Based Adaptation: Reflections from Rural Vanuatu 77

76 Ethics and methods in research for community- based adaptation: reflections from rural 5 Vanuatu by OLIVIA WARRICK Introduction Pacific island Least Developed Country In this article I critically reflect on partici- (LDC). I discuss the strengths and limita- patory processes in vulnerability research tions of specific methods in the Vanuatu in the context of community-based adap- socio-cultural and climatic context and tation to climate change (CBA). CBA is an convey some lessons learnt from undertak- emerging form of bottom-up adaptation to ing participatory vulnerability research climate change. CBA is distinct in that it outside the context of a funded project. I focuses largely on empowerment or intend these observations to be useful for ‘helping people to help themselves’. practitioners working in the CBA sphere, Planned CBA aims to reduce vulnerability as vulnerability research is important for to climate change by addressing local prior- advancing knowledge for suitable adapta- ities and building on local knowledge and tion and is often an important precursor to capacity. Unequivocally, CBA is something planning and action in a project setting. done ‘with’ rather than ‘to’ communities. As such, participatory learning and action Vanuatu and climate change (PLA) methodologies have an important My research took place in three rural role. CBA-specific toolkits are emerging, communities in Vanuatu between 2006 based largely on methods established in the and 2008: Tangoa Island (Sanma disaster risk reduction (DRR) field. Province), Mangaliliu Village/Lelepa Here, I reflect on the application of Island (Shefa Province), and Mota Lava various participatory methods in the initial (Torba Province) (see Figure 1). research or scoping stages, where the goal Vanuatu is in the path of tropical is to establish the problem and reflect local cyclones (November to May). It is subject voices in knowledge creation. These reflec- to cycles of El Niño and La Niña, which, tions are based on my experiences conduct- respectively, increase the risks of droughts ing PhD research in rural Vanuatu, a and floods. Future climate change and sea- Ethics and methods in research for community-based adaptation: reflections from rural Vanuatu 77 Figure 1: Map of Vanuatu Map prepared by Max Oulton, Department of Geography, Tourism and Environmental Planning, The University of Waikato. level rise threaten to exacerbate the risks Generally, the implications of climate already posed from current variability and change are not yet ‘obvious’ at the commu- extremes. These will be the most significant nity scale. Despite Vanuatu’s highly variable implications in the short to medium term. and often disruptive climate, communities 78 60 G Warrick have been dealing with climate stress for nally facilitated follow-up activities in the generations and, accordingly, participants communities involved. There are few in my research did not always have strong organisations engaged in relevant and views on climate stress or climate change, ongoing community-based project work in and did not always consider these problems the outer islands of Vanuatu that I could as priority concerns in the community have successfully linked up with. Where context. there is no clear, tangible, or material Climate change was an issue about benefit for the community, the ethics of which most participants already had a basic such an approach may be questioned. knowledge via radio, school, or government However, similar concerns may relate to awareness programmes. In my introductory ongoing adaptation work that is not meeting in each community (and through- informed by a foundation of intensive, out the research process) I presented a detailed research. In this article, I will simple awareness talk aided by pictures and restrict discussion to the ethics and quality diagrams. There were many questions and of various participatory methods within people showed much interest. this ‘research only’ context, accepting that this, in itself, may be ethically questionable Research context and methodology in the CBA field. I spent approximately two months in each I used a mixture of participatory group community. My research – in response to and one-on-one methods to assess local gaps identified by the Vanuatu Meteorolog- perceptions and experiences of the: ical Service (VMS) – aimed to characterise • impacts of climate stress; local perceptions of vulnerability to climate • ability to deal with climate stress; and stress to help bridge the gap between local- • relationship of this to wider non-climate scale realities and higher scale decision- stresses and processes of change in the making processes for adaptation in Vanuatu community (‘multiple stressors’). and the wider Pacific. I worked via the VMS Methods were drawn from CBA and and the Vanuatu Cultural Centre (VCC). DRR toolkits (see Nakalevu, 2006, Field sites were chosen in response to VMS- McFadzien et al., 2005, International identified data gaps. In each community I Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent worked alongside a VCC fieldworker volun- Societies, 2007 and Vrolijks, 1998), and teer (or equivalent). The fieldworkers were trialled and modified during the gained an in-depth understanding of research. All methods were gender segre- climate change issues and community gated to suit local cultural situations. priorities which will enhance knowledge Group activities used existing community sharing and help to facilitate action past my groupings (usually church-related) to limit visits. The VMS will use the research results intrusiveness and difficulties with logistics. to assist in adaptation project development. Groups generally included five to 15 indi- Although Vanuatu currently lacks ongoing viduals. Some were age specific. For community adaptation projects the instance, historical timelines were under- research is intended to increase the knowl- taken with elders. All research activities edge base in Vanuatu to enable this to occur, were undertaken in Bislama (a Vanuatu particularly as part of the implementation dialect). of Vanuatu’s National Adaptation I ended each visit with an interactive Programme of Action (NAPA), completed community meeting, where knowledge was in 2007. shared and discussed. This also provided a As this was a PhD, my ‘on-the-ground’ good opportunity for triangulation. Discus- research was not linked to a specific project sions often continued well into the evening. or funding. There was no promise of exter- In addition, knowledge was documented in Ethics and methods in research for community-based adaptation: reflections from rural Vanuatu 79 Table 1: Strengths and limitations of participatory techniques employed in the research context Method Strengths Limitations Seasonal Highly beneficial to researcher for Limited learning outcomes for participants. calendar understanding relationships between The complex and time-consuming natural resource-based livelihoods, climate, construction of the calendar allowed little weather, and disasters. time for discussion. Would be better done in two sessions: one for construction, one for discussion. Participants were unfamiliar with a ‘calendar’ format and therefore reluctant to engage. Community Beneficial to researcher and participants Maps generated superficial information as and resource for identifying locations at risk and access construction was time-consuming at the mapping to resources and services important to expense of discussion – participants livelihoods and coping with disaster. concentrated on drawing an accurate map. Best done in two sessions to allow for in- depth discussion. Matrix rating Good for stimulating group discussion and Limited outcomes for researcher as the e.g. of interaction as the rating is impossible to do ratings tended to be ‘ad hoc’, disguising resource use, with one or two of the most vocal or complex contextual and temporal coping confident group members only. The differences. strategies concept is relatively straightforward and etc. the matrix grid can be prepared beforehand leaving more time for discussion. Focus group Few. Shyness and overall reluctance to participate in the absence of a visual activity around which to focus discussion. Transect walk Flexible, interactive, informal, enjoyable for Can be difficult to maintain focus as many participants, informative for researcher. issues are addressed. Limited participant Very useful for researcher orientation early learning outcomes as limited opportunity on in the research. for collective discussion about any one topic. Historical Effective catalyst for discussion regarding Time-consuming, easy to get off track. timeline changes and trends over time in coping strategies etc. Effective tool for analysing the underlying drivers of vulnerability. Best done over multiple visits with a small group. Enjoyable for older participants. Storian: Effective for building rapport enabling in- Little participant-participant collective Semi- depth participant-researcher knowledge knowledge exchange and consolidation. structured exchange and accurate representation of and informal concerns. Enables depth of discussion interview necessary for understanding underlying drivers of vulnerability. Less intrusive to daily life than group activities. Observation Non-intrusive, effective for building Time-consuming for researcher and rapport, informal and enjoyable for unstructured. participants. 80 60 G Warrick Photo: Olivia Warrick Olivia Photo: A participant draws a trend line showing change over

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