tom hammett
TRANSCRIPT
“Building capacity to meet climate change and resilient livelihood challenges: education and training are the missing link”
Dr. Tom Hammett, Director, innovATE and Professor, Virginia Tech
and
Dr. Mike Rechlin, Future Generations
13 Jan. 2015
Kathmandu
Background
Programs seek to solve challenges caused by climate change, build livelihoods;
Science points to potential solutions; but, lacks local options;
Little local awareness of challenges, causes, and long-term results; and
Lack of trained manpower, to meet these challenges, and to work at the local level
2
Observations
At national level, policies to meet international needs have been debated
But these policies often do not meet needs at local level
Or policies may not be implemented due to lack of trained personnel
So, need to bridge gap between national policies and local adaptation
3
What is the relevance to managing local landscape?
5
And to managing local resources?
Need a pathway that
Links our education and training programs with these challenges;
Blends pilot projects in education and training with climate change coping;
Ensures livelihoods opportunities; and
Fosters economic growth programs that are sustainable
6
What about gender equity?
And income generation?
Realizing the importance of Climate Change – first steps:
Awareness created
Importance understood
Included in schooling
Added to curricula
Incorporated in workforce development training
Need capacity to:
Assess teaching and training facilities, programs, and other resources
Identify gaps in skills, courses, etc.
Build strategies appropriate and relevant to current local and national conditions
Link to resources needed to implement these strategies
Work with local programs and institutions to meet these challenges
10
We need to:
Ensure that our research is relevant;
Present results in useful formats;
Share our results where needed; and
Incorporate education and outreach into our research
11
12
Research Results
Data
Development practitioners
Information flow
13
Research Results
Data
Development practitioners
Information flow
Local level stakeholders
Field personnel need to:
Understand national climate adaptation strategies;
Have knowledge and skills necessary to interpret these strategies; and
Have the ability to implement adaptation measures at local level
14
Strengthen understanding at training and education institutions
Include all levels: Primary schools
Secondary schools
Vocational and technical schools
Youth programs
Workforce development
Higher education
Distribution
Short-term Education Institution
Supply
Processing Harvesting Production
Inputs
Work-force
development
University
University
Skills and Jobs
Agricultural Value Chain
Primary School
Vocational/Technical
School
Demand
Secondary School
Youth
17 Planning, coordination, and cooperation!
The way forward
How can our discussion today (here) be made more relevant? and
How best to address key issues at the local level?
Identify and close the gaps!
18
Let’s start the discussion
Photo credit: Gates Foundation
20
InnovATE Goal
To cultivate the human and institutional capacity of education systems necessary for developing countries to promote rural innovation, achieve sustainable food security, reduce poverty, and conserve natural resources
Who is innovATE?
Implemented by a consortium of US universities:
Virginia Tech is the lead with • Tuskegee University, • Penn State University • University of Florida, and • others
Photo credit: Gates Foundation
InnovATE is improving the resilience of the agricultural workforce through strengthened capacity of agricultural education institutions
Photo credit: Gates Foundation
The integrated program approach centers on student-focused outcomes which meet labor market demand for professional skills
Photo credit: Gates Foundation
The ultimate goal is more effective performance of institutions by increasing the alignment of professional skills to employer demand
Photo credit: Gates Foundation
innovATE Program activities
Applied research – gaps, best practices
Training data base
Web-site
Assessments; supply and demand
Training workshops
Community of practice
26
"THE TRUE MEANING OF LIFE IS TO PLANT TREES UNDER WHOSE SHADE YOU DO NOT EXPECT TO SIT." Nelson Henderson
27