In late 2023, the Climate Adaptation Research Program (CARP) hosted its first in-person workshop, themed "Visioning a Community," at Ardhi University in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. After months of preparation, the workshop planning committee – which included representatives from Arizona, Stellenbosch, and Ardhi Universities – was excited to kickstart the program.
The CARP management team arrived in Dar es Salaam a couple of days early to meet with our Tanzanian colleagues and set up for the workshop. We also had our first taste of local cuisine and, importantly, we found a spot to witness the South African Springboks win the Rugby World Cup!
The CARP workshop brought together 70 participants from 22 institutions across 15 countries, all united by the shared goals of collaboratively creating a vision for the CARP community, showcasing the CARP research projects, and identifying gaps for capacity building and peer-to-peer mentorship among CARP scholars.
The week was filled with learning opportunities (for both the participants and the CARP management team!), engaging discussions, community building, and plenty of tasty food, including interesting local dishes like banana soup! From the outset, there was a palpable sense of anticipation as participants, many of whom had previously only interacted virtually, finally had the chance to meet face-to-face.
Day 1 began with a series of speeches that served to formally welcome participants, provide some context into climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction (DRR) in Tanzania and Africa more broadly, and set the stage for the week ahead. The Ardhi University Vice Chancellor and members of the local Tanzanian press were present on this first day, which added to the overall atmosphere and the feeling that this workshop was a significant occasion.
A highlight of the first day was the poster session, where some of the researchers showcased their CARP projects, sparking engaging conversations and providing a glimpse into the diverse research being undertaken across the continent.
At the end of Day 1, the participants took part in a group problem framing and stakeholder mapping exercise. Although some valuable discussions were had, this late-afternoon group exercise tested our energy levels, especially as some delegates had arrived in the middle of the night and others were experiencing significant fatigue or jetlag after long international flights. By 5pm, everyone was happy to head back to the hotel and get an early night!
The poster sessions were a highlight on Days 1 and 2
Day 2 was all about community building. Through interactive sessions, participants worked together to envision what it means to be part of the CARP community. There was a strong emphasis on inclusivity and collaboration, with ideas flowing for creating platforms where scholars could share resources and knowledge.
The day also featured more poster sessions and thematic breakout groups, allowing for deeper dives into specific research themes. The day was punctuated with a few rainy downpours, which set the scene for some of the following day’s observations around flooding in the city.
Day 3 was dedicated to learning from non-CARP representatives working in adaptation and DRR in Africa. Guest speakers from the African Youth Advisory Board for Disaster Risk Reduction (AYAB-DRR) and the African Science and Technology Advisory Group (AfSTAG) led parallel sessions on challenges and solutions for incorporating DRR into policy and planning.
A panel discussion was then held with five experts from different sectors in Tanzania, who provided valuable insights into climate adaptation and DRR from the perspectives of academia, government, the private sector, civil society, and the non-profit sector.
Guest speakers from AYAB-DRR and AfSTAG led a session on Day 3 of the CARP workshop.
That afternoon, the participants embarked on an excursion to two different field sites in Dar es Salaam that showed how flooding had affected local communities, and the adaptation actions that had been taken. The field excursion offered practical insights into an important hazard affecting the city, and was a welcome change of scenery.
Workshop participants visited two field sites to learn about flood risk and adaptation solutions in Dar es Salaam.
On Day 4, as the workshop drew to a close, there was a sense of camaraderie and reflection. Changes to the agenda allowed for a more informal peer learning and networking session, strengthening connections among participants. The day ended with a group visioning exercise that aimed to ensure we had identified some practical steps to move forward with establishing a CARP community.
That evening we all headed to the Cape Town Fish Market for a final group dinner to celebrate the week’s achievements and mark the end of a successful workshop. The evening was highly celebratory, and participants had jubilant spirits as they enjoyed good food, live music, cultural games, singing and dancing – a truly memorable conclusion to this significant milestone event!
Final group workshop dinner at Cape Town Fish Market
Overall, the CARP workshop in Tanzania was a resounding success, laying the foundation for a CARP community that includes a strong network of researchers, policymakers, and practitioners focused on climate adaptation and DRR in Africa.
We are excited to see this community continue to grow and thrive, and we now look forward to the next in-person CARP workshop, which will take place in May 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
