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Advancing climate compatible development: lessons from southern Africa

Regional Environmental Change volume 14, pages 713–725 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Climate compatible development (CCD) has emerged as a new concept that bridges climate change adaptation, mitigation and community-based development. Progress towards CCD requires multi-stakeholder, multi-sector working and the development of partnerships between actors who may not otherwise have worked together. This creates challenges and opportunities that require careful examination at project and institutional levels and necessitates the sharing of experiences between different settings. In this paper, we draw on the outcomes from a multi-stakeholder workshop held in Mozambique in 2012, the final in a series of activities in a regional project assessing emerging CCD partnerships across southern Africa. The workshop involved policymakers, researchers and representatives from NGOs and the private sector. We employ a content analysis of workshop notes and presentations to identify the progress and challenges in moving four case study countries (the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe) towards CCD pathways, by exploring experiences from both project and policy levels. To advance institutional support for the development of successful CCD policies, practices and partnerships, we conclude that there is a need for: (a) institutional development at the national level to strengthen coordination and more clearly define roles and responsibilities across sectors, based on the identification of capacity and knowledge gaps; (b) partnership development, drawing on key strengths and competences of different stakeholders and emphasising the roles of the private sector and traditional authorities; (c) learning and knowledge-sharing through national and regional fora; and (d) development of mechanisms that permit more equitable and transparent distribution of costs and benefits. These factors can facilitate development of multi-stakeholder, multi-level partnerships that are grounded in community engagement from the outset, helping to translate CCD policy statements into on-the-ground action.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK

    Lindsay C. Stringer, Andrew J. Dougill, Jen C. Dyer & Julia Leventon

  2. Kulima Integrated Development Solutions (Pty) Ltd, Postnet Suite H79, Private Bag x9118, Pietermaritzburg, 3200, South Africa

    Katharine Vincent

  3. School of Architecture and Planning, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Johannesburg, WITS 2050, South Africa

    Katharine Vincent

  4. GIZ Botswana, P.O. Box 202, Gaborone, Botswana

    Florian Fritzsche

  5. Department of Forestry, Eduardo Mondlane University, P.O. Box 257, Maputo, Mozambique

    Mario Paulo Falcão

  6. Shurugwi Partners CBO, Private Box 2799, Gweru, Zimbabwe

    Pascal Manyakaidze

  7. School of Natural Resources, Copperbelt University, Box 21692, Kitwe, Zambia

    Stephen Syampungani

  8. Faculte d’Agronomie, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo

    Gabriel Kalaba

  9. Ecolivelihoods, Apricot Cottage, Main Street, Collingham, West Yorkshire, LS22 5AR, UK

    Philip Powell

Authors
  1. Lindsay C. Stringer
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  2. Andrew J. Dougill
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  4. Katharine Vincent
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  7. Mario Paulo Falcão
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  8. Pascal Manyakaidze
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  9. Stephen Syampungani
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  10. Philip Powell
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  11. Gabriel Kalaba
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Correspondence to Lindsay C. Stringer.

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Stringer, L.C., Dougill, A.J., Dyer, J.C. et al. Advancing climate compatible development: lessons from southern Africa. Reg Environ Change 14, 713–725 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-013-0533-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-013-0533-4

Keywords

  • Climate change
  • Adaptation
  • Mitigation
  • Southern Africa
  • Multi-sector approaches
  • Policy
  • Community-based development