4TH DECCMA CONSORTIUM MEETING; REFLECTIONS OF THE GHANA TEAM (Kirk Anderson; PhD Candidate, DECCMA)

Background

The Deltas, vulnerability and Climate Change: Migration and Adaptation (DECCMA) Project has three main aims; these include evaluating the effectiveness of adaptation options in the deltas, assessing migration as an adaptation in the deltaic environments under a changing climate and delivering policy support to create the conditions for sustainable gender-sensitive adaptation.

To achieve these aims, the DECCMA Project has been divided into seven Work Packages (WPs) with each having well defined Work Tasks (WT). Also, in order to keep track of each country’s contribution to the realization of the objectives of the Work Tasks, a Biannual Consortium Meeting which rotates amongst the countries was instituted.

4^TH Consortium Workshop

The 4^th Consortium Meeting (12^th -15^th January, 2016) was hosted by the Northern Team at the Grand Harbour View Hotel in Southampton, United Kingdom (UK). The workshop offered each country Team and Work Packages the opportunity to showcase what has been achieved in the past six months and what are planned for the coming six months. The activities of the Workshop are as follows:

Day One

The Workshop opened with a Welcome address and an introduction to the workshop activities by the leader of the Northern Team. This was then followed by presentations from Katherine Vincent and Tracy Cull on the need to critically consider gender in all research activities conducted by DECCMA. There was another presentation that sought to bring members up to speed on the kinds of adaptation scenarios being developed by Work Package 5 to ultimately feed into the development of a successful adaptation model.

The rest of the day was devoted to Work Package and at some point joint Work Packages Meetings (breakout sessions) to carefully outline Work Tasks that are of common concern and need collaboration. Work Package Six (6) for instance had an initial joint meeting with Work Package Three (3) to clarify the role they would play in survey delivery, data collection and how to address key concerns from each country on the survey instrument. Representatives of the Gender, Research into Use (RiU) and those responsible for the development of Scenarios took turns to visit each of the Work Packages during the breakout sessions to learn at firsthand what they are doing and how they could incorporate some of their inputs into their activities.

The day’s activities was rounded up with a poster session that offered students, scientists and other researchers the opportunity of presenting preliminary findings of their studies under the DECCMA project.

Dr. Cynthia Addoquaye Tagoe (DECCMA, Ghana) explaining findings to participants during the poster presentation

A cross-section of participants at the poster session

Day Two

Prof. Judith Petts, the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Southampton gave a welcome address in which she commended participants for the good work done and further encouraged all to work harder while acknowledging the challenges that might arise in the process.

Her presentation was followed by brief presentations by heads of country itemizing works done by each work package in the last 6 months, challenges encountered and proposals on the way forward. The Country Teams also had the opportunity of sharing specific challenges they encounter in discharge of their Work Tasks. The Work Package Leads at the Consortium level then made presentations on how far they have gone in respect of meeting the deliverables of the last six months.

The day ended with an optional Mahanadi Session where fieldwork presentations were done by Southampton PhD students.

Day Three

There was a Work Package breakout Session where each Work Package at the Consortium level considered planned activities, methodologies to achieve stated deliverables and timelines for the coming six months. The workshop in-house activities ended a bit earlier than usual to afford participants the opportunity to shop and familiarize themselves with the city centre. Later in the evening at 7:00 pm was a dinner at La Lupa for all participants outside the hotel within the vicinity.

Day Four

This marks the final day; the Work Package Leads reported back on the breakout sessions held the previous day, the reports summarized upcoming activities and how they would be achieved considering what outputs would be required by other work packages in order for them to also complete their tasks. 

The workshop concluded with deliberations on lessons learnt and meeting output deadlines going forward in the next six months. IDRC (DECCMA funders) also had the opportunity to express their views on how the project has fared so far, whilst encouraging the team to continue to work harder. The IDRC representative promised they would work on the bottlenecks to releasing money for the project. The winner of the poster presentation for the PhD category was also announced during the last day of the workshop.

Participants expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting and particularly looked forward to achieving the project objectives within the given timelines.

Achievements and planned activities of the Ghana Team

WP	Last 6 Months	Next 6 Months
0.
1.	WP 1 has over the last six months completed and submitted a governance analysis report. The Team has also actively commenced the validation of stakeholders’ maps, discussion on the second round of stakeholders’ engagement and barriers to laws and implementation.	There are plans to hold the second round of stakeholder engagements by the end of March, 2016. It is also intended that a draft publication strategy document would be produced by the end of February, 2016.
2.	WP2 has revised and submitted hazard maps (addressed comments on the legend from FAO), data gap analysis (awaiting comments), and a list of models to be used. It has also submitted hazard maps to WP3 to facilitate survey. WP2 is currently working on the interpretation of the land cover map while practicing the INCA Model.	Complete the first stage of scenario development by the next Consortium meeting.
3.	WP3 has obtained shape files of all the EAs in the study area and requested for 10% of census data for the study area from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) to aid sampling. The WP has completed Net migration estimates and population projections for revised boundaries and also organised pre-test of survey questionnaire while it continues with the translation of survey questionnaire into 3 local languages (Ewe, Ga-Dangme and Twi).	The WP4 plans to commence the ‘Sending Household’ survey.
4.	The WP4 has completed data compilation on the agricultural sector from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, requested for relevant data on manufacturing from GSS and commenced the construction of the input-output table using data collected.	Plans to resolve data and documentation gaps in each of the deltas and complete the Delta-Non Delta input –output tables
5.	WP5 has submitted comments on proposed research questions and contributed to the WP5 fast track report (all countries)	Plans to conceptualize adaptation with support and cooperation from WP6 and also develop an adaptation model
6.	WP6 has updated and submitted inventory of literature on climate change adaptation in the Volta delta (based on a guidance document classifying them as adaptation, mal-adaptation, development and coping). The inventory has been uploaded on the CARIAA Knowledge Management Platform. It has also updated the climate change adaptation report (based on comments on draft, additional guidance discussed at the Consortium meeting in Accra in July 2015, shared documents from other regions, and updated inventory) submitted The WP has completed and submitted the Climate change policy inventory and Report (comments on draft received), organised and facilitated three district level stakeholder engagement events targeted at 10 districts to further assess climate change issues and adaptation responses in selected districts of the Volta delta area. It has also contributed to the development of an infographic (maps) showing where adaptations are being reported and contributed to the design the household survey for WP6.	WP6 plans in the next six months to provide support to WP3 in the Household survey, put together a RiU plan for 2016 with specified, with bi-monthly milestones and quarterly deliverables, and identify particular areas where specific adaptations are taking place in the study areas based on the adaptation inventory It also plans to develop and evaluate a suit of adaptation options based on the outcomes of the household survey and the expert level criteria received. These are intended to be validated by stakeholders at the district level but will be tailored to suit the local community. Weights would also be assigned to specific adaptation options so identified.

Ghanaian Delegation in attendance

WP

Last 6 Months

Next 6 Months

0.

1.

WP 1 has over the last six months completed and submitted a governance analysis report.

The Team has also actively commenced the validation of stakeholders’ maps, discussion on the second round of stakeholders’ engagement and barriers to laws and implementation.

There are plans to hold the second round of stakeholder engagements by the end of March, 2016.

It is also intended that a draft publication strategy document would be produced by the end of February, 2016.

2.

WP2 has revised and submitted hazard maps (addressed comments on the legend from FAO), data gap analysis (awaiting comments), and a list of models to be used. It has also submitted hazard maps to WP3 to facilitate survey.

WP2 is currently working on the interpretation of the land cover map while practicing the INCA Model.

Complete the first stage of scenario development by the next Consortium meeting.

3.

WP3 has obtained shape files of all the EAs in the study area and requested for 10% of census data for the study area from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) to aid sampling.

The WP has completed Net migration estimates and population projections for revised boundaries and also organised pre-test of survey questionnaire while it continues with the translation of survey questionnaire into 3 local languages (Ewe, Ga-Dangme and Twi).

The WP4 plans to commence the ‘Sending Household’ survey.

4.

The WP4 has completed data compilation on the agricultural sector from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, requested for relevant data on manufacturing from GSS and commenced the construction of the input-output table using data collected.

Plans to resolve data and documentation gaps in each of the deltas and complete the Delta-Non Delta input –output tables

5.

WP5 has submitted comments on proposed research questions and contributed to the WP5 fast track report (all countries)

Plans to conceptualize adaptation with support and cooperation from WP6 and also develop an adaptation model

6.

WP6 has updated and submitted inventory of literature on climate change adaptation in the Volta delta (based on a guidance document classifying them as adaptation, mal-adaptation, development and coping). The inventory has been uploaded on the CARIAA Knowledge Management Platform. It has also updated the climate change adaptation report (based on comments on draft, additional guidance discussed at the Consortium meeting in Accra in July 2015, shared documents from other regions, and updated inventory) submitted

The WP has completed and submitted the Climate change policy inventory and Report (comments on draft received), organised and facilitated three district level stakeholder engagement events targeted at 10 districts to further assess climate change issues and adaptation responses in selected districts of the Volta delta area. It has also contributed to the development of an infographic (maps) showing where adaptations are being reported and contributed to the design the household survey for WP6.

WP6 plans in the next six months to provide support to WP3 in the Household survey, put together a RiU plan for 2016 with specified, with bi-monthly milestones and quarterly deliverables, and identify particular areas where specific adaptations are taking place in the study areas based on the adaptation inventory

It also plans to develop and evaluate a suit of adaptation options based on the outcomes of the household survey and the expert level criteria received. These are intended to be validated by stakeholders at the district level but will be tailored to suit the local community. Weights would also be assigned to specific adaptation options so identified.