UNEP

Generic guidelines for mainstreaming drylands issues into National Development Frameworks

carol — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:59:43 -0600

The Generic Drylands Mainstreaming Guidelines have been developed by the UNDP-DDC in close collaboration with the UNEP and UNDP/Global Environment Facility (GEF) Global Support Unit. This document provides broad generic steps for mainstreaming environment and drylands issues into national development frameworks, as well lessons drawn from various countries on environment and drylands mainstreaming.

It is important for the implementation of poverty reduction strategies and the achievement of the MDGs to take into account drylands issues and challenges, especially how they impact the poorest communities. These communities have the lowest per capita GDP and the highest infant mortality rates. The combination of high variability in environmental conditions and relatively high levels of poverty leads to situations where human populations can be extremely sensitive to changes in the ecosystem. If drylands are not mainstreamed, they will lose out in resource allocation. These guidelines have been developed with the aim of influencing action at several levels of planning and policy engagement, because it is necessary to make drylands visible at all levels.

The guidelines have been informed by lessons drawn from 21 countries on mainstreaming environment into development frameworks with a particular focus on drylands issues, and by a review made of other international organizations’ guidelines on the same subject. This concerted action will create the synergistic and critical pressure needed to put and keep drylands issues at a place of importance on the developmental agenda.

Information Provided by Carol Lombard, Department of Social Development Population Website

KM & the Environment

Climate change and AIDS: A joint working paper

carol — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:40:05 -0600

AIDS and climate change (CC) are two of the most important "long wave" global issues of the recent past, the present and the future. They share similarities, interactions, and present possibilities for a more united response. Yet these links have received little analysis. This paper seeks to address that gap. It first focuses on scientific issues, identifying major, minor, and speculative pathways by which AIDS and CC are likely to interact. These interactions are, here, called the HIV and Climate Change Complex (HACC).

The maximum impact of CC is in the future, likely to occur decades after the peak incidence of HIV. The severity of the HACC will largely be determined by the temporal overlap of these ranges. The HACC will also have an uneven spatial distribution, modified by the regional impact of CC and the regional epidemiology of AIDS, each of which varies by physical and social elements. Populations with currently high rates of HIV are the most vulnerable to a worsening or prolongation of the epidemic due to CC.

This places the people of SSA at the greatest risk of the HACC, though outside Africa populations in north east India and New Guinea may also be significantly impacted.

There is agreement that the most important pathway in the HACC will be further deterioration of regional and global food security. At the individual level, nutrition is vital for good immune function, to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV if viral exposure does occur, and to slow the progression of HIV to AIDS and of AIDS to death. At larger scales, population nutrition is important for good governance, by helping to nurture and stimulate the "effective" demand populations need to reduce corruption and to more evenly distribute available resources. Any substantial decline in the availability and intake of calories or micronutrients brought about by CC is likely to increase poverty, impair learning and expand the number of migrants. The current decline in global food security, partly attributable to CC, is already causing disproportionate nutritional harm to migrants and otherwise impoverished populations, some of whom experience AIDS.

There is agreement that the second major pathway of the HACC is the CC-related alteration in the distribution of infectious diseases, which interact with AIDS. Of these, malaria is the most important, due to its high burden of disease (BOD). CC is projected to reduce malaria transmission in some regions, which experience a comparatively low rate of HIV, both now and in the future. This will reduce the beneficial impact to the BOD of AIDS for these populations. On the other hand, a large population with a high rate of HIV lives on the plateaus of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), an area as yet little affected by malaria. If the climatic, eco-systemic and other factors for malaria transmission alter sufficiently in these plateau cities then the HIV burden of this population is likely to be substantially higher, and will also be worsened by increased poverty and greater food insecurity.

There are several other plausible biological pathways in the HACC. Of these, the relationship between CC, air pollution and immunity, and CC, heat stress and immunity are likely to be the most important. More speculative is the possibility that that CC will harm infrastructure and governance on a scale sufficient to aggravate and prolong the BOD of AIDS. Again, the population of SSA is judged to be at the highest risk. This mechanism is plausible by interlinked pathways including more extreme weather events and "natural" disasters, increased mobility and additional migrants and refugees. These factors are also likely to aggravate gender inequalities, increasing the frequency of transactional and coercive sex - pathways likely to increase the BOD of AIDS among women and girls, via increased viral transmission and reduced access to treatment and prevention. At the global level, CC may exert an immense opportunity cost, diverting resources of the international community away from public health, including from HIV, poverty alleviation, and the other Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Suggestions for a future research agenda include the more accurate assessment of the pathways within the HACC, and an improved conceptual understanding of the linkages between conflict, behaviour, governance and values, environmental factors including climate, and food production, and between each of these macro-elements and sea level rise. This would be best done by an interdisciplinary working group.

Another research gap is the effect of CC on human behaviour, including behavior related directly to HIV risk. From science, the paper moves to strategies and policies. The struggle to address AIDS and CC has generated two vigorous global social movements, with, as yet, little formal interaction or collaboration. We suggest this gap is a microcosm of a separation between two even larger communities - those concerned with the environment and those concerned with social justice. Of course, this is a simplification, but on the whole our perception is that the environmental movement is insufficiently aware of poverty, while the social justice movement is still poorly informed about the environment. The work, advocacy and activism of the leaders and actors within each community who do recognise these linkages will be strengthened by this report.

AIDS has already killed tens of millions of people, while CC may dwarf this number. Those concerned to reduce CC can apply many lessons learned by the AIDS community. These include the need to challenge conventions and to seek benefit for the poorest and most marginalised - and to widen the CC movement's emerging engagement with entrepreneurs, philanthropists and prominent personalities: tools instrumental in the growth of support for those with HIV. The AIDS constituency can benefit from the experience of humanitarian programmes, some of which already see AIDS and CC as cross-cutting issues.

Several actions to reduce the impact of CC on AIDS are proposed. These include the integration of HIV prevention and management into disaster management plans, particularly for populations in SSA, some of whom have already experienced extreme weather events. Means to enhance global and regional food security, especially in SSA, are vital, and much more can be done. A quarter of the world's population is over-nourished, and a more equitable distribution of global food production will go far to defusing any future food crisis, and is likely to improve health for both over and under-fed people. Malaria treatment and prevention in SSA can also be improved. The CC community might also consider strengthening the UNFCCC including with formal links with agriculture, health and security.

Finally, a risk is perceived whereby a relatively privileged stratum of people and interests argue that issues of global health and global social justice must be put aside in the effort to pursue partial CC adaptation. This approach is highly dangerous for global health and global social cohesion. It would also likely generate profound longer-term risks for currently privileged populations pursuing this strategy. A stronger alliance between the AIDS and CC communities will help thwart the emergence of such a policy. A focus on the interconnections between CC, food security, AIDS, health in general and the links between these and the MDGs is key to breaking out of this "either or" myopia."

Information Provided by Carol Lombard, Department of Social Development Population Website

KM & Social Challenges

Rainwater harvesting: a lifeline for human well-being

carol — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 03:20:52 -0600

The aim of this report is to compile a synthesis of experiences that can provide insight into the multiple opportunities rainwater harvesting can have when addressing human well-being, while continuing to sustain a range of ecosystem services. This synthesis of linkages between ecosystem services, human well-being and rainwater harvesting interventions examines 29 cases from diverse economic and environmental settings.

Water supply of the right quality and quantity is essential for productive ecosystems and human well-being. The increasing demand on water resources for development whilst maintaining healthy ecosystems puts water resources under pressure.

Rainwater harvesting is an intervention that enables development and human well-being without undermining ecosystem services. Rainwater harvesting is a local intervention that improves equity, gender balance and strengthens social capital in
a community.

Rainwater harvesting is discussed from an ecosystem perspective and has positive benefits in both rural and urban areas. It employs a variety of methods to better manage water resources for many purposes including more water for domestic supply and for increased crop production. It also regulates and supports the ecosystem by reducing soil erosion, improving groundwater and spring supplies and increasing diversity among flora and fauna. In urban areas, pressure for ground and surface water is reduced.

Nevertheless, the implementation of rainwater harvesting should be limited in areas subject to water stress. Additional rainwater harvesting may affect other uses of water so assessment of impacts on ecosystem services and human well-being is needed.

In all cases studied, positive effects were mentioned in at least one of the four categories of poverty, income, health and gender. Negative impacts were mentioned in relation to heath, gender, and equity of labour. An additional positive effect for rainwater harvesting interventions was for rural domestic and agricultural uses as it built human and social capital.

Rainwater harvesting gives increased opportunities to manage all water resources and is a coping strategy in areas with variable rainfall. It should be seen as an important component in water management strategies and plans and as a complementary and viable alternative to large scale water use in emerging water-stressed basins.

Produced by: United Nations [UN] Environment Programme (2009)

Information Provided by Carol Lombard, Department of Social Development Population Website

KM & Social Challenges

Africa - fertile ground for KM innovations

storytelling — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:07:55 -0600

The uptake of mobile phones on the African continent continues with growth rates in excess of 100% over the past twelve months (Source MTN 'Yello corporate publication, 2008). This is happening while technologies that link people across space and time are becoming ubiquitous and mobile telephony is the preferred means of telecommunication. The result is a narrowing of the technological gap between the developed and developing world. Rates of ownership, even among the poorest, is surprisingly high and while estimates vary, there were already more than 100 million connected handsets in Africa in 2005.

All that is needed are bright, entrepreneurial minds to seize the space, to make the connection in what is potentially one of the biggest knowledge markets in the world. What is needed is to marry technology with great ideas. These ideas can come from looking at actual situations in which knowledge and technology have been applied to create successful, impactful change, work opportunities and sustainable systems. Could you use these ideas to stimulate new possibilities for yourself and your community?

Farmers are using mobile phones to ensure the best prices for their crops and use the information to decide which market to sell at, small-scale entrepreneurs are contacting potential clients, and grandparents are talking to their children and grandchildren hundreds of kilometres away. IDRC (2003a) and NGO Mobile
There are case studies from around the world that demonstrate the potential gains of ICT use for biodiversity and conservation at a practical, hands-on level in basic data collection, information, education and research; community-led conservation initiatives; conservation project management; tracking and monitoring. (Banks & Burge, 2004). In addition, National parks communicate details about dangerous animals, provide an early warning system to mitigate against human-wildlife conflict.
Mobile technology is being used in rural phone networks for telemedicine, small business development, market trading and farming, humanitarian aid and community services NGO Mobile
An Insurance company in the UK has stolen a lead over its competitors by offering same day claim evaluation and payment by using mobile wireless technology.
Some patients in Africa on antiretrovirals now receive text message (SMS) reminders to take their medicine, so they no longer waste time and money traveling to their nearest clinic to ensure compliance. NGO Mobile
eThekwini municipality in South Africa have developed a model to stimulate community participation by using library infrastructure and Opensource social networking software to record indigenous knowledge. Because indigenous knowledge is mostly stored in people’s minds and passed on through generations by word of mouth rather than in written form, it is vulnerable to rapid change (Sithole, 2006). Development processes like rural/urban migration and changes to population structure as a result of famine, epidemics, displacement or war may all contribute to loss of indigenous knowledge. Even in remote areas the powers that push global or just non-local content such as television and radio advertising are much stronger than those pushing local content (Nyumba, 2006). The result is a form of 'cultural imperialism' where the monolithic culture threatens to wipe out Indigenous knowledge unless it is properly documented and disseminated (World Bank, 1998)
Unemployed youths in Nairobi’s shanty towns receive texts alerting them to job opportunities in the city NGO Mobile
Fauna & Flora International have created a web-based portal which provides a wide variety of conservation news stories, discussion boards, field diaries, competitions, downloadable resources and image galleries using a shared database which also feeds directly into a micro-site on Vodafone’s live! platform. Users can access a wide range of these services, in addition to downloadable animal-sound ring tones, wildlife images and conservation-themed games. This is the first time that conservation based materials have been made available to mobile subscribers, giving them the opportunity to engage in conservation in a completely new way. (Banks & Burge, 2004)
The World Health Organisation in Kenya have implemented a shared Wiki which allows field workers to share area level knowledge with each other at electronic speed. Established to share learning and experiences, both positive and negative, a major benefit of the system is said to be a greater spirit of community among field workers who have been enabled and empowered to make the connections as they see fit on the ground. (KMAfrica2007, Nairobi)
The Lesotho Ministry of Health and Social Welfare have implemented a shared wiki to focus on organisational culture, values, branding and identity - the approach allows members of this diverse organisation to communicate about key issues. MOHSW website
Wet-Africa.org - a specialist water knowledge site that runs on the KMAfrica.com SIG platform includes a system that monitors and allows system members to report pollution incidents in waters and wetlands via twitter and SMS. wet-africa.org website

Further information on some of the projects mentioned here can be found on:

Technology for conservation and development T4CD website
United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre website
NGO Mobile (ideas for using ICT in community animation) NGO Mobile website
Kiwanja.net is an organisation providing social messaging software to NGOs Kiwanja.net website

ICT as an enabler

It is important to understand that mobile phones and other ICTs are tools, and not a solution to problems. However, ICTs have an important role to play as a part of wider strategies and programmes. Areas in which ICTS have been successfully employed by a variety of organisations include disaster relief, poverty alleviation, healthcare, conservation, development, and job creation – all representing fertile ground for KM innovation and entrepreneurship.

research: Steve Banhegyi
steve@storytelling.co.za

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