date: Thu, 03 Oct 2002 13:39:35 -0400
from: Ravi Sharma <Ravi.Sharma@unep.org> (by way of Neil Leary)
subject: Re: AID grant to help AIACC with training etc.
to: nobre@cptec.inpe.br, lal321@hotmail.com, lindam@atd.ucar.edu, phw@dar.csiro.au, m.hulme@uea.ac.uk

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Dear Neil,

This is very good news indeed, especially after the uncertainty of Canadian
funds.

One unfulfilled goal for AIACC in the context of stakeholder involvement
remains the integration of policy people. This is necessary to meet the
project requirement of incorporating AIACC research outputs into second
national communications. We are still told by UNFCCC focal Points that
AIACC is an exclusive activity for the research community with weak, if
any, links to the policy community. This is also reflected in the slow
receipt of endorsement letters from the GEF focal points. However, few PIs
are attempting to resolve this issue with a long-term goal, except by
organising one-off workshops with the national policy community.

Besides being an important aim of the AIACC, establishing an effective link
between research and policy community could potentially be a very
successful outcome of AIACC. While the science literature is full of
details and assessments of various climate phenomena, stakeholders
especially those developing policies and making day-to-day decisions on
production systems etc, are not readily exposed to this information.
Important synergies exist not only between policy and research community
but also between different areas of activity, such as food security, water
resources and coastal zones. Possible synergies also exist between
adaptation and mitigation in the areas of forestry, agriculture and carbon
sink enhancement.  Can the AIACC project establish well harmonised networks
in the regions and countries that incorporate CC research community,
natural resource management/development research community and policy
makers? Is there a possibility of initiating a bottom-up web networking,
starting from the national/regional level?

Climate change impacts are not high on the political agenda of most
developing countries. National and regional networks besides helping
mainstream adaptation will raise awareness about available information on
possible climate change impacts as well as about the notions of
vulnerability and adaptive capacity. Active participation of policy makers
in the implementation of AIACC research activities may be key identifying
opportunities to mainstream adaptation into development planning and
projects.


The USAID funding for development of a web based network and catalysing
stakeholder involvement could therefore be targeted to two main activities:
involvement of stakeholders through meetings/workshops preferably at
national level and leading to web based network at national or regional
level. This would build capacities where it is needed most.


All the best,


Ravi Sharma
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