06. Pan-Commonwealth Forum 6 (PCF6), 2010

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http://oasis.col.org/handle/11599/1721

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Browsing 06. Pan-Commonwealth Forum 6 (PCF6), 2010 by Subject "Climate Change"
  • Publication
    Fostering Community Preparedness to Cope with Drought: new initiatives and results from a study involving ODL and ICT from South Central India
    ( 2010-11) Kiran, Neelam L ; Naresh, Kumar V R ; Sreedhar, Ganapuram ; Sylvester, Asil G ; Balaji, Venkataraman
    Drought has emerged as a key concern in the context of climate variability induced by Climate Change processes and over a billion people are vulnerable, according to UN estimates. Drought preparedness is recognized as the preferred way to cope over relief, and information is the key. Improved access to contemporary ICT in the form of mobile phones and the Internet can help address the challenge of information deficiency in this matter. We have tried to develop an integrated approach for improving the capacity of rural communities by bringing together agricultural information with methods of ODL and effective exchange or delivery using videoconferencing. This has also enabled skill building among vulnerable rural communities in the use of color-coded maps derived from satellite imagery and GIS platforms. ICRISAT in partnership with a community based all- women micro-credit organization, the Adarsha Mahila Samaikhya (AMS), in South Central India has developed this blend of techniques to help the AMS and rural communities to anticipate how vulnerable their villages would be to drought in a season. This is an ongoing partnership, and we report here on joint studies carried out during March 2008-September 2009.
  • Publication
    Getting Ready: Using Participatory Communication and Learning to Improve Food Security and Climate Change Adaptation in the Caribbean
    ( 2010-11) Protz, Maria P
    Rural communities in many parts of the world face increasing challenges to survive due to pressures caused by climate change and globalization. This is especially true in Small Island Developing states (SIDS) such as those in the Caribbean. Climate Change (CC) is forcing communities to adapt quickly not only for their own survival but also for national food security. // But “getting ready” demands new skills and the adoption of new practices, both of which can involve steep learning curves. // Participatory communication can play an important role in making this learning transition easier, and in fact, without it, adaptation is not likely to be sustainable. // This paper shares how Communication for Development, or ComDev, is working to improve food security and help rural communities adapt to climate change in the Caribbean. Through the “Communication for Sustainable Development Initiative” (CSDI)’s Caribbean programme, communities are using participatory video, ICTs, radio and other community media to establish backyard gardens and organic farms – practices that are not only helping to improve household health and nutrition, but also helping to improve national food security.