Stakeholder Engagement

Engaging stakeholders to build adaptive capacity to improve food security in the face of climate change

13 April 2007

Problem Statement

Adaptation to climate change requires multiple stakeholders to change their behavior. It is not possible for research to contribute to improving adaptive capacity without a comprehensive understanding of the context in which decisions about adaptation are made, and the capacity of decision makers’ to change. Only then can climate information, new technologies or other adaptation strategies be considered. The process of adaptation is always constrained by the institutional, social, economic and political environment in which people must operate.

Engaging stakeholders on how they might adapt to climate change is a challenging endeavor, and we cannot take participation for granted. This is especially true in developing countries due to the uncertainties associated with identifying the impacts of climate change and the many problems that farmers and decision makers already face. Stakeholder engagement is best initiated from the start, and this process is a topic of considerable research. Although there are examples of good practice, these experiences are not sufficient for dealing with the complexities of climate change in the developing world. There are limitations in methods and experiences in both groups. Some of the key lessons learned to date are:

1. Adaptation and innovation require collaborative learning processes, which force researchers to be more flexible and open-ended in their projects. This is not a natural role for researchers, and requires the inclusion of people with skills in facilitation and integration across disciplines and perspectives.

2. The role of scientific information in the process of adaptation is different from traditional research projects, as information is but one of many factors influencing decisions. Furthermore, collaboration with stakeholders requires researchers to...