Juan M. Pulhin and Rose Jane J. PerasProfessor and Assistant Professor, University of thePhilippines Los Banos

Multi-level Engagement of Stakeholders inClimate Change Research: Distillations ofExperiences and Lessons from the Philippinesfor Better Adaptation

Paper presented in the 3rd Asia Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum,SongdoA Hotel, Incheon, South Kprea, March 18-20, 2013

Outline of the Presentation

I. IntroductionII. Brief profile of the research

projectsIII.Multilevel Engagement of

StakeholdersIV. Advantages of multilevel

stakeholder participationV. Conclusion

o Philippines one of themost disaster-pronecountries in the world(Bildan, 2003; WorldBank, 2005)

o Annual disastersmainly caused byclimate-related eventssuch as typhoons(average of 20typhoons annually)

3

o Watershed areas andcommunities areamong those likely tobe adversely affectedby climate change

o 92M people (2010)o 20-24M people living

in uplandso Rely heavily on

rainfall for farmingo Mostly with limited

resources to adapt toclimate change

4

Adverse impactsof climatevariability andextremes alreadyfelt nationwideand most likely tocompoundthrough time

Builds on earlier worksincorporated in two books

Philippine’s NationalFramework Strategy on

Climate Change

One of Objectives for theAdaptation Pillar:

“Enhance vulnerability andadaptation assessment to

serve as the country’sscientific basis for

formulating appropriateclimate change adaptation

strategies”

Adaptation Practices

• Any activity or strategy currently employedby the stakeholders to minimize adverseimpacts or take advantage of opportunities,if any, associated with climate variability andextremes

• Determined based on the actual experiencesand perceptions of the stakeholders

Profile of 3 research projects conducted

Project Title Funding/Duration

Location Project Features Stakeholders

Assessmentsof Impacts andAdaptations toClimateChange(AIACC)

UNEP andGEF, & START2003-2005

Pantabangan-CarranglanWatershedNorthernPhilippines

Integratedassessment ofimpacts,vulnerability &adaptationstrategies to CVE

Localcommunity,Barangay/Municipal LGU,NPC, NIA, DENR

AdvancingCapacity toSupportClimateChangeAdaptation(ACCCA)

UnitedNationsInstitute forTraining andResearch(UNITAR),2007 to 2009

Manupaliwatershed, Bukidnon

impacts of CVE oncrop yield,household income,water, health andlivelihood; and theeffectiveness of theadaptationstrategies

Localcommunity,Barangay/ CityLGU, WaterDistrict, NPC,NIA, PrivateSector (MKAVI),DENR, Academe

Profile of 3 research projects conducted

Project Title Funding/Duration

Location Project Features Stakeholders

CapacityDevelopmenton Integrationof Science andLocalKnowledge forClimate ChangeImpacts andVulnerabilityAssessments

Asia PacificNetwork forGlobal ChangeResearch(APN), 2009-2011

Quinaliwatershed,Albay

build the capacity oflocal governmentofficials, researchers,and the PG Albay inassessing the impactsof and theirvulnerability toclimate change, withthe use of a computermodeling system andcomplemented bylocal knowledge

Local community,Barangay/Municipal/ City/Provincial LGU,DENR

Enga

ge S

take

hold

ers

Asse

ssin

g an

d En

hanc

ing

Adap

tive

Capa

city Continuing the adaptation process

Formulating an adaptation strategy

Assessing future climate risks

Assessing current vulnerability

Scoping and designing an adaptationproject

The UNDPs Adaptation Policy Framework (APF)

Time line analysis

Participatory impact analysis

Participatory mapping ofvulnerable groups and places

Local Community

- Briefing/ Project Orientationmeeting

- Assessment of current vulnerabilityField reconnaissanceo Secondary data gatheringo Key informant interviewso Participatory rural appraisal (PRA)

techniques – FGDs, community mapping,etc.

o Household survey- Development of adaptation

strategies- Monitoring, maintaining, evaluating

and sustaining adaptationstrategies

Household interviews

Identification and analysis of adaptation practices

o Findings of the assessmentswere shared to keystakeholders through aforum.

o Outputs of the projectdirectly contributed in thepreparation of theComprehensive Land UsePlan of Albay

o Results and processesinvolved in the APN projectwere immediately seen tocontribute to the newlylaunched Climate ChangeAcademy in Albay.

Dissemination forum/dialogue with thestakeholders in Albay toaid them in localadaptation planning.

o Successful partnership with the leading and sole policy‐making body of thePhilippine government on climate change, i.e., the Climate Change Commission,was also achieved, which guaranteed consideration of the project’smethodologies and results to the climate change research and developmentagenda of the country.

National Dissemination Workshop in partnership with theClimate Change Commission and the Philippine Council forAgriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research andDevelopment

NATIONAL

o The APN project led by the CFNR – UPLB collaborated with theUniversity of Sunshine Coast in Australia in partnership withthe CLIMsystems Ltd.

o Staff from CLIMsystems Ltd. shared their expertise and trainedkey stakeholders in Albay on the use of customized SimCLIM,or AlbayCLIM.

REGIONAL

Advantages of key stakeholderengagement at different levels

it generates public awareness and intereston climate change issues.

participatory multi-stakeholder climatechange assessment complements existingassessment methods like the use of multi-criteria vulnerability index and GIS mappingof vulnerable areas, thereby making theassessment more robust.

it promotes dialogue with local communitiesand the other stakeholders therebyincreasing the chance for enhancing localadaptations

Advantages of key stakeholderengagement at different levels

it allows for the integration of localand experienced-based knowledgewith science that broadens theknowledge base for adaptation.

Finally, the engagement of differentstakeholders in the research processprovides the mechanism forstrengthening the linkage betweenresearch and policy for betteradaptation interventions.

Conclusion

The academic and researchinstitutions play a crucial role inpromoting a more strategicresearch approach that engagesthe relevant stakeholders atdifferent levels throughout theresearch process to achievegreater results

Thank you very much!!!