The week-long workshop aimed to promote the integration and mainstreaming of Climate Risk Management in Agricultural Extension for Ethiopia (CRMAE) content within Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training (ATVET) colleges. The curriculum is designed to provide agricultural extension workers with the necessary knowledge and skills to help farmers adapt to the challenges posed by climate change. 

Specific focuses of the workshop included: revising interpreted weather data and minimizing crop production risks, enhancing understanding of climate change impacts on agriculture and improving trainees' knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Additionally, the workshop explored strategies for integrating climate risk management into agricultural extension services and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to promote climate-resilient agriculture in Ethiopia. The workshop featured presentations by leading experts from the International Research Institute (IRI) on climate change and agriculture. It also included interactive sessions, group discussions, and case studies.

The first day of the National Mainstreaming Workshop on Climate Risk Management in Agricultural Extension for Ethiopia (CRMAE) began with excitement and a welcoming address by Prof. Berhanu, a veteran in the climate education scope of the Ethiopian educational curriculum. He outlined the workshop's objectives, focusing on revising the unit competency, occupational standards, curriculum, and teacher training and learning materials (TTLM) for Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training (ATVET).

Diverse Participation

The national workshop attracted 17 participants from various fields, including crop science, natural resource management, irrigation and drainage, meteorology, and animal science departments across Ethiopian ATVETs, national universities, meteorology service centers and agricultural research institutions. This diverse group underscored the importance of the interdisciplinary approach required to address climate risk in agriculture. 

Opening Remarks

Dr. Teferi Demissie, climate scientist at AICCRA Ethiopia, officially opened the workshop, emphasizing the critical need to mainstream climate risk management in the Ethiopian ATVET curriculum. He highlighted the importance of equipping development agents with the skills and knowledge to manage climate risks effectively, which is vital for building capacity within the sector.

Session Overviews

Session 1: Introduction and Opening Remarks

Mr. Esayas Lemma, CEO of the Crop Development Office at the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and Dr. Fekadu Alemayhu, Head of Ag Occupational Standardization and Competency Assessment Desk at the Ministry of Labor and Skills (MoLS), delivered opening remarks. They both stressed the profound impacts of climate change on agriculture and the necessity of integrating climate risk management into agricultural extension practices. 

Afterward, participants introduced themselves and engaged in ice-breaking activities to foster a collaborative environment, setting the stage for productive discussions.

Session 2: Topic Overview

Dr. Tufa Dinku, a senior research scientist at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) at Columbia University, presented an overview of the curriculum on climate information services (CIS), detailing modules on climate basics and climate information products and tools available for agriculture. 

His colleague, Dr. James Hansen, also a senior research scientist at IRI, followed with a review of the agricultural curriculum on climate risk management, focusing on understanding climate-sensitive agricultural decisions and delivering climate services to farmers. Key topics included:

• Climate services communication strategies
• Gender and social equity in rural climate services
• Facilitating seasonal forecasting
• Seasonal participatory planning
• Assessing risks and uncertainties associated with climate variability and extreme events
• Impacts of extreme events on agriculture
• Climate-sensitive decision-making

Participants gained a comprehensive understanding of integrating climate risk management into agricultural practices, effective communication strategies for climate services, and practical approaches to seasonal forecasting and planning.

Prof. Berhanu provided an overview of CRMAE, discussing the processes for mainstreaming climate risk into universities and integrating climate knowledge into curricula. He highlighted AICCRA's Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 31 universities to integrate climate risk management through both quick-win and long-term interventions.

Session 3: Hands-On Activities

Dr. Fikadu from the Ministry of Labor and Skills facilitated group formations for hands-on activities focused on revising unit competencies, curricula, and teacher training materials. Participants were divided into three groups, each assigned different aspects of climate risk management:

• Group 1: Understand Weather and Climate Basics This session is focused on weather and climate concepts, Ethiopian climates, and factors driving climate variability and change.
• Group 2: Identify Weather and Climate Risks to Agricultural Production Concentrated on identifying climate risk factors, understanding their impacts on crop production, and developing a new element for reporting and documenting outcomes.
• Group 3: Apply Climate Risk Management Measures Addressed obtaining and interpreting seasonal forecasts, planning and implementing climate risk management measures, and transferring climate knowledge to farmers.

Each group reviewed and proposed new content for unit competencies, curricula, and teacher training materials, ensuring they align with current industry needs and standards.

Recommendations and conclusion

Some of the recommendations proposed by participants include:

• Incorporating advanced tools for climate risk identification into the course modules
• Applying the revised occupational standards to other relevant departments before the learning season begins
• Developing curricula and teacher training materials for other relevant departments based on the revised unit competencies
• Integrating modules on sustainable practices with case studies and practical applications.

The workshop provided invaluable insights into the necessary revisions for the Units of Competency in Climate Risk Management for Agriculture. The recommendations aim to ensure the competency units are relevant, forward-looking, and aligned with industry needs. The collaborative efforts and interdisciplinary approach taken during the workshop highlight the critical importance of mainstreaming climate risk management to build a resilient agricultural sector in Ethiopia.

Author

Brook Makonnen - Communications and Knowledge Management Lead, AICCRA Ethiopia & East and Southern Africa