Innovative Approaches to the Co-production of Climate Services in Rwanda

Livingstone Byandaga – International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Rwanda
Patrick Gatsinzi – Adventist University of Central Africa, Kigali
Corresponding Author: livingstonebyandaga@gmail.com

Received May 17, 2020; Revised August 23, 2020; Accepted August 24, 2020

Abstract: Climate change and variability is associated with increase in uncertainties, more frequent droughts and intense flooding, windstorms and disease outbreaks. These climatic hazards have greatest impact on livelihoods of vulnerable agrarians especially in sub Saharan Africa. The vulnerability of livelihoods to impacts of climate change depends on the extent of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity of the people affected. Dissemination of useful and tailored climate services information to end users need close collaboration between meteorological experts and institutions that are involved in rural activities and work with farmers at grass roots in regard to support. Very little is however known in the existing literature on how the climate and weather information are co-produced. In this study, we aimed at examining the types of innovative approaches used to co-produce and disseminate coproduced climate services; the types of co-produced services (information) provided; and the decisions made on the co-produced climate services (information) by the end users, and the communication channels used to disseminate the climate services. Using descriptive survey design, we collected data on 2102 local farmers across the country using phone survey/interviewing. Data was analysed using VIAMO Platform. Results indicated different innovative approaches employed to enhance production, dissemination, and feed-back of climate and weather information, various communication approaches and decisions/feedback provided by farmers. We recommended that these innovative approaches be strengthened, empowered and expanded to all local farmers in Rwanda.