Climate change and food security nexus

Climate Change is real, action is needed now! You will learn about climate trends, adaptation actions to protect food systems and livelihoods, how to create incentives for mitigation action and tackle one of the root causes of vulnerability: poor governance.

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 e.g., 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. The training approach is interactive and hands-on. It includes practical fieldwork, case studies and individual action planning.

Course objectives

Upon completion of the course you will:

• have a better understanding of climate change and its impacts;
• understand the challenges climate change governance faces and explore ways to strengthen it;
• practice to become a more effective change manager by applying social learning techniques and tools;
• be able to understand innovative practices for adaptation and mitigation;
• be able to place climate change adaptation and mitigation in the context of sustainable development.

Target audience

The course is intended for mid-career professionals, dealing with climate change adaptation and mitigation options in developing countries, working for a research organisation, NGO, government or civil society. Participants need to have a relevant tertiary education with at least five years of experience in a course-related discipline like agriculture, water management, biodiversity, forestry, or other natural resources management. Proficiency in English is required.