Editor’s choice
This working paper describes a collaborative project to visually map climate change adaptation research and networks based on semantic tagging in weADAPT.
Information and communications technology (ICT) has transformative potential in several key areas in sustainable development, and is already facilitating multi-stakeholder engagement, knowledge exchange and capacity-building. This paper describes the Climate Actor Mapping for Adaptation (CAMA) project, which built on a collaboration with Sciences Po médialab in Paris, known for its innovative approach to “controversy mapping”.
The project combined semantic tagging in weADAPT with innovative visualization techniques developed by Sciences Po to generate new insights about climate adaptation research and practice. The work was based on the dataset of adaptation projects maintained by weADAPT, along with project information from SEI’s Africa and Asia Centres, as outlined on the SEI website and in SEI’s internal Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Communication (PMEC) system.
By identifying patterns in the data, we can learn to ask better questions. The participatory nature of such mapping exercises, including user engagement and feedback elicited at different stages of map development to test and refine the maps, can provide valuable insights. This process also helps increase ownership of the analysis and visualizations by participants. Such an approach has potential application in a wide range of sustainable development contexts and would significantly strengthen SEI’s toolkit for engaging and communicating with different stakeholders.
Download the working paper (PDF, 6.1MB)
See high-resolution versions of key figures (pop-up windows):
Figure 3: ‘Hot topics’ in content shared by organizations on weADAPT in 2013
Figure 4: Other active organizations on weADAPT (excluding SEI and main partners)
Figure 6: ‘Hot topics’ in content shared by organizations on weADAPT in 2014
Figure 10: Geographic coverage of issues by country on weADAPT, 2013
Figure 16: Key research topics in SEI’s work in Southeast Asian countries
Figure 20: SEI’s adaptation research in Africa, by country and organizations involved
Figure 22: Key areas of research for SEI in East Africa
Past event / Join weADAPT for an "open house" to see all the new features made possible by its upgrade.
Event on 17 September – 15 October / SEI launches a global event series with IPBES and IPCC Chairs, driving integrated nature and climate action for resilient societies across four continents.
Project / AgroMixNorth offers springboards for resilient cropping systems that provide nutritious food and income to farmers while increasing below-ground carbon storage.
Design and development by Soapbox.
