DRAFT
Science-practice interactions for effective climate change adaptation:
Identifying new approaches for collaboration between Europe and low-income-countries
International Expert Workshop
Bonn, 29 January 2014
Context
With research funds on climate change adaptation expected to increase considerably in the coming years, it is
important to explore ways of spending this as effectively as possible, in particular through improving science-practice
interactions for the benefit of effective adaptation in low-income countries. A sound knowledge-base and capacities for
analysis are key to adaptation processes. Science-practice-interaction is of special importance for successful adaptation to
climate change , e.g. in determining the relevance and legitimacy of a research question and/or identifying knowledge
needs and promising ways, means and methods to inform and implement adaptation. In addition, knowledge sharing is
important not only between “science” and “practice” within one country but can also elicit benefit across country borders
and between European and low-income-countries. In practice, however, scientists and practitioners often work solely
within their own communities. Since cooperation between these communities demands transdisciplinary skills, the
opportunity for collaboration is not yet widely embraced. Knowledge platforms for common use or workshops held
together are a good start but aren’t sufficient. The potential of knowledge sharing between Europe and low-incomecountries are as yet underdeveloped. The European Network “Climate Impact and Response Coordination for a Larger
Europe” (CIRCLE-2)1 and the German Development Institute (DIE)2 address the important role of knowledge sharing
between scientists and practitioners in the field of climate change adaptation by organizing an expert workshop.
The following questions are to be addressed at the workshop:
1. How can the most relevant research questions for European research programming be identified with regard
to climate change adaptation knowledge needs in low-income countries?
2. How can research funders in European countries improve their support for the production of sound contextspecific adaptation knowledge in low-income countries?
3. How can experiences and knowledge in science-practice-interaction from low-income-countries be used to
shape European funding programmes to develop mutual learning opportunities in science-practice-interface?
Aim of the workshop:
A) Identify relevant knowledge needs in climate change adaptation in low-income countries.
B) Identify ways to use experiences in science-practice interaction from low-income countries and from Europe to
improve collaboration between science and practice and make adaptation research more effective.
C) Discuss the role (institutional setting, actors, pathways, limitations, potentials) of research funding and
managing organizations in supporting the knowledge base and analytic capacities in low-income countries and
in strengthening collaboration.
D) Identify the way forward: how can science-practice interaction between low-income and European countries
be improved?
Organizing committee and contact:
Birgit Kuna, PT-DLR, Birgit.Kuna@dlr.de; Sachiko Ito, PT-DLR, Sachiko.Ito@dlr.de, Marianne Lillieskold,
Marianne.Lillieskold@naturvardsverket.se; Rob Swart, rob.swart@wur.nl; Britta Horstmann, DIE, Britta.Horstmann@diegdi.de; Pieter Pauw, DIE, Pieter.Pauw@die-gdi.de;
Date/venue:
1
29 January 2014, German Development Institut/ Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), Bonn
CIRCLE-2 is a European Network of 34 institutions from 23 countries committed to fund research and share knowledge on climate
adaptation and the promotion of long-term cooperation among national and regional climate change programmes.
2
The German Development Institute/Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungpolitik (DIE) is a research institution for global development
and international development policy that combines research, consulting and professional training. DIE builds bridges between theory
and practice and works within international research networks.
DRAFT
Preliminary Programme
08.30
Registration
Coffee/tea
09:00
Plenary opening
09.30
Identification of researchpractice priority needs in
climate change adaptation
from the perspective of lowincome-countries
(workshop goal A)
11:00
Coffee break
11:30
What are strength and
weaknesses of knowledge
development and sharing
processes and structures?
(workshop goal B)
13:45
Lunch
14:00
The role of research funding
organizations in supporting the
knowledge base in low-income
countries and in strengthening
cooperation
(workshop goal C)
15.30
Coffee/tea
16:00
Identify the way forward: how
can science-practice
interaction between lowincome and European
countries be improved?
(workshop goal D)
17:00


Welcome
Objectives and Agenda (CIRCLE2/DIE)
1. What are relevant adaptation-related knowledge needs in low-income
countries and how can these be identified?
2. What are related (research policy) processes and structures that
shape knowledge sharing between science and practice and what is
the governance behind these? How are topics selected and who
selects topics?
3. How can experiences in science-practice interaction from low-incomecountries be used to shape European funding programmes?
4. What are strength and weaknesses of these processes and
structures? What are gaps?
Plenary presentations (15 + 5 minutes) on:
 How to frame a global research agenda on climate change
adaptation? The process of prioritizing research themes
 Identifying knowledge needs in low-income countries – comparing
UN/global approaches and formats
 Meeting knowledge needs in low-income countries – overview
from a practice-oriented approach
 Adaptation and knowledge needs in low-income countries – a
practice-oriented approach from a national perspective
Panel discussion with brief 5 minutes inputs/reflections:
 An analytical perspective on the science/practice gap
 CCA Knowledge brokering and network
 An NGO perspective
 A development agency perspective
 A research cooperation perspective
Four plenary presentations (15 + 5 minutes) plus discussion on (current
institutional setting, actors, pathways, limitations, potentials).
1. Views from Brussels
2. What is the potential role of JPI in supporting the knowledge base and
analytic capacities in low-income countries in the field of CCA
3. Regional research programming – African initiatives
4. Supporting the knowledge base and analytical capacities in Africa –
an African view
Discussion with all participants
Wrap up and closure