Marine and Coastal Ecosystem-based Adaptation for Enhanced Resilience in Southern Africa: Synthesis Report

Ecosystem-based Adaptation : Selected Case Studies from Africa

Blue carbon: financing mangroves

Stage 8: Share and Expand

Although there is no lack of practical case studies, most of them lack a thorough analysis of lessons, factors of success and failure, and eventual impacts (e.g. to what extent did a project help reduce damages and losses). While such case studies may inspire others to some extent, they offer limited guidance. Without adequate analysis of impact and cost effectiveness, they also have limited value for advocacy.Use the case study templates (see <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/9fk0bv3iudea8jf/F.7%20Case%20study%20template%20doc.docx?dl=0" target="_blank">Word file</a>, <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/es8gomf3j91mivd/F.7%20Case%20study%20template%20ppt.pptx?dl=0" target="_blank">PowerPoint file</a>, <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/hzdlfcuzwigweki/F.8%20Effective%20writing.pptx?dl=0" target="_blank">writing guide</a>) to develop convincing case studies, invite scientists to conduct research related to your efforts, and consider externally produced case studies (e.g. as a spin-off from an evaluation or mid-term review).&nbsp;

1. Document your experiences well

Share your case studies and other experiences widely – within and beyond your target country, in online communities of practice, at conferences, webinars and workshops. Importantly, allocate some funding for conference participation, workshops and regional exchanges.Also consider organizing national and regional exchanges among practitioners. To ensure that not only the highest-ranking officers take part – who may often be removed from direct action on the ground – ask potential participants to submit abstracts on a particular insight or experience. Then, select participants based on their submissions and invite them&nbsp;to present their case study or innovation at the meeting. Field visits can also be extremely insightful if they are well-designed. For instance, you may ask participants to complete specific tasks that help distill lessons for your and similar projects (e.g. ‘investigate how the local team at the field site worked and compare their approach with yours’).&nbsp;

2. Share openly and widely

Although NbS have moved from a niche role to greater acceptance and the case for using NbS as part of efforts to enhance coastal resilience is strong, much untapped potential remains.You have already worked with governments and other stakeholders — now spread the word beyond your immediate target area. &nbsp;Take the initiative and approach government agencies, stakeholders and communities in other areas. Invite them to see and hear about your solution and its impacts from your community members. Not only can this reinforce the pride of your community over their achievement, it can also be a powerful trigger, inspiring similar action elsewhere. If you can, support partnerships and exchanges between communities, and support replication and expansion where possible. &nbsp;In addition to expansion to adjacent areas, explore opportunities to advocate for changes in regional or national policies and plans. Bring strong evidence along (to what extent were damages and losses reduced? What other benefits were created?). Utilize your understanding of government structures, policies, and budgeting mechanisms. Partner with other organizations and make advocacy a concerted effort.

3. Advocate for and support replication

Congratulations, you have read the last chapter in the eight stages towards enhanced coastal resilience of the Blue Guide. Revisit any of the stages as you navigate the planning, implementation and monitoring of your community's project. As you deepen your learning, can also revisit the step-by-step guides to nature-based solutions, which you can easily find in the menu to your left. For those who have completed or are in the midst of completing the Blue Guide training, below is a comprehensive list of downloadable toolbox items, including the solution finder tool and Blue Guide training materials.Toolboxes (online)Application toolbox (<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zcj3yrz8nn6adfu/AAAcFpX_-8PaRt8Mu3ShH8_da?dl=0" target="_blank">click here</a>)F.1 Idea scrapbookF.2 Problem tree templateF.3 Stakeholder mapping templateF.4 Solution finderF.4a Solution finder user manualF.4b Solution finder tool&nbsp;F.5 Planning toolF.6 Hazard event review toolF.7 Case study templateF.8 Writing effective case studies﻿Training toolbox (<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/haneg3cqp1ptcjh/AACjILPJ0He0m4BO6_fgsvEba?dl=0" target="_blank">click here</a>)G.1 Facilitation manualG.2 Presentations (PowerPoint)&nbsp;G.3 Teamwork materialG.4 Forms and templates&nbsp;

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Learn how to best inspire others to adopt nature-based solutions with these steps in this stage:<ul><li>Step 8.1 | Document your experience well</li><li>Step 8.2 | Share openly and widely</li><li>Step 8.3 | Advocate for and support replication</li></ul>The challenges that climate change poses for coastal communities around the world are enormous. Yet the scale of communities supported by projects like yours is dwarfed by those not receiving similar support. Replicating and upscaling such efforts is therefore in dire need. By sharing your experiences and analyses openly, you may inspire and guide others.