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START t the global change S ys T em for A nalysis, R esearch and T raining

START t the global change S ys T em for A nalysis, R esearch and T raining. IGFA 2008 Annual Meeting 1-3 October 2008 Mexico City, Mexico www.start.org. Summary. A summary of START’s research-driven capacity building activities - draw on the current portfolio

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START t the global change S ys T em for A nalysis, R esearch and T raining

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  1. STARTtthe global changeSysTem for Analysis, Research and Training IGFA 2008 Annual Meeting 1-3 October 2008 Mexico City, Mexico www.start.org

  2. Summary • A summary of START’s research-driven capacity building activities - draw on the current portfolio • Draw on SWOT analysis and recent meeting of START SSC’s Development/Strategic Planning Committee meeting • Identify OngoingChallenges related to • Programmatic • Structural • Resources Issues

  3. START mission… • Enable research in developing countries on global environmental change • Link science to decision-making for sustainable development • Leverage resources • Regional Networks, structures

  4. START is typically referred to as the Capacity Building Partner in the ESSP family • In that context, START has strategically focused on regional and national scale research-driven capacity building • The prioritization of START’s regional activities are based on the needs/priorities of the developing countries/regions, those of the core and joint projects of START’s sponsors, and those of regional and multilateral organizations, including the IPCC, UNFCCC, MDG, NEPAD, etc., as well as ICSU.

  5. Portfolio of START programs • Regional GEC research • Drivers, processes, consequences, responses • Integrated regional studies • Risk assessment • Decision support, participatory assessment • Science-policy dialogues & linkages • Capacity building • Institutional support for research networks • Fellowships & young scientist awards • Small grants programs • Advanced study institutes • GEC education

  6. Underlying Principles of START’s Capacity Building Programs Modalities of Capacity Building • Regional science planning • Collaborative research networks • Research workshops • Institutional development • Support of attendance at • international conferences • Partnering organizations • Short-term fellowships • Visiting scientists • Visiting lecturers • Dissertation / long-term • fellowships • Small grants programs • Overseas affiliations • Young Scientist opportunities • Human capacity building is • much more than training • Research-driven • Emphasize active • participation in long-term • research initiatives with • other scientists and • international science programs • Seek the multiplier effect with • early / mid-career scientists

  7. START regional research centers, nodes and secretariats Engages around 1000+ scientists from developing countries each year

  8. Key Recommendations from the current Strategic Plan (2003) • Develop coordinated, integrated research activities • Give high priority to development and implementation of a program on integrated regional studies of monsoon Asia • Encourage Policy relevant research focusing on regional vulnerabilities, risk assessment and risk management • Focus on research-driven capacity building directed to increasing the number of young scientists capable of becoming world-class scientists and playing leadership roles in international science programs as well as informing policy decisions • Seek significant increases in funding in cooperation with ICSU+ • Strengthen regionalstructures and the International START • Secretariat

  9. What have we accomplished since then? • Active support of MAIRS (Rapid Assessment Books, Asian Cities at Risk; Coupled human-natural system modeling- LCLUC emphasis - in collaboration with several institutions) • Built significant portfolio of V&A-Risk Management • AIACC: completed; AIACC phase II under consideration (TWAS, UNEP-GEF, +): >>>>>>>>>>>> • ACCCA: Ongoing (EC, DEFRA, NCAP) : 19 Pilot actions incl. stakeholders; post-2008 action with UNITAR (EC +) • ACCFP: initiated: 58 actions across Africa (IDRC, AAS, PASS-IRA/UDSM): incl. institutional strengthening • Science-Policy Dialogues post IPCC AR4 (EC, UNEP, IPCC) • Managing and Adapting to Climate Change (SIDA. SEI) • Several other under development: Knowledge platforms for climate risk management & adaptation (DGIS, WB, SEI, UNEP)

  10. AIACC project • 24 assessments • >200 publications • >100 citations in IPCC AR4 • Lead/contributing authors IPCC AR4 • Training workshops • Regional science & policy workshops • Increased developing country participation in int’l science • Science & stakeholder linkages • Contributed to National Communications & adaptation planning www.aiaccproject.org A couple of examples: Balgis Osman/Sudan >> IDRC Vincente Barros >> IPCC AR5 WG 2

  11. AIACC: case studies of vulnerability and adaptation

  12. Take home messages: • Building the capacity to adapt is adaptation • This is the intersection between climate change adaptation and development • Strengthening & sustaining institutions to generate, communicate, & apply scientific knowledge is an important part of capacity building

  13. Climate change and the poor Adapt or die Sep 11th 2008 The Economist Who will provide such resources?

  14. What have we accomplished since then? • Active support of MAIRS (Rapid Assessment Books, Asian Cities at Risk; Coupled human-natural system modeling- LCLUC emphasis - in collaboration with several institutions) • Built significant portfolio of V&A-Risk Management • AIACC: completed; AIACC phase II under consideration (TWAS, UNEP-GEF, +) • ACCCA: Ongoing (EC, DEFRA, NCAP) : 19 Pilot actions incl. stakeholders; post-2008 action with UNITAR (EC +) • ACCFP: initiated: 58 actions across Africa (IDRC, AAS, PASS-IRA/UDSM): incl. institutional strengthening • Science-Policy Dialogues post IPCC AR4 (EC, UNEP, IPCC) • Managing and Adapting to Climate Change (SIDA. SEI) • Several other under development: Knowledge platforms for climate risk management & adaptation (DGIS, WB, SEI, UNEP)

  15. What have we accomplished since then? • Initiated action on targeted Institutional Strengthening through Strategic Partnership: e,g, in Africa with SEI; others under consideration (WB, IUCN-WWF, Heinz center…, GCRI, Wageningen U., …); support under consideration from various sources • Initiated a GC-Education effort: • Climate Change & Biodiversity conservation in Albertine Rift Countries (MacArthur Fdn., seeking to expand effort) • GC Ed. For U. & high schools of developing countries (EDC-Inc., AGU + ASTC)

  16. What have we accomplished since then? • Continued Human Resource Development: • Grants/Fellowships programs • Most recently: • 15 grants to African scientists • 18 Young Africans completed PhD, 36 more well on the way • 19 Young Scientists Awards • IGBP Congress: Special African YS Session

  17. Advanced InstitutesOrganized or Co-Sponsored by START - 2007/2008 • Water Demand, Management and Governance Under Climate • Change in Africa – The Netherlands, Sept/Oct 2007 • The Asian Monsoon System: Prediction of Change and Variability - • Honolulu, Jan 2008 • IHDW Institute on GECHS/Adaptation, New Delhi, Oct 2008 • 2008-2010 under planning

  18. Q: How is START Funded? (A: on the basis of successfully peer-reviewed proposals) • International START Secretariat: • US CCSP/USGCRP; + small, but important nat’l contributions would really help! • Direct / Indirect costs on contracts - always a challenge • START Regional Centers: • Host countries • Development assistance agencies (occasional) • START Projects, including collaborative research • and capacity building: • Science research agencies • Development assistance agencies • Foundations (occasional) • Other (occasional)

  19. 2008 START Awards and Grants • Received • NSF/US Climate Change • Research Program • US/NASA • Swedish International • Development Cooperation • Agency (SIDA) • BMFB – Germany • National Science Council of • Taiwan • ICSU • Asia-Pacific Network for • Global Change Research (APN) • Pending • Netherlands Ministry of • Foreign Affairs (DGIS) • UNDER Preparation/discussion • Several [Grants directly to regional centers/secretariat not included]

  20. Looking ahead • START-SEI Partnership: Capacity building for Climate Risk management in low-middle income and least developed countries • START-APN-ICSU-East-West Center: Cities at Risk: Developing Adaptive Capacity for Climate Change in Asia’s Coastal Megacities; Advanced Institute in 2009/2010 • Regional Knowledge platforms for GEC, V&A/Risk Management; Regional Information Portals • African Small Grants Program; fellowships • Collaboration with APN and IAI and other partners • Recognition of Young Scientists: African Young Scientists’ Session at the IHDP OSM; YSC at regional levels • Contributions to IPCCS AR5, MDGs+beyond NAPAs, …

  21. Challenges Ahead • Regional / institutional structures restructure to meet new/emerging needs challenges of structure duplication START SSC sessions … • Funding: post IPCC AR4 realities Prospects for bas science CB program? • Strategic and collaborative partnerships

  22. Late Night Thoughts… Have we really made a difference? What have we accomplished?

  23. Examples of recent young heros and leaders of tomorrow: Jane Olwoch/Rwanda; Bagis Osman/Sudan Amadou Gaye/Senegal; Huy/Vietnam Francisco Meza/Chile … Examples of Regional leaders: Anond Snidvongs/Thailand Pius Yanda/Tanzania Isabelle Niang/Senegal Vincente Barros … START Alumni Network

  24. Is there still a need for Capacity Building? 2008 >> ACCFP: 276 applicants (149:127 Anglophone:Francophone) competing for 58 Awards

  25. Clearly the job is not done yet! The journey has been rewarding, but we have miles to go before we sleep and your continued partnership and support is critical!

  26. Muchas Gracias!

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