Knowledge Exchange Workshop on Climate Adaptation and Participatory Action Research in Accra, Ghana

2010/10/05

Members of the ICLEI Africa Climate Adaptation team recently participated in the Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (CCAA) knowledge exchange training workshop on Participatory Action Research (PAR) held in Accra, Ghana from 20-25 September 2010. The workshop was hosted by the Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) of the University of Ghana and was funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Department for International Development (DFID).


The aim of the workshop was to bring together project representatives from across Africa under the Climate Change Adaptation in Africa programme to exchange knowledge, share lessons learnt and unpack the steps and methods under the theory of Participatory Action Research (PAR) and climate change adaptation.



Vulnerable communities visited in Accra, Agbogbloshie

The workshop included a study site visit, whereby workshop participants visited two communities that the RIPS team is currently involving in their climate adaptation project through the PAR process, under the CCAA programme.  The two communities within Accra were Agbogbloshie, a densely populated community impacted by flooding and health related risks and Ussher Town, a coastal community affected by mean sea level rise, causing coastal erosion; and changes in fish harvesting due to sea surface temperature variability.

Vulnerable communitires visited in Accra: Ussher Town

ICLEI Africa’s Adaptation team had the opportunity to present its climate adaptation in Africa project under the CCAA program which is funded by the IDRC and DFID, entitled ‘Sub-Saharan African Cities: A Five-City Network to Pioneer Climate Adaptation through Participatory Research and Local Action’. The presentation showcased the project activities undertaken and the project achievements made within the first year of the project, including successes, challenges and lessons learnt in the implementation of Participatory Action Research. The team had an opportunity to share and reflect on other project experiences during this knowledge sharing exchange sessions during the course of the week.