Communication: A key to Climate Change Adaptation and Food Security.

New development challenges such as Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Food security require multidisciplinary, multi stakeholder’ action and a process of social learning for adaptive livelihoods. Within this framework, Communication for Development (ComDev) plays a key role through:

• facilitating equitable access to knowledge and information;
• promoting peoples’ participation in collaborative natural resources management;
• enhancing adaptation processes and disaster risk management;
• supporting research and advisory services for technology innovation;
• bridging the gap between global environment information, local knowledge and communities; and
• strengthening dialogue between institutions and small holders.

The Communication for Sustainable Development Initiative (CSDI)

FAO and the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Territory have launched a joint project called Communication for Sustainable Development Initiative (CSDI), to apply communication strategies and approaches to Climate Change Adaptation, sustainable Natural Resources Management (NRM) and Food Security. CSDI aims at implementing communication programmes and services in selected countries, and to make available suitable ComDev methods and tools at the international level through knowledge networks and partnerships. The CSDI strategy focuses on three main integrated components:

Normative Work. Experiences and lessons about the use of ComDev methods and tools in relevant fields such as NRM, disaster risk reduction and CCA are being systematized and made available at the international level through reports, publications and training materials.

Capacity Building. Networking and partnership is a strategic component of CSDI work. Special attention is devoted to enhancing the linkages between normative and field work, and the cooperation among stakeholders at different levels. A series of learning platforms are being supported in different regions in collaboration with institutions, communication and environmental networks.

Technical Assistance. CSDI action at the field level concentrates on supporting selected projects:

• Bangladesh – ComDev support to livelihood adaptation to Climate Change
• Bolivia - national communication plan for agricultural innovation and sustainable NRM
• Caribbean – support to a regional facility ComDev for disaster risk reduction and CCA
• Democratic Republic of Congo - support to technology innovation and CCA.