Effecting mindset change is the holy grail of teachers, preachers and project implementers - though not everyone setting out to deploy a preferred outcome experiences success. Science being what it is the learning for delivering interventions has been documented time and again. Let’s shape our understanding from some of what’s out there.
The practice of interjecting ideas - albeit smoothly, into someone’s thought process is a skill with many names. We’ve heard of Intervention logic, Theory of change,the Logical framework approach, Causal chain analysis and Problem tree approaches. Sadly, there is more. The approach to intervening - taking an idea into a place it doesn’t yet exist has never worked well via the sword. The pen now, there’s the tool of the ages.
Climate change (our focus) impacts the very roots of resident populations, that is life at the level of the community. Logic suggests that ideas of potential benefit to such communities need to be S.MA.R.T, but even before that, potential beneficiaries need to be ‘impressed’ in a manner they would want to integrate, deploy or generally use the idea in their normal routine (way of work and life).
For business interests, such feats are achieved using diligent research to find out where the new idea can effect an entry. For Climate action projects, which by design ought to have a strong element of sustainability (usable monetisable, affordable) anyway, the same sort of diligent enquiry is critical. Even more so - as the action under consideration will likely be the target community’s to carry foward.
Logical intervention - the term we shall utilise, relies on iterations rather than steps. Steps would mean a fixed order to ‘walk’ thru in order to (whatever). The unfixed or loosely iterative way to introduce an intervention thus, requires fair consideration of all the ‘steps’ as, order of the ‘introduction’ may be skewed because of the odd variable.
Variables of note hide in plain sight. Things such as weather, events (think birthdays’, weddings, funerals - even cricket, certainly football or even the unlikely power outage) can impact the most carefully crafted stakeholder consultation. Leaving enough ‘window’ in the process on getting acquainted with a target community cannot be understated.
Easy to overlook - is making sure the messenger is credible. Not necessarily likeable (tho it helps), but do have someone worthy of taking community time to discuss the probable intervention. Goes without saying that a topic carrying implications for fisherfolk (example) should be entered into by someone who understands all there is to know about the matter under consideration - who also has an open mind.
Selecting key community individuals to attend the introduction sessions is also important. While the sentiment of consultation requires an ‘open mic’ approach, relevant and therefore truly impactable stakeholders will have better contributions - if they are in attendance, can relate to the facilitator and hold a point of view.
What about those taking part in the consultation who do not express an opinion? These are the potential friends of the project. Take as much time as is necessary to engage them, as they are probably not as positioned with perspective as the ones who have already voiced misgivings.
Defining the problem (statement)
The problem statement for environmental injustice is that social and economic inequality and power imbalances have driven inequitable access to wealth, welfare, land and natural resources across Trinidad and Tobago.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted systemic failures in how society is structured and how the most vulnerable are protected. These inequalities are further compounded by the impacts of ecosystem loss and degradation and climate change on communities, livelihoods and the resources on which they depend.
The desirables The short-term outcome for the EnviroRightsTT is improved access to environmental information for CSOs, vulnerable groups working the FOIA for the benefit of the wider public.
The medium-term outcome for the EnviroRightsTT project is increased engagement of CSOs in environmental decision-making processes, thereby improving policy responsiveness to the needs of vulnerable groups.
The long-term outcome for the EnviroRightsTT is improved environmental governance with better transparency, accountability, inclusive decision-making, and more informed and just public policy protecting the right to a healthy environment.