By Adéle Hosken and Suzanne Carter 

On 9 October 2024, CLARE researchers spoke at the Regional Resilience Hub virtual summit to discuss the topic: How to co-create for more inclusive adaptation and resilience research: lessons from practice. This blog provides a summary of some of the key discussion points. 

Shehnaaz Moosa (Director at SouthSouthNorth) opened the session with overarching framing on how co-creation approaches help us to solve complex problems within complex and often chaotic systems, that research alone cannot solve. She underlined that co-creation requires us to grapple with other knowledge, abilities, context, and cultures, to get to the root of issues and problems and create cooperative and often collaborative platforms to explore issues, identify solutions, and even deliver actions in partnership.  She stressed that by including a range of people that represent a many sectors, disciplines, and decision-making levels (from the grassroots right up to national government), there should also be recognition that they will come with different needs, incentives, knowledge, values, and challenges. Navigating these complex groups requires effective communication, respect for differences, and trust in the co-creation process. The most important outcome of the trust building phase with a wider group is to agree on shared goals.  

The panel discussion opened with specific examples of inclusion and co-creation, moderated by Suzanne Carter (R4I Hub lead, SouthSouthNorth).  Sharing her experience in co-creation, Prof Grace Oloukoi (Lead City University, Nigeria) who is a Co-PI for the PALMTREES project said: “Co-creation of knowledge is all about reducing barriers against climate adaptation. But when community actions are not there, it can never be sustainable.” 

From the discussion a few key enablers were identified. Setting ground rules for respectful communication, designating neutral facilitators to manage discussions and mediate conflicts, and strengthening the capacity of participants to engage in processes are some effective strategies to consider.  

CLARE Co-PI for the INFLOW project, Prof Liz Stephens (University of Reading and Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, UK) shared some of the challenges working in South Sudan. The financing and planning of anticipatory action is developed primarily by humanitarian communities at an international level, but it’s important to acknowledge that these frameworks are not suited for every context. For example, in places where conflict is ongoing and the impacts of floods can be long-lasting, the current structures may not be effective. This calls for a recognition and rethinking of how these systems are designed.  She highlighted that “it is important to recognise that these initiatives are not always designed to incorporate the on-the-ground experiences of diverse community members. Therefore, it is crucial to advocate for the inclusion of local perspectives and ensure that the voices of people on the ground are heard and considered in the decision-making process.” 

In many African contexts co-creation requires disruption of existing power dynamics and hierarchies. One of the challenges in addressing power dynamics on the ground is tokenism, where women are included in meetings solely to achieve gender balance, yet their perspectives are not truly reflected in the final decisions. 

In the discussion, the need for a deep understanding of the local context was stressed and to be cognisant of the consequences for marginalised groups to participate such as gender-based violence. Strategies to overcome these safety risks may include creating separate and safe spaces to have difficult conversations, sensitising participants to the potential backlash, and train stakeholders how to engage effectively to minimise risks.   

Mzingo Botha (Executive Director of Women’s Life and Wellness Foundation, Zambia) highlighted the need to provide “training, information or resources to empower participants, particularly those that are less experienced in the co-creation process so they can contribute meaningfully, identify any knowledge gaps to ensure that when a topic is being discussed, people can fully engage.” 

The panel also shared specific examples of how they are ensuring better inclusion, including: equipping women farmers and youths with knowledge and skills to engage with policymakers and leaders and hold duty-bearers to account;  providing long term placements of local country experts with IGAD’s Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) to embed country expertise; creating safe spaces for women and marginalised groups to share their lived experiences; and intentionally designing research to produce evidence for undocumented and severely impacted parts of world working closely with local partners and recruiting local students; and using gender and social inclusion frameworks to understand the impact of extreme weather events in Africa.