Abstract
Climate-compatible development (CCD) is being operationalised across the developing world through projects that integrate development, adaptation and mitigation using community-based approaches—community-based CCD (CB-CCD). By incorporating and considering local people’s concerns, these projects are positioned as more effective, efficient and sustainable than ‘top-down’ climate and development solutions. However, the literature pays little attention to whether and how these projects achieve procedural justice by recognising local people’s identities, cultures and values; and providing local people with meaningful participatory opportunities. We address this gap through an analysis of two donor-funded CB-CCD projects in Malawi, drawing on household surveys, semi-structured interviews and documentary materials. Our findings show that the projects had only limited success in facilitating procedural justice for the target populations. Households’ meaningful engagement in project activities and decision-making was often curtailed because power asymmetries went unchallenged. While many households were well engaged in projects, the recognition and participation of others—including many of the most vulnerable households—was limited. Building on our findings, we present a six-step approach to help CB-CCD project staff understand, manage and challenge power asymmetries; and create widespread recognition of, and meaningful participatory opportunities for, local people.
Highlights
IntroductionIn conjunction with other stressors (e.g., poverty, inequality, disease), climate change impacts are already compromising the achievement of development goals (e.g., poverty reduction, access to clean water, food security) [1]
In conjunction with other stressors, climate change impacts are already compromising the achievement of development goals [1]
Procedural justice opportunities afforded to local people within Project Introduction, Execution and Monitoring and Evaluation Spaces are presented
Summary
In conjunction with other stressors (e.g., poverty, inequality, disease), climate change impacts are already compromising the achievement of development goals (e.g., poverty reduction, access to clean water, food security) [1]. In this context, climate-compatible development (CCD) is emerging as a way of mainstreaming climate change mitigation (‘mitigation’) and climate change adaptation (‘adaptation’) within development efforts [2]. Cultural, climatic and other differences require that the projects are implemented differently across target villages [31,50]. Traditional Authorities, which form part of district governments [61], facilitated meetings between project staff, Group Village Heads (GVH) and Village Heads (VH). The testimony of VH NV1 supported NGO interviewees’ statements that
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