IPROMO 2021 Summer School

Post-COVID-19 Recovery in Mountain Areas

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an incredible loss of life worldwide and has posed an unprecedented challenge to public health while disrupting economies.

The pandemic and the restrictions adopted by countries to respond to it have amplified the existing vulnerabilities and marginalization of mountain communities. Mountain livelihoods – which rely mostly on agriculture, tourism and remittances – have been particularly affected by the global lockdowns. The prolonged recession that is unfolding will require special attention to ensure that the most vulnerable among mountain people – particularly women and youth – are not pushed further into poverty and deprivation, and that pressure on natural resources does not increase

The latest study on mountain peoples’ vulnerability to food insecurity found that in 2000, 44 percent of the rural mountain population, or 243 million people, was vulnerable to food insecurity. By 2017, this number had increased to 53 percent – the equivalent of 346 million people. While the number of vulnerable rural mountain people has increased in all regions, some suffered more than others. In Africa, almost 7 out of 10 were vulnerable to food insecurity, and Africa accounted for half of the increase in the number of vulnerable rural mountain people observed worldwide between 2000 to 2017. As the study only assessed the vulnerability of people living in rural areas, the total number of mountain people that do not have safe and regular access to food for healthy lives is presumably even higher, regardless of their location.

Vulnerability to food insecurity is not the only challenge mountain communities face. Mountain people are often marginalized. Natural hazards, climate change, conflicts and land degradation as well as limited access to infrastructures, markets, education and capacity building opportunities contribute to poverty and inequality, reducing mountain people's ability to cope with food shortages and other shocks.

While all of the above-mentioned challenges are still present in mountains today and have likely worsened since the start of the pandemic, we can view the global crisis as an opportunity to build back better by improving mountain people’s livelihoods to make them more resilient while also protecting mountain environments.

Objectives

The IPROMO 2021 Summer School will focus on several aspects, tools and skills that contribute to an integrated management of mountain areas through the many aspects involved in recovery plans and the concept to “build back better.” 

Topics include: basic understanding of sustainable mountain development, climate change in mountains, transforming agrifood systems to increase resilience, sustainable forest management as an asset for green recovery, mountain tourism, and a zoom-in on regional perspectives.

Working groups will be formed, allowing participants to share their knowledge and build a network of experts.

Structure and Venue

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the course will be held on line during the period 6-19 July 2021. It will include four 45-minute modules per day, followed by a 15-minute slot for Q&A per module, for a total of four hours of lessons per day.

The summer school will utilize the e-learning platforms MOODLE and CISCO WEBEX. All lessons will be available both live and recorded.

At the end of each day, a questionnaire related to the lesson topic will be distributed to participants to be completed before the following lesson.

The course will accept approximately 35 participants, who will be selected among government staff, development experts and technicians from all over the world.

All online classes will be made publicly available through the YouTube channel.

Basic information

Scientific Directors:

Professor Michele Freppaz - Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA) - Interdepartmental Research Centre on Natural Risks in Mountain and Hilly Environments (NatRisk), University of Turin, Italy

Professor Giuseppe Scarascia Mugnozza - Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy

Programme coordinator:

Rosalaura Romeo - Mountain Partnership Secretariat, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, Italy

Chair and course managers:

Danilo Godone - National Research Council, Research Institute for Hydrogeological Prevention and Protection (CNR - IRPI), Geohazard Monitoring Group, Turin, Italy

Tommaso Chiti - Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy

Official course language:

English

Requirements:

Excellent command of English
Advanced scientific degree