Short courses spotlight global warming-development connection

Development professionals are increasingly asked to consider environmental issues in their work - even if it is not their specialty. The emergence of short training programs may render the pursuit of a Master of Science degree unnecessary. Several organizations around the globe-and particularly in Europe-are offering training on how to integrate climate change issues in development or business practice. The Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies, for instance, offers courses on sustainable urban energy and a host of other issues at its Rotterdam headquarters and around the world. The University of Twente, also in the Netherlands, has an office of technology and sustainable development that organizes one-month courses on how to draft clean development mechanism project proposals. Trinity Consultants, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, regularly offers courses on sustainable development. Gaps of knowledge may also be filled during the University of East Anglia’s annual two-week courses on “climate change and development”. The application deadline for the next training session, to be held Sept. 2-15 at the U.K. school, is Aug. 2. East Anglia’s courses, offered with support by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, draw on the latest research to provide participants a better understanding of climate change issues, according to Roger Few, the program’s director. “The idea is to have more of an analytical focus on what can be done, what is feasible, what are the best ways of going ahead, and what are the best risks for society to take to combat this problem,” Few said. The training program features sessions focusing on climate science, climate change mitigation and its linkages with poverty reduction, international funding, and implementation mechanisms. It also addresses practical issues, including how to assess a community’s environment-related vulnerabilities and prospects for adaptation, through the analysis of of case studies and best practices. In its first year, the program has attracted a diverse group of development professionals. Most participants were mid-level professionals in their 30s or 40s working for development agencies, non-governmental organizations, or government bodies, said Jane Donaldson, who serves as the program’s skills development and training manager as well as its course facilitator. “Some participants come individually, some are sent by their organizations,” Donaldson noted. Among the 20 participants last year were senior economists working for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, regional technical advisors for the U.N. Development Program, program coordinators for embassies, program officers at the U.K. Department for International Development, and professionals from international or community-based NGOs. They came from various countries spanning five continents, including Bolivia, Costa Rica, Italy, the U.K., Burkina Faso, South Africa, India, China, Thailand and Australia. This diversity appeared to be a great asset, giving attendees an opportunity to share experiences. For instance, participants were asked to prepare and present a project related to their country or a specific sector. It was a way to ensure that knowledge gleaned from the course had practical implications. “One of the participants, working for the embassy of Finland in Vietnam, looked at how different levels of vulnerability might be expected for different ethnic groups according to the part of the country and the sort of environment they live in as well as their livelihoods,” Few recalled. Following the program, the same person “has been involved in setting up a series of climate change-related practical projects, research and intervention projects, which is built on inputs from the course,” he added. “The course has helped to foster that.” The training program is not solely for nonspecialists on climate change issues. Many of the participants are involved in the environment sector but their work may not provide them with a comprehensive understanding of global warming and its effects. “Most of the information they will get will be technical reports from agencies, whereas we are giving them a chance to be exposed to some of the more cutting-edge research from within academia in order to give a broader perspective,” Few said. There are only two criteria to join the course: command of the English language and money to pay for the program-£3,200 (around US$4,700), which includes accommodation. Each year, 20 participants are chosen on a first-come-first-served basis. Resumes and application forms can be submitted via e-mail, to odg.train@uea.ac.uk. Those who are unable to make it to this year’s course should not despair. Other training programs are likely to appear as the demand on development professionals continues to increase. Read more environment career advice: - Environmental Jobs: What You Need to Know Read more career advice articles.