This presentation discusses the critical importance of the “Communication for Development” (ComDev) approach in ensuring that the voices of all stakeholders are heard in the decision-making process that will be needed in Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change, but especially illustrates how ComDev can engage those whose livelihoods are most vulnerable and most dependent on natural resource bases. Illustrative examples will be drawn especially from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean, including the “Voices for CC” initiative in Jamaica as well as best practices in ComDev from RARE Radio in St. Lucia, Toco Radio in Trinidad, among others.

1. ComDev in the Caribbean: A SIDS Perspective on Climate Change Maria Protz, Ph.D. Caribbean Centre for Communication for Development (CCCD) Caribbean Institute for Media and Communications (CARIMAC) University of the West Indies (UWI) Panel: Advancing Adaptation through Communication for Development (Technical Session: IIIB) Monday, February 23 rd , 2009 3 rd International Conference on Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change Dhaka, Bangladesh

2. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as those in the Caribbean are especially vulnerable to Climate Change.

3. The Caribbean is now even a “hotter” place to be thanks to CC. Germanwatch in its 2009 Global Risk Index ranks countries according to how severely they have been affected by climate-related events such as hurricanes and floods.

5. When di big breeze blow, di trees dem shake!

6. In recent years, natural disasters – such as floods, landslides, droughts and especially hurricanes have threatened our agricultural livelihood base: Ivan (2004), Dean (2007) and Gustav (2008).

7. CC events also threaten our biodiversity - critical to the livelihoods of our people and also tourism on which we all depend.

8. Thus, in the Caribbean, the entry point for considering Climate Change and CBA has to be through DRM.

9. “ Rock Stone a Riva Bottom nuh kno sun hot! Who feels it, knows it. Hence the need for Local Community based approaches.

13. To facilitate these positive adaptation processes, farmers need to set the science agenda and need tested information (i.e., knowledge) – quickly and timely - hence the importance of Communication for Development .

21. RARE Radio, St. Lucia (communicating NRM through long-running radio drama edutainment)

22. Rural radio, distance learning, media centre, newspapers, agro tourism and organic agricultural.

24. Commonwealth of Learning (COL)’s L3 Farmers Lifelong Learning

25. ICTs 4 Dev – Jeffrey Town, Jamaica (rural radio and multimedia centre)

26. ICT tools for women organic farmers – the Knowing & Growing Network

28. In the Caribbean, CARIMAC’s Caribbean Centre for Communication for Development (CCCD) is working to partner with the best regional practices in ComDev and to scale up these experiences as part of regular MOA and MOE strategic programme planning for CBA.

29. Thank You Email: protz@mail.infochan.com