Question from WAVE videoblogger Sakshi Saini regarding training poor women about effects of climate change

Dear Members,

I am working on a project funded by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and National Communication, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India (NATCOM) on Climate change and its impact on water. As a part of this project we are trying to collate some of the adaptive measures being taken by the community.

Government of India and several research institutes are conducting research to develop strategies for enhancing adaptive capacity of society for food security, energy security etc. Women in Indian society are mostly responsible for accession and management of resources particularly water. However, awareness on climate change is limited, particularly in urban areas.

Since climate change is likely to have a significant impact on poor women, it is imperative that awareness levels on coping strategies to climate change need to be enhanced. Appropriate communication materials that can raise the awareness of poor urban women about climate change, its impacts and possible adaptation strategies are essential. In this backdrop, an effort is being made to develop a campaign module for the Urban Poor Women residing in the slums of Delhi.

In the base line study it was observed that women living in slums have almost no knowledge about climate change and adaptive mechanisms, although they are facing the brunt of it. Promotion of suitable practices to adapt to climate change will be the main focus of the campaign. The campaign strategy that ultimately emerges through these stakeholder consultations will be field tested in randomly selected slums of Delhi.

Given the above background, I would like members’ inputs on the following:

What could be the components of such a campaign strategy for urban poor women residing in the slums of Delhi?

Are there any modules/ training materials (Design, Methodology, IEC materials and Tools) that have been used in other states?

Are there any examples of efficient, effective and reliable training and capacity building systems being followed by communities to deal with climate change for urban poor women?

Your responses would help us in drawing up a suitable and effective capacity building strategy. All inputs would be suitably acknowledged.

Sakshi Saini
Department of Development Communication and Extension
University of Delhi
New Delhi