Internship Experience at the United Nations University- Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH)

By Oluwabusola Olaniyan, 1st year MDP student

“Our environment must be protected by all means!” This has been my song since I became aware of the words “climate change” and “sustainability.”  In fact, the dynamic interactions between us, our environment and the earth as a whole are fascinating, but worrisome is the rocketing nature of humankind towards an unrecognisable existence. Therefore, it is imperative to understand and address environmental issues beyond the local, state, and national levels into an international level and this work experience is what I acquired in UNU-INWEH as a research intern.

In fulfilment of my study plan and towards earning an academic credit for the partial fulfilment of my Master’s program, I served as a secondary research intern at the Water and Human Development sector of the UNU-INWEH, an organisation that acts as the “United Nations’ Think Tank on water.”

My research examined global wastewater production and statistically analysed the results of the study. The credible research outcomes are relevant to respond directly to regional and global water crisis that facilitate efforts to meet UN Development goals. To an extent, the research results provide scientifically based evidence and knowledge to help resolve the global pressing water needs and thus, accelerate solutions to world challenges at the interface of water and development practice. The significance of the research is the centrality of water to sustainable development. Basically for the research, data were collected, organized, mined, managed, synthesized and analysed using excel spreadsheets and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). This way, the data analysis and synthesis provided insights, taking the research beyond pure facts. 

One of the most significant aspects of my internship was being surrounded by a network of passionate people whose main mission is to make differences in society by providing effective solutions through research methods. This allowed me to learn more from them, and helped me to understand the necessity to apply research for resolving problems in development matters. 

Finally, I was presented with a distinction award for the successful completion of the research.

UNU-INWEH Director, Dr. Zafar Adeel presenting award to Oluwabusola .

Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change in Kenya

By Stella N. Rakwach, MDP 2nd Year Student 

For the second half of my field placement, I have worked mostly on the CRM (Changieni Rasili Mali) Project. CRM Project aims at promoting climate change adaptation for natural resource dependent communities in Narok County. CRM is a joint project being implemented by Indigenous Information Network (IIN), our host organization, and Kenya Forest Working Group (KFWG) courtesy of funding from Act!. CRM aims to improve the participation by communities in the governance and sustainable utilization of natural resources in Kenya.

Stella at climate change meeting at UNEA

The Indigenous peoples in Kenya, who mostly live in arid and marginalized communities in Kenya, have suffered more from the effects of climate change. Hence their sources of livelihoods have been hugely affected in relation to food security and agriculture, livestock and pastoralism, water resources, forestry and energy. Through the CRM project we jointly developed three main interventions /adaptation mechanisms:

•          Policy development within the counties; 

•          Capacity building & strengthening of local natural resources community institutions; and

•          Knowledge management i.e. sharing of climate change related knowledge on policy, best practices and technologies. 

Out of the numerous activities involved in a project of this magnitude, I have been involved in quite a number including: 

a) Establishing a community resource center to collect, store and disseminate on continuous basis reliable climate change information; 

b) Preparing a checklist and questionnaire for undertaking a baseline survey for benchmarking key elements of climate change adaptation. Aimed at identifying challenges, vulnerable areas, current coping mechanisms, existing policies, climate change awareness and livelihoods support system;

c) Design of climate change awareness materials such as: t-shirts, brochures, lessons (traditional wrap fabric worn by women) and posters;

 

d) Research on existing climate change policies, legislation and strategies in Kenya plus on-going climate change adaptation mechanisms in the areas of agriculture, energy, livestock, water resources and forestry; and

e) Developing a work plan for the second phase of the project and reviewing budgetary allocations towards implementation activities. 

 

Ewaso Nyiro River (in Narok County) drying up

Last but not least, I also took part in a civil society organizations (CSOs) stakeholder round table discussion of the Climate Change Bill & Policy courtesy of Transparency International. The discussion culminated into proposed amendments and recommendations that would be forwarded by the CSOs representative to the Kenyan Parliament for consideration when the Climate Change Bill, 2014 is brought to the floor of the house at the second stage. 

All in all, I have had a great time in Kenya and I am grateful to the MDP fraternity together with IIN, my hosts, for making this field placement a success.

Indigenous Development in Kenya

By Stella Rakwach, MDP 2nd Year Student

Stella (L) & Doreen (R) at IIN office

My field placement is in Nairobi, Kenya with frequent visits to indigenous communities in various parts of the country. I am glad my MDP journey is nearing the end with my final practicum halfway done. I have been working together with Margaret (MDP student) at the Indigenous Information Network (IIN), which is an NGO founded in 1996 that is managed by a few professionals with the help of several volunteers/ interns. IIN works with Indigenous People (nomadic pastoralists and hunters and gatherers) in Kenya to provide them with information through the media and Nomadic News Magazine which is published annually. IIN provides information about Indigenous Peoples, their livelihoods, opportunities and challenges they face in relation to development. 

I am enjoying my time here very much, not only am I home, but I have also had the chance to meet family and several friends. There are many activities going on at IIN and everyone has been eager to involve me in various programs and field visits. At the moment IIN has several projects ranging from climate change adaptation, education of girls, human rights, advocacy to environmental issues.

 

On the way to Narok county

We visited Narok County, home to the Maasai courtesy of IIN’s climate change adaptation project dubbed “Changieni Rasili Mali (CRM)” to attend the project launch. CRM will address illegal logging, charcoal burning and afforestation of Indigenous forests in the Narok region. The CRM launch was part of the World Environment Day (5th June) celebrations whose theme was “raise your voices not the sea level.”   

Girls performing a traditional Maasai dance

The highlight of this trip was getting the opportunity to immerse into the rich culture of the Masaai through art (beautiful handmade beadwork, paintings and colorful fabric) which are sold in various small galleries all over Narok town. It was also interesting to hear the Maasai native language (Maa) spoken and listen to their beautiful songs and dances which was entertaining. Also as part of the climate change programs we attended the annual PACJA (Pan Africa Climate Change Justice Alliance) awards which are held annually to honor journalists all over Africa who excel in reporting on climate change and environmental issues. As part of the awards ceremony several interesting stories were highlighted to show the diverse ways in which African communities were adapting to climate change.

Stella at the launch of the Global Oceans Commissions Report at UNEA

Finally, I also got a chance courtesy of IIN’s Director to attend the first session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) of the United Nations Environment Programme which was held at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi. The meeting was attended by several participants, including Environment Ministers, Government delegates and representatives of major groups and stakeholders.  The theme of the first session was “Sustainable Development Goals and the Post-2015 Development Agenda, including sustainable consumption and production”. The outcome of this discussion and other ongoing discussions will be useful in the formulation of targets and indicators which would succeed the Millennium Development Goals. Also key on the agenda was the discussion on the issue of illegal trade in wildlife, which has had adverse impacts on biodiversity globally.