BUJUMBURA December 22nd (ABP) – The Ministry of Communication, Information Technologies and Media, in collaboration with UNICEF, organized, Tuesday, December 19, 2023, in Bujumbura, a workshop to validate the results of the survey on knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) linked to climate change in Burundi, with a view to determining communication and behavior change strategies to mitigate the effects over time and develop positive practices for safeguarding of the environment.
In his opening remarks, the assistant to the Minister of Communication, Information Technologies and Media, Mr. Thierry Kitamoya, indicated that that survey was commissioned by that ministry with the support of UNICEF. That study aims to identify, analyze and measure the knowledge of populations in their understanding of climate change and endogenous attitudes and practices of adaptation and environmental management.
That study was carried out for other reasons, also, among others, to determine the level of knowledge on climate change, the causes and origins of environmental degradation, to identify practices regarding climate change and environmental management.
It was also to measure the perception of risks due to climate change in the Burundian context, identify resistance (social, economic, cultural, religious), linked to the management of the environment and climate change, determine the means of communication the most common and those available allowing active communication on climate change.
The survey also aims to determine the economic, social, infrastructural communication needs of the population to adapt to climate change, identify possible solutions to be implemented at the community level (economic, social, infrastructural) to help the population to adapt to climate change.
According to Mr. Kitamoya, that study aims to strengthen resilience to shocks and emergency situations for populations and to support the government of Burundi in improving interventions aimed at changing behavior, strengthening the capacity of communities and families regarding climate change.
In his presentation, the climate change researcher, Mr. Loïc Nsabimana, specified that that study was carried out throughout the territory of Burundi by combining quantitative and qualitative approaches in 1,320 households distributed in 11 natural regions of Burundi and 44 hills distributed in 44 communes, in order to produce basic data on knowledge, attitudes and practices related to climate change.
It emerges from that study that 70% of the Burundian population does not have sufficient knowledge about climate change while knowledge greatly influences attitudes and practices regarding climate change, hence the need for implementation strategies to strengthen knowledge in that area.
Various interventions were made by participants where they recommended setting up a radio program dealing with climate change issues, specifying that radio is the most accessible media. They also suggested the establishment of a platform on social networks dealing with climate change issues, developing a guide for education and adaptation to climate change in Burundi and the establishment of a coordination framework between partners to help find solutions to climate change.