Meteorologists meeting rainmakers : indigenous knowledge and climate policy processes in Kenya

Date

2011

Authors

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, GB

Abstract

This article seeks to shed light on policy processes arising from interaction between indigenous rainmakers and meteorologists, in participatory action research aimed at increasing the capacity of a local community to adapt to climate change. Policy processes were analysed from the perspective of actors, their narratives and interests. At the beginning of the project, the interactions between the meteorologists and rainmakers was characterised by mutual scepticism. The two groups negotiated on modalities of working together and successfully made joint seasonal weather forecasts that showed good convergence. The analyses using the three lenses of actor-narrative-interest enabled the study to tease out policy dynamics that are often ignored in climate change mitigation studies. Understanding these dynamics is important to ensure that climate change strategies are designed in congruence with local policy dynamics.

Description

Keywords

CLIMATE CHANGE, ADAPTATION TO CHANGE, METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES, WEATHER FORECASTS, INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE, RESEARCH RESULTS, POLICY MAKING, KENYA

Citation

Guthiga, P., & Newsham, A. (2011). Meteorologists Meeting Rainmakers: Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Policy Processes in Kenya. IDS Bulletin, 42(3), 104-109. doi:10.1111/idsb.2011.42.issue-3

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10625/46830

DOI

Collections

IDRC Research Results / Résultats de recherches du CRDI
2010-2019 / Années 2010-2019
Research Results (CCAA) / Résultats de recherches (ACCA)