This research project seeks to better understand how climate science and agriculture policy development interact and influence each other for greater climate adaptation

CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security

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This research project seeks to better understand how climate science and agriculture policy development interact and influence each other.Policy-making is often characterized as a rational step-by-step process that, through looking at best practices and evidence leads to a successful change of some kind. In reality, the policy process is much more complex. This is particularly true when it comes to creating policies for climate adaptation, as climate change is a never before experienced challenge in need of swift action.Ideally, climate adaptive policy creation should involve collaborations across different sectors using appropriate climate science. However, there is a wide knowledge gap around how policy-makers incorporate climate data into policies, or how they work with scientists to ensure use of meaningful climate information. In light of this, a research project led by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) is spearheading an extensive analysis around climate governance and policy-science-practice interactions. The aim is to improve the understanding of policy processes, and how these might affect the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers and pastoralists. An improved understanding of policy processes will contribute to more strategic engagement between scientists and policy-makers that can support more relevant, equitable and climate-resilient policies. Findings will also help answer questions around what type of climate information and tools policy-makers use to set investment priorities, and how science can better support the creation and implementation of climate-resilient food systems policies. This four-year project forms a crucial part of the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) policies and institutions research in West and East Africa.Policy and governance analysisThe research team is conducting a cross-scalar analysis of actual policy formulation and implementation processes in Ethiopia and Senegal. Photo: C. Schubert (CCAFS) Analyzing how science and policy interact for improved climate adaptation policies Policies and Institutions: Project is led by:The Flagship on ‘Policies and institutions for climate-resilient food systems’ under the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) supports the development and implementation of equitable policies that integrate climate change into agricultural policies, and vice versa. The Flagship works to better understand governance mechanisms, institutions and power dynamics that affect climate and food systems governance, and to integrate innovative climate tools and knowledge into decision making processes for more climate-resilient food systems. Learn more: www.ccafs.cgiar.org Outcomes and targets: Scientists, policy-makers and international development organizations will benefit from a more precise understanding of how and why different science-policy governance models work, or don’t work, for more effective interactions, deeper engagement and stronger platforms to improve climate-resilient food systems. Through more efficient engagement, this work will encourage a policy change that takes into account equity and climate-smart practices in Senegal. “The science community is not always doing its best in bringing science to policy-makers, to ensure climate policies are informed by the best, and most relevant science. Insights from our research could help change this,” Lance Robinson, Project Leader ILRIThe project team examines the extent to which scientists, embedded in the policy process, are listening, understanding, and receiving feedback from policy-makers and incorporating their needs into the research process.The team is also looking at how science is used and incorporated into national-level policy-making and formulation, as well as the power dynamics in the science-policy relationship. Power dynamics are analyzed through investigating who is included in the policy formulation, and the potential effect the group composition might have.Case studies from Ethiopia and Senegal The project analyses actual agro-pastoralist science-policy processes. One case study is a national-level platform focusing on climate change, agriculture and food security issues in Senegal. It was created by the CCAFS West Africa program back in 2012. The platform holds regular meetings for knowledge-exchanges and updates between stakeholders such as policy-makers, researchers, farmers’ organizations and civil society groups.In Ethiopia the team studies emerging interactions between stakeholders and policy-makers working together on the development of a Livestock Master plan within the Climate Resilient Green Economy program.The project ‘Analyzing how science and policy interact for improved climate adaptation policies’ is led by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) as part of the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) policies and institutions research in East and West Africa.  CCAFS is a strategic partnership of CGIAR and Future Earth led by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). The program is supported by CGIAR Fund Donors, Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA),  Australian Govern-ment (ACIAR), Irish Aid, Environment Canada, Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Netherlands, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical (IICT), UK Aid, Government of Russia, The European Union, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with technical support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).Learn more: http://bit.ly/ILRIEAWA Contact: Project Manager Lance Robinson: l.robinson@cgiar.orgPhoto: Unicef EthiopiaThrough analyzing actual interactions the team will be able to study the real dynamics of scientists, policy-makers and other stakeholders as they collaborate, influence and guide policy development and implementation.Project deliverables:•	Analysis of cross-scale governance and policy dynamics in Senegal and Ethiopia•	Conceptual framework for analyzing cross-level science-policy interactions•	Policy briefs and journal articles on cross-scale governance and the science-policy interface•	Description of the relevant policy environment in pastoral and agro-pastoral settings in Ethiopia and Senegal and its impacts on livelihoods and adoption of climate-smart agriculture •	Assessment of science-policy exchange processes and recommendations for the organization of science-policy platforms.

Analyzing how science and policy interact for improved climate adaptation policies

https://cgspace.cgiar.org/bitstream/10568/68622/1/ILRIEA.pdf

Analyzing how science and policy interact for improved climate adaptation policies

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