Abstract
In Kenya, pastoralists have utilized natural grasslands using practices that often result in overgrazing, low productivity and low income. Such practices have caused environmental problems, which could be exacerbated by climate change. Although knowledge on practices that increase pastoralists’ capacity to adapt to climate and environmental challenges is currently available, the adoption rate remains poor. Hence, there is growing interest in understanding how cross-scale inter-organizational collaboration process either facilitates or hinders climate knowledge communications to and uptake by pastoralists. This study used network analysis to identify how inter-organizational collaborations in knowledge production and dissemination shape knowledge flow and communication to pastoralists in Kenya. A knowledge mapping workshop, key informant interviews and questionnaire surveys were used to identify the key organizations involved in the generation, brokering, and dissemination of adaptation knowledge to pastoralists. Two networks of configurations were explored: (i) relations of collaboration in knowledge production and (ii) relations of collaboration in knowledge dissemination. Measure of clustering coefficient, density, core-periphery location, and degree centrality were used to analyze the network structure and cohesion, and its influence on knowledge flow and adoption. Findings revealed a strong integration across the network with research institutes, NGOs (Non-governmental organizations), and CBOs (Community based organizations) identified as among the central actors, based on their degree centrality. Further, we observed a higher density of ties among actors in the knowledge production network than the dissemination network. The lower density of the dissemination network indicates there are not that many activities by key organizations aimed at ensuring that knowledge reaches the users, compared to activities related to knowledge generation. This also results in poor feedback processes from local pastoralists to knowledge generators and brokers. Knowledge transfer and uptake could therefore be enhanced by improving dissemination activities and feedback mechanisms in the dissemination network as a means of capturing pastoralist perspectives on the relevance, reliability, and usability of knowledge for action. Reflection and revision can be used to improve knowledge so that it is more in sync with a pastoralist context.
Highlights
Pastoralism is central to the livelihoods and well-being of millions of rural people, those in the dry arid to semi-arid regions of the world [1]
There are no records of any explicit application of decadal or longer forecasts or scenarios in the generation of climate and adaptation knowledge for pastoralists
To improve the chances for the generation of knowledge that is compatible with prioritized key national challenges in respect to adaptation of pastoral systems to climate change, it is important that the Kenyan government should increase its funding for research activities and align more with donor organizations in ensuring that local/national priorities are at the forefront agenda of externally funded activities
Summary
Pastoralism is central to the livelihoods and well-being of millions of rural people, those in the dry arid to semi-arid regions of the world [1]. Pastoralists are faced with many challenges to their livelihoods and way of life, including climate change, population growth, weak governance, and rangeland loss due to competing activities [2]. Pastoralists are confronted with the challenge of sustaining the pastoral system, without compromising the environment [3,4,5]. Pastoralism in developing countries is threatened by abandonment of less productive areas and land-use intensification of fertile areas. Despite these non-climatic challenges, climate change has become a dominant topic in the discourse concerning the sustainability of pastoralist systems [9]
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.