Capacity building for adaptive management: a problem-based learning approach

Abstract

As natural-resource issues become more complex, particularly in developing-world contexts, there is a growing need for adaptive management solutions. However, the skills necessary to deal with these increasingly complex situations are not always present in many low-income countries. There is also a growing recognition that many capacity-building activities are limited in their effectiveness. This article suggests a problem-based learning (PBL) approach to capacity building. Using the example of training courses developed to help natural-resource management in Guyana, this article illustrates how PBL can help to enhance the capabilities needed for adaptive management.

Développement des capacités pour la gestion adaptive: une approche basée sur l'apprentissage par problèmes

Tandis que les questions relatives aux ressources naturelles deviennent plus complexes, en particulier dans le contexte des pays en développement, il existe un besoin croissant de solutions de gestion adaptive. Or, les compétences nécessaires pour faire face à ces situations de plus en plus complexes ne sont pas toujours présentes dans de nombreux pays à faibles revenus. On assiste également à une reconnaissance croissante du fait que les activités de renforcement des capacités sont d'une efficacité limitée. Cet article suggère une approche basée sur l'apprentissage par problèmes (APP) pour ce qui est du renforcement des capacités. Grâce à l'exemple de cours de formation mis au point pour contribuer à la gestion des ressources naturelles au Guyana, cet article illustre la façon dont l'APP peut contribuer à améliorer les capacités requises pour la gestion adaptive.

Capacitação para gestão adaptativa: uma abordagem de aprendizado baseada em problemas

Conforme as questões sobre recursos naturais tornam-se mais complexas, particularmente em contextos de países em desenvolvimento, há uma necessidade crescente de soluções gerenciais adaptativas. Porém, as habilidades necessárias para se lidar com estas situações cada vez mais complexas não estão sempre presentes em vários países de baixa renda. Há também um reconhecimento crescente de que as atividades de capacitação são limitadas em sua efetividade. Este artigo sugere uma abordagem de aprendizado baseada em problemas (PBL) para a capacitação. Utilizando o exemplo de cursos de treinamento desenvolvidos para ajudar a gestão de recursos naturais na Guiana, este artigo ilustra como a PBL pode ajudar a aumentar as habilidades necessárias para a gestão adaptativa.

Fortalecimiento de capacidades para una administración flexible: un método de aprendizaje basado en problemas

A medida que la problemática de los recursos naturales se vuelve más compleja, en particular en los países en desarrollo, ha aumentado la demanda de alternativas de administración flexible. Sin embargo, en los países de bajos ingresos no siempre se cuenta con habilidades para manejar su creciente complejidad. También se piensa cada vez más que las acciones destinadas a fortalecer capacidades no siempre son eficaces. Este ensayo propone un método para fortalecer capacidades mediante el aprendizaje basado en problemas (o PBL por sus siglas en inglés). Utilizando el ejemplo de unos cursos de capacitación diseñados para administrar recursos naturales en Guyana, el ensayo demuestra cómo el PBL puede fortalecer las capacidades que se requieren en una administración flexible.

Keywords:

• Environment
• Labour and livelihoods
• Methods
• Latin America and the Caribbean

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all past and present NRAMP team members, course participants, the North Rupununi District Development Board, Iwokrama International Centre, Environmental Protection Agency, and the University of Guyana for institutional support. This work was funded by the Darwin Initiative, DEFRA, UK government.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jayalaxshmi Mistry

Jayalaxshmi Mistry (corresponding author) is a Senior Lecturer in the Geography Department at Royal Holloway. Her interests include linking local livelihoods with biodiversity conservation, action research using participatory video, and capacity building for natural-resource management.

Andrea Berardi

Andrea Berardi is Lecturer in Environmental Information Systems at The Open University. His research and teaching encompass ecocentric human ecology, with a particular emphasis in supporting local communities in participatory action research. <[email protected]>

Indranee Roopsind

Indranee Roopsind is a researcher, facilitator, and activist. She is currently working as a teacher and trainer for a local indigenous training centre in the North Rupununi, Guyana. <[email protected]>

Odacy Davis

Odacy Davis has worked as a teacher in schools, as a trainer for young adults, and most recently as an environmental officer for the Environmental Protection Agency in Guyana. She is currently working as a researcher for Conservation International Guyana. <[email protected]>

Lakeram Haynes

Lakeram Haynes is a researcher and activist. He has worked on numerous environmental and social projects in the North Rupununi, his homeland, in the roles of a community environmental worker, a ranger, and a field researcher. <[email protected]>

Orville Davis

Orville Davis has worked on a number of environmental projects in the North Rupununi, his homeland, as a field researcher. He is currently working for the North Rupununi District Development Board, a local indigenous umbrella organisation, as a monitoring researcher. <[email protected]>

Matthew Simpson

Matthew Simpson is Associate Director of the Research Department of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (Gloucestershire, England). He is an eco-hydrologist, and his work is focused on sustainable livelihoods in wetland ecosystems. <[email protected]>