Climate Change Community

Solution Exchange www.solutionexchange-un.net.in

Environment

• Community Launched in July 2009

• Facilitated by UNDP

• Posted 40 CRs and 16 Community Updates

• Three action groups under progress

• Membership 1900 + including :

– Field practitioners, activists

– Planners, policy analysts

– Academicians, researchers

– Government, NGOs, Corporate groups

– Bi-lateral and multi-lateral organizations

Climate Change Community

About the Community

Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India

Resource Group

Community of PracticeFacilitator(s) - UN

HoA(s)

Support team:Resource PersonResearch Associate

Resource Group Members

Community Members

Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India

Climate Change Community

Community Organization

• To Leverage practitioner’s knowledge and immense development experience of the UN to speed up achievement of India’s development goals.

• To be acknowledged as a key forum for climate change mitigation and adaptation practitioners to connect, share, learn and collaborate.

• To develop knowledge products and collaborative efforts having a demonstrable impact on MDG and national development targets.

Climate Change Community

Objectives

Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India

• Thematic email and internet based problem solving

• Seeking, organizing and archiving experiential knowledge from practitioners in the form of “Knowledge Products”

• Knowledge to practice services through pilots (action groups)

• Face-to-face thematic workshops, seminars and conferences – networking function

Climate Change Community

Services and Benefits

Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India

Innovative Knowledge Products

Synthesis Document/

Compendium

Theme Based Consolidated Documents

Brief Notes, CRs, Thematic Papers

Inputs to 12th Plan Approach Paper –

Planning Commission

Thematic Newsletters

Ready Reckoner Thematic Folders/Leaflets

Impact Case

Studies

Theme Specific Knowledge

Supplements for Books, Journals,

Magazines, Websites

Background Papers/

Interim reports as Inputs forWorkshops

Consolidated Notesfor

Facilitating AgenciesFor New Project Designs

Thematic Guidance

Notes

Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India

DIVERSIFIED FACE TO FACE

EVENTS

Focused RoundtablesFor Specific Reports/

Approach Papers

Collaborative Thematic/Regional

Colloquium

Small Group Interface with

Govt./Policy Makers

Action Group Workshops

(Core Group Members+

Specialists)

Theme based Multi-Purpose

Annual Forums

Regional Workshops- (Thematic/

Multi-themes)

Theme based National Workshops –

Independent/Collaborative

Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India

• The Community provided a new feature – presentation of the key points of a CR in a PowerPoint format.

• The Resource Team facilitated finalization of the recommendations for research needs & priorities in the Chief Ministers’ Conclave on the Himalayan Ecosystem in October, 2009.

• The Community acts as the Secretariat for the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) Climate Change Cluster and supported organizing cluster meetings on 19 November, 2009 and 14 January 2011.

• The Resource Team posted daily updates of the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit that concluded on 19th December, 2009. Finally, a summary was also posted of the entire proceedings.

Climate Change Community

Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India

Achievements and innovations

• The Resource Person participated in the Workshop on Climate Change organized by UN WFP and prepared the Action Plan on renewable energy in February, 2010 which was a part of the recommendations to the Government of Uttarakhand.

• The Climate Change Community organized its Visioning Workshop on 29-30th April, 2010, which was attended by over 140 members and 35 members from outside Delhi.

• For the first time a document highlighting the key takeaways from the workshop was released.

Climate Change Community

Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India

Achievements and innovations (cont.)

• Discussions on three Action Groups on “Strategy for Adaptive Planning and Community Vulnerability Assessment”, “Compendium on Climate Responsive Technologies” and “Sustainable Campuses” started.

• The Resource Team facilitated the Mid Term Review (MTR) process for UNDAF Climate Change Cluster and prepared Climate Change Situation Analysis report for the MTR.

• The Resource Person contributed to the Low Carbon Life Style tool kit as one of the authors, published by UNDP/GEF SGP, Centre for Environment Education as part of the Project entitled Low Carbon Campaign of the XIX Commonwealth Games 2010, Delhi, India.

Climate Change Community

Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India

Achievements and innovations (cont.)

• The summary of the Cancun Climate Change Conference held from 29 November to 10 December 2010 was prepared as a CR.

• A short note highlighting the main issues raised in the query on Developing Mitigation Strategies for Climate Change posted by Pronab Sen, Planning Commission, and Government of India was prepared and would be considered for incorporation into the Approach Paper to India’s XIIth Five Year Plan.

• Query on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security received 57 responses and Query on Involving Self Help Groups in Addressing Climate Change (Trees for Credit) received 63 responses.

• By end of next week Community would have completed 43 queries and 3 e-discussions.

Climate Change Community

Achievements and innovations (cont.)

Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India

• Posting around 20 Queries based on UNDP Energy & Environment Portfolio and another 20 queries from other members, releasing CRs and updates.

• Organizing national annual forum to facilitate face to face interactions among members including identification of opportunities and critical and emerging issues in climate change in India. Annual Forum will be organized in May/June 2011.

• Showcasing knowledge products at “Knowledge Mela” organized with the Annual Forum involving stalls and presentations from different stakeholders.

• Organizing Regional Forum in Uttarakhand on adaptation to climate change in this region.

Climate Change Community

Plans for the year

Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India

• Printing of Consolidated Replies on selected basis and of the Low Carbon Lifestyles toolkit would be done for wider dissemination of information.

• Action groups on topics of strategic importance to the community will be organized.

• Active Action Groups include:

1. Climate Responsive Technologies.

2. Integrated Adaptive Decentralized Planning.

3. Sustainable Campuses.

Climate Change Community

Plans for the year (cont.)

Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India

Climate Change Community

• Expanding membership to have • Geographical, thematic and diverse organizations

representation

• Involving • Grassroot level government officials • Field workers , Partner organizations

• Involving young professionals • Resource group members as ‘ambassadors ’• Link up with regional and national networks• Facilitating Media coverage and face-to-face

events

Boosting Membership

Challenges for the Future

Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India

Climate Change Community

• An evaluation was carried out by the Overseas Development Institute, UK in 2010. The evaluation found Solution Exchange to be relevant and effective. It was recommended to strengthened it further.

• An earlier evaluation was carried out in 2007. The report viewed the initiative positively. It highlighted the following achievements:

1. Influence on Policies

2. Influence on Program Design

3. Improved Capacities of Individuals and Organizations

4. Changes made in Knowledge and Attitudes

Evaluation of Solution Exchange

Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India

THANK YOU

Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India