Status conference | Session # 33 Stakeholders, knowledge & transdisciplinarity

Stakeholder Involvement & Knowledge Integration :

Transdisciplinary Approaches

for the Future Okavango

Laura Schmidt, University of Hamburg

Stephanie Domptail, University of Giessen | Lucky Ganeb, DRFN, Windhoek, Namibia

Martin Gruber, University of Bremen | Meshack Kwamovo, TFO Para-ecologist, Botswana

Robert Mukuya, TFO Para-ecologist, Namibia | Michael Pröpper, University of Hamburg

Miguel Sachilulo, TFO Para-ecologist, Angola | Ute Schmiedel, University of Hamburg

Maxon Simfukwe, CEDP, Katima Mulilo, Namibia | Ibo Zimmermann, Polytechnic, Windhoek

[1] Introduction on TFO So

urc

e: M

en

de

lso

hn

& e

l Ob

eid

(20

05)

Objective is to support a sustainable land-use and resource

management in the Okavango Basin with scientific knowledge

Focussing on 4 study core sites

Sou

rce:

Me

nd

els

oh

n &

el O

be

id (

200

5)

[1] Introduction on TFO

Objective is to support a sustainable land-use and resource

management in the Okavango Basin with scientific knowledge

Levels of stakeholder-involvement in the Okavango Basin

Transboundary

Botswana Angola Namibia

Regional Regional Regional

Local Local Local

[1] Introduction on TFO

Transboundary

Local Local Local

Stakeholder-Integration as one aspect of transdisciplinarity:

[2] Transdisciplinary Approach

SCIENCE

DECISION-MAKERS

PRACTICE

mutual learning &

knowledge integration

TFO

STAKEHOLDER

TFO

Instruments for Integration:

Involvement as direct project

partners

STAKEHOLDER

[2] Transdisciplinary Approach [Local Level]

TFO

Instruments for Integration:

Involvement as direct project

partners

Cooperation with existing

structures

STAKEHOLDER

[2] Transdisciplinary Approach [Local Level]

TFO

Instruments for Integration:

Involvement as direct project

partners

Cooperation with existing

structures

Para-Ecologists

STAKEHOLDER

[2] Transdisciplinary Approach [Local Level]

Meshack with TFO researchers in the field

As intermediaries between the community

and researchers

TFO

Instruments for Integration:

Involvement as direct project

partners

Cooperation with existing

structures

Para-Ecologists

FIRM approach

STAKEHOLDER

[2] Transdisciplinary Approach [Local Level]

FIRM-meeting in Mashare

TFO soil scientists discussing results

Forum for Integrated Resource Management

A platform for interaction towards

communal development

TFO

Instruments for Integration:

Involvement as direct project

partners

Cooperation with existing

structures

Para-Ecologists

FIRM approach

Film-making

STAKEHOLDER

[2] Transdisciplinary Approach [Local Level]

Scenes from the film-workshops Gruber 2011/2013

Participatory film making to reveal and learn local

knowledge

TFO

Instruments for Integration:

Involvement as direct project

partners

Cooperation with existing

structures

Para-Ecologists

FIRM approach

Film-making

Scenario-excercise

STAKEHOLDER

[2] Transdisciplinary Approach [Local Level]

Interview in Seronga, Domptail 2013

Scenario-building to integrate knowledge and

communicate results

TFO

Instruments for Integration:

Involvement as direct project

partners

Cooperation with existing

structures

Para-Ecologists

FIRM approach

Film-making

Scenario-excercise

Conservation Agriculture

STAKEHOLDER

[2] Transdisciplinary Approach [Local Level]

Traditional CA

CA plots managed by farmers

Farmers manage trial-plots and become on-site researchers

TFO

Instruments for Integration:

Involvement as direct project

partners

Cooperation with existing

structures

Para-Ecologists

FIRM approach

Film-making

Scenario-excercise

Conservation Agriculture

STAKEHOLDER

[2] Transdisciplinary Approach [Local Level]

CA plots managed by farmers

Different instruments with different objectives

Information | Consultation | Collaboration | Knowledge co-production

[3] Implications & Reflection

Need for reflection of the

transdisciplinary research approach

What instruments and approaches are used by the researchers for

what aim and with what success?

What is the added value of a transdisciplinary research approach?

What are conducive and inhibiting factors for transdisciplinarity?

What are lessons learnt for future projects?

Accompanying analysis & reflection

… within academia On-going monitoring and adjustments if necessary (through interviews, surveys, workshops, observations,…)

Additional interviews with similar (LaMa) projects, GLUES, transdisciplinarity-scientists, …

[3] Implications & Reflection

… within academia …

… but also on the stakeholderside How do stakeholders feel involved and how are their knowledge and needs being considered?

What is their benefit and interest in a transdisciplinarity research project?

What other approaches for involvement would be feasible?

Over 60 interviews with various stakeholders – analysis in progress

[3] Implications & Reflection

Accompanying analysis & reflection

[3] Implications & Reflection

First experiences & lessons learnt

Time-consuming – not only for researchers, but also for stakeholders

depending on commitment of individuals – on both sides

Communication & social challenges – different disciplines,

cultures & languages

High expectations for benefits – that cannot always be met

Publications Innovations Thesis

Milestones Outcomes

[3] Implications & Reflection

The transdisciplinary challenge

ESS as a „SH problem“

Drivers: Poverty Corruption Consumerism Modernity Migration Globalisations Neoliberalism ….

TRANSDISCIPLINARITY

Donor

Call

TFO landscape

SH landscape

Academia

Stakeholder: with different

Problems Interests

Power Expectations

Horizons of time Horizons of space

…

Publications Innovations Thesis

Milestones Outcomes

[3] Implications & Reflection

The transdisciplinary challenge

ESS as a „SH problem“

Drivers: Poverty Corruption Consumerism Modernity Migration Globalisations Neoliberalism ….

TRANSDISCIPLINARITY

Donor

Call

TFO landscape

SH landscape

Academia

Stakeholder: with different

Problems Interests

Power Expectations

Horizons of time Horizons of space

…

Stakeholder involvement needs to be reflected regularly and adjusted accordingly

… but at the same time …

Need for clear communication of the objectives and the limitations of the project

Transdisciplinarity as a concept in progress - no defined guideline how to

do “ideal” transdisciplinary research, but being a learning process for all

Thank you !

Wiesmann, 2008

BERGMANN, M. et al. (2005): Quality Criteria for Transdisciplinary Research. A Guide for the Formative Evaluation of Research Projects. Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE). Frankfurt am Main.

POHL, C. & G. HIRSCH HADORN (2007): Principles for Designing Transdisciplinary Research. Munich.

STAUFFACHER, M. (2008): Analytic and Dynamic Approach to Collaboration: A Transdisciplinary Case Study on Sustainable Landscape Development in a Swiss Prealpine Region. In: Syst Pract Action Res, 21, Nr. 6, pp. 408-422.

FALK, T. et al. (2012): Stakeholder analysis for the region of the Okavango catchment (Chapter 7). In: SEIDEL, H.; GRÖNGRÖFT, A. & M. PRÖPPER (eds.) (2012): A Conceptual Framework for “The future Okavango Project” (TFO). TFO Online Working Paper 1/2012. (URL: www.future-okavango.org).

NEEF & NEUBERT 2005: Assessing participation in agricultural research projects: An analytical framework (http://opus.ub.uni-hohenheim.de/volltexte/2005/92/pdf/FEP2004_06.pdf)..

LANG et al. (2012): Transdisciplinary research in sustainability science: practice, principles, and challenges. In Sustain Sci 7/1: 25-43.

JAHN et al. (2012): Transdisciplinarity: Between mainstreaming and marginalization. In: Ecological Economic, 79: 1-10.

MENDELSOHN, J. & S. el OBEID (2005): Okavango River: The Flow of a Lifeline. Cape town.

WIESMANN, U. (2008): Guidelines for Research Partnerships (presentation) (http://www.zef.de/fileadmin/webfiles/downloads/conferences/vw_ws_08/ws_vw_presentation_wiesmann.pdf).

References