefit in an accessible and equitable manner.

DECCMA PhD Seminar, 29 April

phd seminar

PhD seminar

As part of DECCMA, a group of postgraduate research students has been established across the project partners. In total, there are about 20 PhD students working within the project, with a substantial and vibrant group of six based at the University of Southampton. Their work complements one another by examining how people are adapting to the physical effects of climate change, covering a broad range of topics from the physical aspects of deltas to their socio-economical dynamics. In order to showcase this cross-faculty postgraduate research group on deltas and to give these early-career researchers the opportunity to present their work and to engage with experts in the area of mutual interests and expertise, the students organised a seminar series hosted by the School of Geography and the Environment of the University of Southampton.

The inaugural event occurred on the 29th of April 2015, where the postgraduate research students presented their research, with an emphasis on their objectives, methods and conceptual frameworks. Around 50 people attended the seminar, coming from a broad range of organisations (University of Southampton, University of Sussex, Oxfam) and disciplines (geography, environmental sciences, social sciences, engineering).

The first part of the event, chaired by Professor Steve Darby (head of the Department of Geography and the Environment at the University of Southampton), started with an introduction to DECCMA by Professor Robert Nicholls. Afterwards, Sarah Spinney presented her research on how morphological evolutions affect the sustainability of deltas, followed by Greg Cooper who discussed socio-ecological tipping points of deltas.

After a first round of questions, the second part of the seminar took place, chaired by Dr Craig Hutton (GeoData Institute). Qazi Waheed-Uz-Zaman explored the potential for social enterprise as a driver of community management in the GBM delta. This presentation, bridging both environmental sciences and socioeconomics, was followed by a talk with a similar approach given by Tristan Berchoux on the links between natural hazards, agriculture and the long-term dynamics of rural livelihood. Later, Margherita Fanchiotti gave a presentation on modelling community resilience to tropical cyclones in the Mahanadi delta. Following this speech, and based on the same community-based approach, Giorgia Prati presented her research on gender and adaptation in deltas. Finally, Professor John Dearing (Professor in Physical Geography at the University of Southampton) concluded the event by giving a vibrant summary of DECCMA and the contribution of PhD students to its outputs.

As a conclusion, it is important to highlight the outputs of this inaugural event. For the students, as early career researchers, the seminar has given them the opportunity to have feedback at initial stages of their project, from a broad range of people working in a variety of disciplines and organisations. Moreover, it has allowed them and the project to gain more visibility by showcasing innovative research from the early stages of conceptualisation. Last but not least, the event gave to all of the participants the opportunity to network, especially with representatives from the sister project ASSAR and students from other universities.

Building on this successful event, the next seminar in the series will be held in six-months’ time, with an in-depth focus on two of the research projects. The DECCMA PhD students from the University of Southampton will also be creating a network with other students from India, Bangladesh and Ghana, the next step will be to create a vibrant network with all the DECCMA PhD students. This group would then enjoy liaising with PhD students from the other CARIAA consortia.

Water recedes, but water-borne diseases rise on Mousuni island

water recedes

Water recedes

12 diarrhoea cases reported; absence of doctors compels people to approach quacks
As the water from the high tides, which destroyed hundreds of houses on the Mousuni island, recedes, people are increasingly facing the threat of water-borne diseases. The seawater that submerged large parts of the sinking island has left all the fish in ponds dead and spoiled acres of agricultural lands. Locals complain of a foul smell emanating from different parts of the island.
“At least 12 cases of diarrhoea have been reported. In the absence of regular doctors the people have no option but to turn to quacks,” Sk Golam Muhammad, a member of Mousuni Gram Panchayat told The Hindu on Thursday.
With 1,500 people lodged in eight relief centres and several others in makeshift huts the situation is going to worsen, Mr. Muhammad said, adding that the State administration should take steps to ensure that medicines and other health facilities arrive here in time.
“The people are demanding that health camps be set up on the island,” he said. When The Hindu visited the sinking island on Wednesday there was anger among the people over the lack of health care facilities. The only source of drinking water is a few deep tube wells for a population of 30,000. The health workers, who were supplying medicines and ORS packets, admitted that the supply was not enough.
Dasarth Kisku, Block Medical Officer, admitted that more medical aid is required and said that a doctor and two health assistants visited the island during the day. “We will have to step up the health care facilities on the island. There is a primary health centre that has been providing them facilities over the past few days. We will make arrangements so that patients can be admitted to the health facility at night,” Mr. Kisku said.
Nearly four days after large parts of Mousuni were submerged, local MLA Bamkim Hazra visited the island on Thursday. “The situation is grim,” Mr. Hazra told The Hindu, pointing out that about seven km of embankments has been breached.
“I have taken up the matter with the State’s Irrigation Minister Rajib Banerjee and Minister for Sunderban Development Manturam Pakhira. The people want the embankments to be repaired,” the MLA said.
Mr. Hazra, whose constituency comprises three islands – Sagar, Ghoramara, and Mousuni – was not very hopeful that the repairs could be made in due time. The MLA said that the work for repairing the embankments may not start before the approaching new moon tide that may result in another flooding.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/water-recedes-but-waterborne-diseases-rise-on-mousuni-island/article6224946.ece

Rising tides pose a threat to sinking island in Sunderbans

Over 2,000 families affected, acres of farm land submerged

rising tides post a threat

Rising tides are a threat

Large parts of Mousuni, a sinking island in the Sunderbans archipelago, have been submerged with tides rising because of the spring equinox. “More than 2,000 families have been affected and hundreds of acres of agricultural land and several fisheries have been destroyed by the high tides,” Sheikh Ilias, panchayat pradhan of Mousuni told The Hindu on Tuesday. Ilias said that he himself was standing in knee-deep water. Mousuni, one of the 52 inhabited islands of the archipelago, and a vulnerable climate change hotspot, is sinking at a rapid pace. The island with a population of over 20,000 lies in the estuarine system and is open to the sea, said Tuhin Ghosh of the School of Oceanographic Studies, Jadavpur University. “As the sea level continues to rise, flooding will become a regular phenomenon,” Dr Ghosh said.

The 24-sq km island is the second most vulnerable island of the Sunderbans, next to Ghoramara island, whose population is about 5,000. The panchayat pradhan claimed that damage to the island and the impact on the people is far more than it was during super cyclone Aila, which hit the Sunderbans in May 2009. “The embankments here have not been repaired since they were breached by Aila. About nine km of embankments has to repaired to prevent seawater flooding. The western part of the island is vulnerable to tides and regular flooding occurs, but this time the situation is grave,” said Ilias. He said the State government had provided foodgrains, but supply is not proportionate to the number of people affected. A UNDP report published in 2010 said that 15 per cent of the delta will be submerged by 2020.

Original article in ‘The Hindu’

Thousands left homeless in Bengal’s sinking island

thousands left homelessKalpana Mandal, in her sixties, stood outside her tiny hut in Mousuni, a sinking island in the Sunderbans, with a long fishing net in her hand. All the land around her has been submerged, and hers is the last house standing. In a desperate attempt to save her humble abode from being washed away, Kalpana has covered most of her hut with the fishing net which she fastened at various points on the ground. But there is little hope of her dwelling being spared by the inexorable rising tide.
Since Sunday, large parts of Mousuni island have been under water, with hundreds of houses swept away by the rising tide caused by the Spring Equinox. “I have lost most of my possessions. Once this house is washed away, I will have to live on the streets,” Kalpana told The Hindu.
There are thousands like Kalpana on the island who have taken shelter either in flood relief camps or makeshift tents set up on the road. “Around 2,000 families in three villages of the island have been affected,” informed Tapas Mandal, Block Development Officer, Namkhana, under which the island falls. According to him, the situation has been worsened by the reluctance of the villagers to relocate to higher ground despite repeated requests from the administration. Mousuni Gram Panchayat Pradhan, Sk Ilias, said that more than three-fourths of the island, whose population stands at around 30,000, have been affected.
“Where do we relocate? We do not want any money from the government. All we have been asking is that the embankment is repaired so that our families can be spared,” said Basanta Giri, whose house was destroyed. There are over 12 km of embankments which need to be repaired, the villagers claim.
With water-borne diseases like diarrhoea spreading in the region, a shortage of medicines is acutely felt. “During the day we have been distributing ORS and other medicines for water borne diseases, but we are falling short as the number affected people is very high,” said a health officer working in the villages. Mousuni, with its proximity to the open sea, is particularly vulnerable to the rising tides. “Over the past few years, the sea level has risen, as well as the sea temperature. These have been the primary reasons for the present situation,” said Tuhin Ghosh, joint director of School of Oceanographic Studies, Jadavpur University. Dr Ghosh has warned that in the coming years the frequency and the intensity of such tidal flooding are likely to increase.
A joint report (Indian Sunderbans Delta: A Vision) published by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and School of Oceanographic Studies in 2012 had stated that over a million people in the Sunderbans will be affected by the year 2050 due to climate change. The report has called for a change in the existing policies of the government and suggested a “planned retreat” of the people living in the archipelago to the mainland.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/thousands-left-homeless-in-bengals-sinking-island/article6219942.ece

DECCMA PhD Seminar, 29 April 2015, University of Southampton

phd seminar 1A crucial element of DECCMA has been the establishment of post graduate research groups across the project partners with a substantial and vibrant group based here at the University of Southampton. The School of Geography and the Environment, with the support of other faculties hosts 6 of these students and will be holding a Seminar Series which profile their work in examining how people are adapting to the physical effects of climate change, such as sea level rise, alongside socio-economic pressures, including land degradation and population pressure, in delta regions. The aim of this series is to showcase DECCMA and the cross-faculty conceptual research groups on deltas, and to give an opportunity for the PhD associates to present their work.

As such we would like to formally invite you to participate in this meeting to both inform you regarding the progress of this significant project and to encourage what has been a strongly lead student process. Details are as follows:

DECCMA Postgraduate Seminar Series:

April 29, 2015 14:00-17:00
Building 44 / Lecture Theatre A
Highfield Campus, University of Southampton

Agenda

14:00 – 14:15 Welcome and brief introduction to DECCMA (Robert Nicholls, PI)
14:20 – 14:30 Morphological evolution and the sustainability of deltas in the 21st century (Sarah Spinney)
14:30 – 14:40 Socio-ecological tipping points in world deltas (Gregory Cooper)
14:40 – 14:50 First round of questions (Chair)
15:00 – 15:10 Social enterprise and innovation in the GBM Delta (Qazi Waheed-Uz-Zaman)
15:10 – 15:20 Livelihood dynamics and food security under a changing climate (Tristan Berchoux)
15:20 – 15:30 Modelling tropical cyclone resilience in the Mahanadi Delta (Margherita Fanchiotti)
15:30 – 15:40 Gender and adaptation in the Mahanadi Delta (Giorgia Prati)
15h40 – 16h Second round of questions (Chair)
16h – 16h15 Concluding Remarks (Chair)
16h20 – 17h Tea and coffee with posters
Frances Dunn,
Balaji Angamuthu
Sarwar Hossain Sohel

Trade, Environment and Growth: Advanced Topics in Input-Output Analysis

trade, environment and growthIn March 2015 BC3 hosted the following training for the DECCMA project:

This course applies the Input-Output (IO) framework to issues related to trade, environment, and growth. For the production of commodities and services, industries depend on other industries for their intermediate products. More and more, such linkages between industries cross borders. Input-output analysis is a tool that takes such interdependencies in the production structure into full account. It has been applied to a wide variety of topics, ranging from agricultural and development economics to disciplines dealing with energy and environmental issues. Typical questions which the tools can respond to are the following:
How much high-skilled and low-skilled labour in the US or India is involved in satisfying the demand for cars by households in Australia, reflecting trade in production factors?

What is the greenhouse gas footprint of China or India, or how large are the Bangladeshi (virtual) “exports” of water or value added in trade?
The sessions scheduled for the morning will be focused on exploring basic concepts and IO techniques, with especial emphasis on the application of the analysis to different research topics. The afternoon sessions will include hands-on exercises focused on the construction of IO tables in developing countries and at the subnational level.

The training, organised by the Basque Centre for Climate change (BC3) in collaboration with the University of the Basque Country , was given by Prof. Erik Dietzenbacher

For further information please visit:

http://www.bc3research.org/Doctoral_Course/Trade_Environment_and_Growth_Advanced_topics_in_Input_Output_Analysis