In mid-April 2013, three members of the Prolinnova–Kenya platform – Simon Masila, a smallholder farmer innovator from Machakos; Chris Macoloo, World Neighbors Regional Associate President for Africa; and Teresiah Ng’ang’a, Prolinnova–Kenya coordinator – took part in the international conference in Dublin on “Hunger–Nutrition–Climate Justice: Putting People at the Heart of Global Development”. This was convened by the Government of Ireland and the Mary Robinson Foundation in partnership with the World Food Programme and the international research programme CCAFS (Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security). It brought together about 300 people ranging from global thought leaders to local people from marginalised communities.
The conference sought to ensure that future development policies are grounded in the challenges, hopes and experiences of people who struggle to feed their families in a time of great uncertainty, amplified by a changing climate. The dialogue conducted in the form of learning circles around case studies was designed to stimulate new ways of thinking about global development challenges and to broaden the debate by listening to and learning from the experiences of local people. Chris Macoloo presented a case about empowering a local community to address climate risks and food insecurity in Lower Nyando. Kenya. The Prolinnova participants were inspired by the success of the event organisers on facilitating discussions between high-level delegates and grassroots practitioners. The conference report can be accessed at: www.dci.gov.ie/media/irishaid/allwebsitemedia/30whatwedo/hncj-post-conference-report.pdf
