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G
overnance
and
P
olicy
is available, mostly via e-mail, to discuss and help
draft the report. The participants are also encouraged
to present their project results to colleagues in their
home organization and together with them define
complementary work to be done during this phase.
Finally, a written report on the outcome of the indi-
vidual project and a verbal presentation are prepared
for the regional seminar.
There are two regional seminars held six to eight
months after the course in Sweden involving lectures
on specific climate related topics provided by regional
experts. Each participant attends one of these, depend-
ing on their geographical location. The main focus of
the regional seminars is the presentation and discus-
sion of individual projects, with each participant acting
as an ‘opponent’ to one of the other individual project
presentations. The regional seminars also have open
sessions with contributions by local lecturers from the
region. These seminars constitute the formal ending
of the International Training Programme on Climate
Change – Mitigation and Adaptation.
During 2009 seminars have been held in Namibia and
in Senegal and are planned in Tanzania and in Vietnam.
Experience so far
The advanced International Training Programme on
Climate Change – Mitigation and Adaptation has so
far been carried out five times, which has involved
a total number of approximately 125 participants –
coming mostly from Africa, Asia, Latin America and
the Middle East.
SMHI has previously organized International
Training Programmes in the fields of air quality and
develop a detailed plan for their individual projects. This includes
preparation of a brief verbal presentation to be given and discussed
during the stay in Sweden. The participants are also assigned a facili-
tator in Sweden, who acts as supervisor and provides support for the
participants during project work.
During the four weeks of training in Sweden the following topics
are addressed:
• The greenhouse effect and impacts of climate change
• Strategic planning to counteract the causes of climate change
• Impacts on water resources and coastal zones
• Impacts on agriculture and forestry and the need for preventive
action
• Community planning, vulnerable sectors, interdisciplinary plan-
ning and cost benefit analysis
• Strategic planning pertaining to potential positive consequences
of climate change
• Information, education and public participation.
The training is based on lectures, demonstrations, group discussions,
exercises and study visits to relevant industries and institutions. The
participants are divided into ‘theme groups’ where individuals with
similar interests are more likely to meet and interact. There is also
time for developing individual projects through discussions with
other participants and the assigned facilitators. These group exer-
cises provide the participants with both theoretical knowledge and
practical experience, as well as bringing different nationalities closer
together. Thus they are an essential aspect of the programme. It is
also significant that the training programme provides a forum for
discussions and an exchange of experience between participants,
lecturers and specialists.
During a period of six to eight months after the Sweden visit,
the participants continue with their individual projects according
to the plan developed during their stay. The Swedish facilitator
Group discussion at SMHI, March 2009
The participants of the regional seminar in Hanoi, Vietnam, October 2008
Image: Gordon Carlson, SMHI
Image: SMHI