’

‘My Contribution to Understanding and Tackling the Climate Change and Development Nexus’

(Telling a story through a case study of a development project, Kenya -a knowledge management and knowledge transfer perspective)

Dr Parminder Singh Sahota

Presentation structure

• Background to  the Project case study and a conceptual framework of its knowledge repository

• Data collection and mapping onto the knowledge matrix – agencies against knowledge archetypes

• Examples of data collected and interventions 

• The knowledge matrix – gaps and interventions

• Summary – relevance of case study and skill set required

Background to the Project and its knowledge repository

The Environment(MDG  

UNFCCC, GLOBALECONOMICS)

The case study

•The information used for decision making is stored in various physical locations (knowledge repository)

• Knowledge repositories have knowledge storing and information processing capabilities

AGENCIES KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE COLLECTION METHODOLOGY Map onto knowledge audit matrix

Individual and Groups Socio-economic data, farm location, size, history and current state, farmer knowledge and skills in farm management, group structures 

Base line survey, satellite mapping, site risk assessment and semi-structured interviews and desk study

Area Infrastructure – roads, shopping centre, bridges, water sources, water availability and  quality, soil types and condition, climatic data

Satellite mapping, walks with local farmers, water testing, soil testing, interviews with farmers, agencies, institutions and NGOs and maps

National    National policies on poverty reduction, agriculture, water management, exports , cost of doing business

Desk Study, meetings and interview

Local Administration (Chiefs, District Officers

Location requirements of engagement with the local farmers and groups

Meetings and interviews

Ministries (Agriculture, Water, Land)

 Policies on agriculture and water management. Identify areas of cooperation and assistance available

Meetings and interviews

Local Supply Chain Actors Identify suppliers and exporters Local contacts and networks, interviews

European Supply Chain Actors Identify customer Desk Study, email, interviews

Technology Identify current technologies in use

Base line survey

NGOs, local and overseas universities and institutions

Local projects carried out, identify relevant expertise

Desk study, email and interviews

Knowledge requirements and collection

Mean annual rain

800 to 1000 mm

General Slope Location, size and water sources

Soil Map Rainfall distribution

 Baseline 

• Poverty and low incomes• Inadequate Natural Resource 

Infrastructure• Maintenance and deterioration of 

existing  infrastructure• Inadequate  human capital skills for 

system planning and management• Few proper and empowered 

institutions• Inappropriate land use and 

management• Inadequate knowledge in good 

agricultural practices• Poor health and sanitation• Low education• Gender inequality and child mortality

Climate Change data

• Rainfall patterns inconsistent and makes scenario generation under current conditions difficult

• It is expected that such extremes could potentially increase and exasperate current vulnerability (UNEP 2007)

• Mean annual temperature has increased since 1960 by 1 degree

• There is a projected increase in temperature by 2060 to 2.8 degrees and  by 2100 by 4 degrees (UNEP 2009)

• Such increases will have serious impacts on diverse aspects of climate venerable sectors in Kenya  (NEMR 2009)

• Predicting precipitation at downscaled level  proved to be difficult.

• Rivers are drying up and becoming seasonal

Flooding caused by R.Samuru in Thayu. Land degradation

Demonstration farms Drip irrigation

Water harvesting Field Schools

Spring well protection Community interaction

EmbrainedFormal, abstract ortheoretical knowledge“universal laws”(abstract knowledge - knowing)Individual explicit

EmbodiedAction oriented-Context specific(knowing how – practical thinking and experience, intimate knowledge of a situation)Individual tacit

EncodedInformation conveyed through signs and signals

Collective explicit

EmbeddedKnowledge insystemic routines and shared norms

Collective tacit

EnculturedShared understanding through socialisation it is dependent on language, socially constructed and open to negotiation

Collective explicit

Individual and Groups Limited  Limited  Limited  Limited 

Area Limited  Limited  Limited 

National    Limited Limited

Local Administration (Chiefs, District Officers

Limited Limited  Limited  Limited Limited

Ministries (Agriculture, Water, Land)

Limited

Local Supply Chain Actors

Limited  Limited  Limited  Limited Limited

European Supply Chain Actors

Limited

Technology Limited  Limited  Limited  Limited  Limited 

NGOs, local and overseas universities and institutions

Limited  Limited 

The knowledge audit matrix – gaps and interventions

Knowledge flows and knowledge transfer - building adaptive capacity

This approach provided a road map to develop and implement strategies for:

 targeted change in the knowledge repository for both reactive adaptation                         and anticipatory  adaptation

maintenance of  the desired knowledge for the targeted knowledge                       repository

 ***redundancy or slack (or fat)  i.e. build into the system the ability to                         respond to  the unforeseen in ways that are not covered by existing                       procedures and mind-sets 

***The project did not anticipate the post election violence that griped Kenya in 2007 – 2008, and this led to system failures, for example:

• Supply chain disruptions • Famers mind sets

Summary – relevance of case study and skill set required

• Project management, consultancy and engagement skills in the developing world

• Problem identification, proposal writing, research and analytical skills

• Networking expertise and awareness of policies on global frameworks related to        climate  change and  development

• Preparation of training materials and teaching

• Expertise in knowledge management, innovation and supply chain management

• Good understanding of risk management and adaptation