Experiences – Challenges - Opportunities How collaboration takes sustainable food systems to scale in a changing climate? Experiences – Challenges - Opportunities

Unpacking the topic.. Collaboration – among who? What are the interests? – three examples Sustainable food systems – what does the system comprise? Sustainable for whom? Up-scaling – what are the innovative approaches, how to achieve scalability? Changing climate – How is it perceived? How well the implication are understood?

Collaboration Essentially collaboration among the ‘different”. Recognizing that there is no homogeneous entity Communities Implementing levels Decision makers Perspectives Interests

Sustainable Food Systems Water, Soil, Environment and other ecological ingredients Market forces Policies and existing systems Cultural dimensions and practices at community level Power dynamics and rights perspectives FOR – A highly non-homogenous population in developing world!

Bringing to scale! Geographical spread Vertical recognition and policy mainstreaming Replication to other (similar) contexts Up-take from resourceful actors to continue, finance and also expand

Knowledge on changing climate? What is changing? (Pakistan example of water) What are the impacts? What is on priority? Do we have remedies in mind? What are the skills and knowledge? It is essential to address challenges emerging from climate change even when they have been complicated by development mistakes – in reality they are always together!

Story of WAPRO in Pakistan.. PUSH PULL POLICY PROMOTE Water Productivity in Rice and Cotton! Multi-stakeholders join forces to increase water productivity in rice and cotton

Potentials and tension fields of collaboration Communities (users): Private sector Governments NGOs Research Access to water is a right – but there are also obligation  Water is considered a free resource, not an economic good  An important player and influencer  At times a free rider of water use – gets away without paying  Creates environment for widespread replication and transboundary collaboration  Often perceived with mistrust as “controller” with limited skills  Bring new ideas and facilitate policy dialogue and collaboration  But cannot gain scale on their own  Develops new technology, and provides evidence much needed for scaling up  Tunnel view! 

WAPRO… transforming roles in changing climate Water Users / Communities: Feel more obligation for water saving; urge for water efficiency, taking climate change seriously Private sector/ companies: Investing in water use efficiency and providing incentive for sustainable sourcing Public actor: Recognizing contribution of other actors; act as effective regulator and problem solver NGOs: Adapting role from project implementer to facilitator in multi-actor collaboration Academia: Providing new knowledge, evidence and learning to trigger entry points for action

Key messages Roles clarity and complimentarity by overcoming tension fields and disentangling views from unilateral thinking! Effectiveness of collaborative model in itself is the best way to gain scales (enhanced chances!) Local ownership is essential for sustainability – but will not automatically lead to gain scales. Policy alignment from the beginning and evidence in the field are important “In order to gain sustainability of good practices on small scale and to gain scale, collaboration is essential!”

Thank you