Supporting effective dialogue between scientists and humanitarian and development policymakers
Lead Research Organisation:
King's College London
Department Name: King's Policy Institutes
Abstract
This Fellowship will provide coordination and leadership for a more effective science-humanitarian
policy dialogue that utilises NERC-funded science in innovative ways to improve the prevention,
preparedness and response capacities of humanitarian and development organisations. It will
strengthen the capacity of humanitarian policymakers to better understand, apply and directly
inform relevant areas of scientific learning. It will also enhance scientists’ understanding of the
humanitarian significance of their research, the operational contexts in which it is to be applied,
and the types of expertise required to support appropriate application.
The Fellow will work directly with NERC-funded projects, engage with relevant areas of NERC’s
Natural Hazards and Climate System Theme action plans and influence policy and delivery
outcomes amongst other high-level stakeholders including: Department for International
Development, UK Collaborative on Development Science, Enhanced Learning and Research for
Humanitarian Assistance, Climate and Development Knowledge Network and a broad range of
humanitarian actors and networks.
policy dialogue that utilises NERC-funded science in innovative ways to improve the prevention,
preparedness and response capacities of humanitarian and development organisations. It will
strengthen the capacity of humanitarian policymakers to better understand, apply and directly
inform relevant areas of scientific learning. It will also enhance scientists’ understanding of the
humanitarian significance of their research, the operational contexts in which it is to be applied,
and the types of expertise required to support appropriate application.
The Fellow will work directly with NERC-funded projects, engage with relevant areas of NERC’s
Natural Hazards and Climate System Theme action plans and influence policy and delivery
outcomes amongst other high-level stakeholders including: Department for International
Development, UK Collaborative on Development Science, Enhanced Learning and Research for
Humanitarian Assistance, Climate and Development Knowledge Network and a broad range of
humanitarian actors and networks.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Emma Visman (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Carpenter, S
(2012)
Capacity.org
in Capacity.org
Challinor, A., J.
(2014)
Climate impacts: taking action in the face of uncertainty
Hill, F
(2012)
Measuring Real Impact
Kniveton D
(2015)
Dealing with uncertainty: integrating local and scientific knowledge of the climate and weather.
in Disasters
Visman, E
(2012)
Understanding uncertainty to prevent humanitarian crises
Visman, E. L.
(2012)
Tolerating the right kinds of uncertainties
Visman, El
(2012)
Climate ExChange
| Description | There is considerable potential to make more effective use of relevant scientific understandings of risk within efforts to strengthen community resilience. A range of innovative pilot studies have, for example, demonstrated the tangible benefits of providing timely, relevant weather and climate information to communities at risk of flooding and drought, and this has built trust and developed demanding 'community' customers. Understanding of the channels and approaches to enable more affective use of relevant science is growing, yet recognition of the need to support the process of enabling appropriate access to, understanding and application of relevant science still remains largely unmet. Similarly there remain few systematic opportunities for ongoing dialogue between the scientific and humanitarian and development communities, although a number of bodies, such as the ASEAN Secretariat and the UK Collaborative in Development Science (through implementation of the recommendations emanating from the UK Government Office of Science 'Use of Science Advice in Humanitarian Emergencies and Disasters' report), have undertaken to create the frameworks for such dialogue. Demonstration study engagement has underlined the vital importance of developing ongoing, two-way frameworks for dialogue to identify, develop and appropriately convey relevant scientific understandings of risk. There is growing recognition that scientists, policymakers and community actors engaged in making greater use of science benefit from collaboration, and also appreciate their respective accountability with regard to this engagement. While fellowship activities have highlighted that communities at risk, living in multi-hazard environments, are accustomed to taking decison in situations of uncertainty, it is also clear that if information is to be used appropriately and trust in scientific partners maintained, the uncertainties within scientific information need to be conveyed in understandable and applicable ways. |
| Exploitation Route | An increasing number of humanitarian and development agencies and networks have expressed interest in efforts for increased integration of relevant scientific understandings of risk within their planning and programming. Agencies and networks based in the UK, Kenya, Senegal and across South East Asia have been keen to engage with fellowship learning, identify relevant scientific partners and build in components of science-humantiarian and development dialogue within proposals. There is currently significant appetite and interest in enabling more effective use of science to support community resilience. Existing humanitarian and development networks and collaborations, both in the UK and internationally, provide important opportunities to scale up pilot work which has demonstrated tangible benefit amongst at risk communities. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Environment |
| URL | http://www.humanitarianfutures.org/about/futuresgroup/exchange |
| Description | The series of short films which have been produced over the course of the Fellowship have been well received and employed by partners within a range of their own activities . The film 'Science-humanitarian dialogue' collating KE activities from across regions (available at: http://vimeo.com/58879664 ) was, for example, employed by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs within its Climate Services meeting in February 2013, while the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) was interested in using the film 'Decoding Science, Reducing Risk' (available at http://wimeo.com/45299755 ) within training. Findings have supported a range of high-level fora, including at Wilton Park Meeting (2014), an ECOWAS forum (2013) and an ASEAN forum (2013). Findings have also informed the scope of a number of DFID programmes, including BRACED and SHEAR. Contributed to: an article for the Guardian's development professionals' network on the importance of prepositioning humanitarian relief supplies in anticipation of natural disasters (http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development-professionals-network/2013/jan/17/prepositioning-emergency-relief-work ); been part of the Editorial Committee for the recently launched Emergency Capacity Building publication 'Toward Resilience: A Guide to Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation' (http://www.ecbproject.org/new-practitioners-guide-to-disaster-risk-reduction-drr/practitioners-guide-to-drr--cca) as well as a reviewer for the 2012 Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future, Boston University 'Games for a New Climate: Experiencing the Complexity of Future Risks' (http://www.bu.edu/pardee/files/2012/11/Games-for-a-New-Climate-TF-Nov2012.pdf ); been interviewed for doctoral research at the University of Durham on 'Communication of Scientific Research to Non-Academic Publics' and a research project on the Impact of the Social Sciences being undertaken by the Public Policy Group at the London School of Economics. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2012 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Environment |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | Contribution to UK Government efforts for increased integration of science within humanitarian and development planning |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Description | Input to the World Meteorological Organisation Global Framework for Climate Services |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Sharing learning from across project at WMO GFCS learning event in Nairobi January 2016 |
| Geographic Reach | Africa |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | supporting capacity of disaster managers to use weather and climate information and climate information providers to strengthen risk communication |
| Description | Supporting creation of a regional framework for dialogue between the scientific and disaster risk management communities in the ASEAN region |
| Geographic Reach | Asia |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Description | 'All Science-Humanitarian and Development Dialogue: Pathways to Real Impact' |
| Amount | £23,600 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Government of the UK |
| Department | Government Office for Science |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2012 |
| End | 07/2012 |
| Description | 'All Science-Humanitarian and Development Dialogue: Pathways to Real Impact' |
| Amount | £23,600 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Government of the UK |
| Department | Government Office for Science |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2012 |
| End | 07/2012 |
| Title | Dialogues for Disaster Anticipation and Resilience |
| Description | Online resource of 'dialogue' approaches: methods to support effective engagement between scientists and decision makers at different levels, to support effective communication regarding relevant emerging scientific understandings of risk |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2012 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Used in a variety of workshops and toolkits |
| URL | http://dialoguesforresilience-blog.tumblr.com/ |
| Description | African Multi Disciplinary Monsoon Analysis 2050 |
| Organisation | UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | I am sub-contracted to NERC/CEH to support stakeholder engagement and monitoring, evaluation and learning for this project, I bring the KE learning from my fellowship. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Multi partner, multi institution collaboration bringing together a wide range of expertise |
| Impact | A range of technical reports have resulted from my engagement with this research project. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Building Resilience to Climate Extremes and Disasters (BRACED) projects in Ethiopia and Burkina Faso |
| Organisation | Christian Aid |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Professor Mark Pelling is the KCL lead for a team engagement in two BRACED projects, where KCL is sub-contracted by the consortia lead, Christian Aid, and I provide support on climate information services, sub-contracted from KCL |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortia is made up of a large group of partners in each country and international engagement by UK partners, all contributing specific areas of expertise including in meteorology, communication and adaptation |
| Impact | Range of policy briefs developed. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Climate science-humanitarian policy demonstration studies |
| Organisation | University of Sussex |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Contribution of time across the research project; contribution from complementary project with the regional Economic Community of West African States |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contribution of time both in the UK and internationally; resources from complementary projects; support from ongoing humanitarian and development projects with which the project was aligned |
| Impact | Reports available on the above url and as listed in the publications |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Forecast based Preparedness and Action |
| Organisation | University of Sussex |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Supported the development of a multi organisation research project to enhance early warning and preparedness action in Kenya, I am due to be sub-contracted by KCL, lead at KCL is Prof Mark Pelling, therefore not adding research grant funding details on my own records |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners include University of Oxford, UK Met Office, Kenya Met Department, ICPAC, Red Cross Kenya, Help Age International, inception phase ongoing |
| Impact | Multi disciplinary research, only just starting no outputs as yet |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Regional frameworks for science-disaster risk reduction with ASEAN and ECOWAS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | ASEAN produced a forum report, sent to all participating disaster risk reduction ministries within member states. Follow up forum continued discussion on this theme. ECOWAS have continued discussion in related areas and the debate led into the regional forum for the post 2015 Hyogo Framework. Request for engagement in developing follow up proposals and drafting regional frameworks to support strengthened dialogue between the providers and users of science to enhance community resilience |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://www.asean.org/news/asean-secretariat-news/item/bridging-science-and-practice-in-disaster-risk... |
| Description | Regional frameworks for science-disaster risk reduction with ASEAN and ECOWAS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | ASEAN produced a forum report, sent to all participating disaster risk reduction ministries within member states. Follow up forum continued discussion on this theme. ECOWAS have continued discussion in related areas and the debate led into the regional forum for the post 2015 Hyogo Framework. Request for engagement in developing follow up proposals and drafting regional frameworks to support strengthened dialogue between the providers and users of science to enhance community resilience |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://www.asean.org/news/asean-secretariat-news/item/bridging-science-and-practice-in-disaster-risk... |