MAINSTREAMING CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION
SESSION 2: COMMUNITY VISIONING
2012
Objectives:
Participants are able to understand what community visioning is, why it is used and
how to conduct it
Participants are able to conceptualise and envision relevant DRR/Climate Change
Adaptation outcomes from VCA data
Participants are able to learn skills and confidence to facilitate this process in their
communities
The next step in the CBDRR process, Community Visioning, aims to move away from
problem-based planning, to a more visionary approach – looking at where a
community desires to be in terms of the future development of their community, and
how to get there.
Community visioning allows people to express their vision of their disaster-proofed
community. If consensus can be reached in the community on common aspirations
and priority long-term goals, a climate resilient plan of action will be more directed
and strategic – this can enhance the selection, prioritisation and sequencing of
actions in the plan. It will ensure that the climate resilient plan is community-led, and
contributes not just to disaster risk objectives, but to achieving long-term community
development ambitions – so truly integrating DRR into the development process. It is
also this stage that communities will develop their own indicators for successful
implementation of risk reduction initiatives, and these can be expressed as
outcomes.
On the basis of Capacity Analysis, the Vision must be realistic and achievable – i.e.
within current resources and capabilities. Participants may also be asked to imagine
the roles they would play in attaining their vision. By focusing on hopes, ambitions,
and roles, Community Visioning brings a sense of empowerment and motivation,
building on the strengths of the current situation.
The process of conducting the vision is as important as the final outcome: it is a
shared negotiation for community members to articulate and then coalesce around
agreed priorities. It should deliberately include marginalised groups, who can make
vital contributions to the direction of their future resilient society.
The aim is to develop an overall statement of what people wish for their community in
the long-term (10 year) – e.g. “By 2020 we will be a vibrant community where people
like to live and work, households are well-fed and resilient to threats from drought,
and everyone is able to access health and education services…” To reach consensus
in a large group, it is useful to start with small groups (these could be divided by
socioeconomic groups, or by issue areas) who discuss and write down their ideas for
hopes and visions, then combine into increasingly large groups, to build up
agreement across the participants. Once a vision statement (or key elements of it) is
A Training Manual on Use of Climate Information and Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment for
Agricultural Extension Staff in Zimbabwe
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