This building block involved facilitating dialogues between previously siloed actors: government agencies, research, local people, etc. When the gaps between sectors are addressed before solution implementation, diverse voices and opinions can be considered and the solutions developed are often more readily implemented and accepted.
All actors need to be open to collaboration, feedback, and input from sectors they may not have considered relevant to past projects.
Having a leading organization (the Wildlife Conservation Society in Bolivia) with a long history of work in the country, with a well based experience and good institutional relationships established, was crucial to facilitate the rapid implementation and good development of the PREDICT project activities. During the time that PREDICT was working in Bolivia (from 2010 to 2013), efforts were done to facilitate the establish a national Zoonoses Surveillance Plan where the Ministry of Health, the National Veterinary Service and the General Directorate of Biodiversity could ensure a permanent and sustainable collaboration among sectors to prevent zoonotic diseases in the country. Unfortunately, this goal couldn´t be accomplished in the project period, nevertheless, the basis for such collaborative framework were established and many inter-institutional and multi-disciplinary collaborations to investigate further non-human primates yellow fever events and rodent-borne diseases, took place in the following years as a result.
Co-created transdisciplinary approaches using methods such as interviews, storytelling, participatory mapping, theatre, playful activities and music can contribute to air pollution awareness and solutions to improved air quality. This approach accounts for local knowledge, cultural practices and priorities of the intended recipients of interventions, thereby making these interventions and respective air pollution abatement policies more effective and inclusive.
Use of a mixture of qualitative, participatory and creative approaches to engage with a wide range of stakeholders can lead to an improved understanding of air pollution (and its effects on human and ecosystem health) and appropriateness of respective solutions
Communication between affected communities and policymakers at equal and appreciative level
Contrasting definitions of air pollution
Unexpected solutions to the problem
Differing perceptions of who was responsible for enacting solutions
Overall view that air pollution cannot be seen in isolation from other socio-environmental issues faced by settlement residents
Solutions accounting for local knowledge, cultural practices and priorities
Approaches to better air quality through reduction of emissions contributing to increased human health, a healthier environment, food security (through better crop yields) and climate protection need to actively include the participation of the wider public in order to appropriately address the needs of those affected and to increase their knowledge and awareness of this environmental threat. This can only be achieved through the development and implementation of approaches that account for local knowledge, cultural practices and priorities of the intended recipients of interventions.
Include a wide range of local stakeholders in pilot studies
Use co-created transdisciplinary approach to (air pollution) awareness using methods appreciated by affected communities including interviews, storytelling, participatory mapping, theatre, playful activities and music
Contrasting definitions of the problem (air pollution), unexpected solutions to the problem, differing perceptions of who was responsible for enacting solutions and an overall view that the problem (air pollution) cannot be seen in isolation from other issues faced by settlement residents were the main lessons learned from the project.
Solutions accounting for local knowledge, cultural practices and priorities
Innovative solutions to air pollution
School Based Management Solutions
Practical implementation guidelines strengthen school based management.
Integration of measures in school routines and improvement of planning, promoting community involvement and participation. School-level monitoring and budgeting are supported by the program through practical implementation guidelines to strengthen school-based management.
Integration of measures in school improvement planning is a straighforward way to ensure time and resource allocation for activities and improvements. For that, it is necessary that school management considers school health and WinS as part of their core tasks
Community involvement and participation are the most powerful tool to achieve improvements despite limited government budgets for infrastructure and materials. District level officials can play an important facilitating role in that process
School level monitoring and budgeting need to be based on understanding the benchmarks that need to be achieved, the current status, and take into account available resources from Ministry side and community support
