Adaptation spinoffs From technological and socio-economic Changes - Climate Change Adaptation and Development: Transforming Paradigms and Practices - page 166

The second dimension of the framework distinguishes whether the spinoff
is primarily related to a technological or socio-economic change. It is widely
recognized that for a technological intervention to have a lasting effect on
development it needs to be accompanied by changes in the social sphere, for
instance by institutional modifications. For the purposes of this framework, a
spinoff will primarily be seen as a consequence of either technological or socio-
economic phenomena, although it is often difficult to separate the two.
Cases
Empirically, this chapter builds on work in research projects based in agricultural
communities in which the authors were principal researchers. The project aims
all related to assessing vulnerability and water resource management in the
context of climate change (Andersson et al. 2013; Wilk and Jonsson 2013; Wilk
et al. 2014). While the specific research questions and methods of the projects
differed, all dealt with the responses of rural households to climate and socio-
economic change. The study areas were located in large developing countries
undergoing rapid economic and/or social change: India, South Africa, and
China ( Table 9.2 ). We have labelled the cases as empowerment, ICT , and lifestyle ,
according to the primary factor driving the spinoff. Each case exemplifies one of
the four types of spinoffs in the classification framework. Our empirical data do
not include the fourth type, which most closely resembles traditional aid through
orchestrated technological change. This could be investigated in future research.
Examples include rainwater harvesting- or water and sanitation systems that
bring water to households but also create opportunities for establishing small
local businesses and industries. Despite commonalities in terms of activities
and targeted groups, the three cases presented here differ in terms of climatic
conditions, farming systems and institutional setup. However, they provide
sufficiently heterogeneous empirical data for assessing the usefulness of the
spinoff concept for greater recognition of emerging opportunities for improving
local adaptive capacity to climate-related phenomena.
The empowerment case describes an orchestrated, socio-economic spinoff.
In a three-year participatory research project in Madhya Pradesh, India,
group exercises, rural appraisal and semi-structured interviews were designed
and conducted to establish a Water Prosperity Index. Community members
identified and ranked issues that they felt contributed most to successful water
management (Wilk and Jonsson 2013). 1 The case presented here explores the role
of empowerment in women's SHGs for strengthening their adaptive capacity
to handle water-related issues by increasing self-confidence and heightening
problem-solving skills (Wilk and Jonsson 2013; Jonsson and Wilk 2014).
The ICT case takes up an opportunity-driven, technological spinoff in South
Africa. A three-year participatory research project employing semi-structured
interviews with 44 farmers, group exercises, and modelling of water resources
vulnerability to economic globalization and climate change showed that