Course Details - Climate Action for Food Systems Transformation
Adaptation and mitigation as institutional change processes
Our climate is changing and communities all over the world are affected. Changing climates have severe negative impacts on natural resources and consequently on food and livelihood security. Societies consequently need to learn to cope with the changes predicted, warmer temperatures, drier soils, changes in weather extremes and rising sea levels. At different governance levels and scales, appropriate responses are needed. However in many countries the existing governance structures and processes are not suited to manage climate change and the adaptive capacity and leadership to address the challenges is often lacking.
Developing the capacity to facilitate change
Climate change adaptation and mitigation activities are part of complex change processes. These require the involvement of many stakeholders, for example local communities, farmers, businesses, scientists, policymakers, extension workers, media and civil society organisations. Climate change governance requires these stakeholders to change their practices and shift perceptions and accepted norms. Such change processes can only be successful if a learning oriented approach to climate change governance is adopted. It requires dedicated, motivated individuals and organisations that can promote and facilitate learning. This course encourages you to become a facilitator of change. You will not only get a full understanding of climate change, its impacts and adaptation and mitigation concepts but also strengthen your skills for stakeholder engagement, policy influencing, advocacy and negotiation to help you establish more effective governance structures.
Climate change governance
It is possible to reduce risks by mainstreaming national risk management policy frameworks in policies and programmes for sustainable development. Since climate change is highly complex and uncertain, a learning oriented approach to climate change governance is required. The most important factor influencing the success of climate change governance to date has been engagement by political leadership. In situations where political leaders have taken an active interest, matters have moved forward. Increased understanding of climate change and the transmission of sound scientific advice are essential for good governance.
The capacity to bring stakeholders together in analysing climate change issues and developing strategies to protect food systems, assets and livelihoods against the effects of increasing weather variability and the increased frequency and intensity of extreme events is not sufficient in many developing countries. This course offers conceptual frameworks to understand the importance of climate change, vulnerability and adaptation and mitigation options for improved food security. The training approach is interactive and hands-on. It includes practical fieldwork, case studies and individual action planning. Climate change, food security and change process experts contribute to this course. A mix of participants with different backgrounds yet common interests will allow for exchange of experiences.
This course is taught in a blended format: partially online and partially in person in an OKP country
Our courses are currently taught blended and follow this format:
- Online pre-course assignments for you to get to know WCDI and for us to get to know your work environment and your expectations about the course;
- Interactive plenary sessions where we share content, review assignments and facilitate exchanging experiences. During those interactive sessions we work with a number of online tools like Google Jamboard, Mural and Mentimeter. A part in online sessions and a part in person;
- Group work either online or offline where you with other participants address a specific question or do an assignment. Results of these assignments are also shared and discussed during online sessions;
- Individual assignments where you will read literature, watch videos, and do exercises on your own. These assignments are an essential part of the learning and most of them count for getting the certificate. They are meant to introduce or deepen knowledge and make the link between theory and your own situation. These assignments are reviewed either by peers or facilitators.
In some, but not all courses we go on virtual field visits – showing you ‘live’ situations in the field, or with companies or organisations that we collaborate with. We offer coaching trajectories where we support you one-on-one or in small groups to review your individual learning paths in the course and help with any basic questions you may have.
Online platforms: Zoom and TalentLMS
Internet connection is important for the completion of the course. Not sure about the connection in your area? Send training.cdi@wur.nl an e-mail about your situation.
We use Zoom as a facilitating platform for all our online courses. Our courses take place in general over a 6-8 week period to make the workload and time you spend online manageable.
Our online learning system is TalentLMS. Everything you need — our course programme, chatrooms, assignments, background information are in this system. TalentLMS is easy to operate, can also be accessed by your phone and has an on-and offline functionality. We even organise a technical check-in before the course starts, to test your facilities and get familiar with the tools.
Course planning and certificates
The course workload is approximately 16-20 hours a week (2-2.5 workdays).
The exact programme of your course will be available 2-3 weeks before the start of the course. If you’ve successfully completed your course we send you a digital certificate.