Co-designing vulnerability assessment methodology with local actors in Benin

After a warm welcome from Mr. Seibou, Director of the CePED, Climate Analytics’ national implementing partner, participants began to consolidate the three thematic research groups initially formed around the three priority sectors at the first scientific workshop in December 2017. Each of these groups comprises a different category of stakeholders and is responsible for conducting the vulnerability study under their respective sectors.

Over several working sessions, the three thematic groups identified a common conceptual framework for climate vulnerability assessments as well as a first set of indicators for different aspects of both contemporary and future vulnerability in each sector. They also made a joint decision to follow the AR 4 vulnerability framing conceptualising vulnerability as a function of exposure and sensitivity to climatic stressors and adaptive capacity of the system or sector (IPCC, 2007).

Thus, each group discussed the necessary steps in developing the full impact chains and the data needed at each stage. The agricultural sector study will focus on the potential challenges brought along by climate change in the agricultural development pole nr 4 (point 1), whereas the water sector study will focus on flood risk and water availability in the Ouémé River Basin by 2050 (point 2). The health sector study will focus on the influence of climate change on malaria risks in the Southern Region of Benin by 2050 (point 3).

1. Agriculture sector vulnerability assessment (Agriculture)

The research group proposed a bio-economic modelling approach, which integrates historical climate change and variability as well as future climate projections, crop and economic optimisation models to assess both contemporary and future vulnerability of the agricultural sector.

2. Water sector vulnerability assessment (Water)

The research group will estimate (a)both contemporary and future flood risk and potential flood-prone areas in the Ouémé river basin using analysis of extreme rainfall events and hydrological modelling; (b) Vulnerability to flood by integrating information on flood risk and adaptive capacity and © Water availability using analysis of rainfall variability and change and hydrological modelling. Water use data and information on adaptive capacity will be combined to estimate vulnerability to water scarcity.

3. Health sector vulnerability assessment (Health)

As an endemic disease and the main cause of mortality of children under the age of 5, Malaria is an important public health concern in Benin. The research group will estimate impacts of rainfall and temperature variability and change on Malaria prevalence. Later, it will map out potential population groups and areas at risk of malaria disease-transmission. By integrating information on adaptive capacity (e.g. income, direct and indirect cost of treatment of simple and severe malaria, accessibility to treatment centre) coupled with information on Malaria risk, the group will be able to assess vulnerability to Malaria under climate change.

Lessons learnt

Several lessons can be learnt from this participatory vulnerability assessment methodology development.
First, centring the workshop around more ‘technical’ discussions, we have been able to create a space for informal exchanges between researchers from universities, public research institution, practitioners and government agencies, unlocking a plethora of opportunities for collaboration between institutions who otherwise rarely interact directly. A key example was the informal discussion between university researchers and Meteo Benin, the national meteorological agency, on access to historical climate data and the need for more structural collaborations or partnerships beyond the framework of projects such as PAS-PNA.

Second, this workshop enabled the identification of a wide array of expertise and competences of the members across the different thematic groups and, more importantly, demonstrated how well they complemented each other.
More importantly, it has demonstrated, not only how well they complement each other, but also how an integrated approach can facilitate policy-relevant research.

Finally, having a policy actor as the facilitator of the workshop was crucial in bridging the gaps between research and policy. It helped researchers understand what national politicians may expect from the in-depth vulnerability studies and, more generally, how results can be communicated to facilitate their uptake in decision-making processes.