Download MCCA Regulations and Syllabus -Masters

REGULATIONS AND SYLLABUS FOR
THE DEGREE OF
MASTER OF CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION (MCCA)
1.0 Introduction
The Master of Climate Change Adaptation (MCCA) programme of the University of
Nairobi seeks to improve the science and practice of climate change and
adaptation. It explores the fundamental changes caused by anthropogenic and
natural activities that influence the alteration of the living earth’s environment. As a
result of the anthropogenic climate change drivers, the global mean surface
temperature is projected to increase between 1.5°C and 5.8°C by 2100. The
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its 4th Assessment Report,
2007 has stated that warming in Africa, throughout the continent and in all seasons,
is very likely to be larger than the global annual mean warming, with drier
subtropical regions warming more than the moister tropics. The future warming rate
is likely to range from 0.2°C per decade (for the low scenario) to more than 0.5°C
per decade (for the high scenario). This warming will be greatest over the interior of
semiarid margins of the Sahara and central southern Africa. The observed annual
rainfall anomalies of the climate change models indicate that there are possible
increases in precipitation in East Africa, contrasted with reduced precipitation for
southern Africa in the next 100 years. While for East Africa an increase in rainfall as
projected would be welcome, it will be accompanied by an increase of extremely
wet events, from the current 5% to about 20%, which could seriously disrupt food
production systems and infrastructure.
For these reasons targeted research and advocacy on the systemic challenges and
solutions to the ‘implementation gap’ facing countries in sub-Saharan Africa –
innovative thinking about civil service motivation and reform and work to unlock the
existing capabilities within and financing for existing institutions who will play a key
role in reducing vulnerability and ensuring the security of and equitable access to
natural resource assets is needed. Similarly, support is required to ensure that the
climate change response in Africa moves beyond merely gender inclusion, towards
gender empowerment through (and for) effective climate change adaptation,
through for example by targeting work with women’s groups, farming cooperatives,
rural development, or economic empowerment initiatives. This is because most
polices do have statements on dealing with gender and vulnerable communities on
climate change adaptations but the way forward is too general for the ordinary
citizens to understand.
Graduates of this programme will find employment in national government
ministries, private sector enterprises, non-governmental organizations and the
United Nations organizations. They will also be green business and technology
entrepreneurs.
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1.1 Objectives
The specific objectives are to:
i. Impart Tran-disciplinary knowledge amongst the candidates on the issues related
to climate change and adaptation.
ii. Equip the student with relevant knowledge required to address climate change
and adaptation science that meet the unique needs of African societies;
iii. Impart the ability of candidates to engage in action-oriented, trans-disciplinary
research activities that will help improve the climate adaptation capacity in Africa;
iv. Equip the candidate in the skills for the management of risks posed by climate
change at global, regional, national and community levels;
v. Equip candidates with decision support tools for sound advice to policy and
decision makers;
vi. Produce effective and proficient communicators of climate change and
adaptation science and practice for the transformation of lives and habits.
2.0 Entry Requirements
2.1 The common regulations for the Masters’ degree in the University of Nairobi shall
apply.
2.2 The following shall be eligible for the registration for the Masters degree:
i. Holder of at least an upper second class honours degree or equivalent in nonclassified degrees from a recognized university;
ii. A holder of lower second class with at least two years of relevant work experience
after graduation;
iii. Holder of a pass degree with at least three years of relevant work experience after
graduation.
3.0 Credit Transfer and Exemptions
3.1 Applicants may be allowed credit transfer for up to one third of the course units
provided that such courses were completed in institutions recognized by University
of Nairobi and Senate subject to the following conditions:
3.1.1 Having passed in similar course units at Masters or equivalent level; and
3.1.2 Payment of appropriate fees for exemption
3.2 A candidate shall be allowed exemptions from units of which credit transfer have
been approved.
3.3 Request for credit transfer and exemption must be made in writing, on admission
and addressed, through the Director ICCA, to the Director Board of Postgraduate
Studies and must be accompanied by officially certified supporting documents
including the institution’s syllabus for the relevant courses.
3.4 No candidate shall be exempted from the core courses as described in this
syllabus, even if they had undertaken a similar course previously in another
institution.
4.0 Course Structure and Duration
The programme consists of a minimum of four (4) and a maximum of ten (10)
semesters of fifteen weeks each.
4.1 The degree programme shall consist of either:
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i. Coursework, examination and a thesis which is equivalent to eight (8) core
course units in the first year and at least 4 electives in the chosen thematic area
in the second year that constitute Part I.
ii. A thesis, equivalent to six (6) taught course units, constitutes Part II.
iii. A candidate may choose one of the general elective courses in place of the
fourth thematic elective.
4.2 The coursework, examination and a research project which consists of eight (8) core
course units in the first year and at least 6 electives in the chosen thematic area in
the second year that constitute Part I.
i. A Research Project, equivalent to four (4) taught course units, constitutes Part II.
ii. A candidate may choose one of the general electives courses in place of the sixth
thematic elective.
4.3 Each course unit shall comprise 45 lecture hours.
4.4 A candidate can take a maximum of six (6) course units and a minimum of two
(2) Course units per semester.
4.5 On successful completion of the coursework, undertake supervised research
thesis and write a thesis.
4.6 On successful completion of coursework undertake a supervised Research Project
in the chosen thematic area and write a project paper.
4.6.1 The candidates opting for thesis shall, under the guidance of assigned
supervisor(s), prepare a research proposal at the start of the first semester of the
second academic year.
4.6.2 The candidate opting for research project shall, under the guidance of
assigned supervisor(s), prepare a proposal during the first semester of the second
academic year.
4.6.3 The research and writing of the thesis or project must be of such depth and
scope so as to show reasonable understanding of theory and methods in climate
change and adaptation thematic areas. To that effect, the student shall maintain
such contact with the supervisor(s) as will be prescribed by the Director of ICCA.
4.6.4 All Candidates shall notify the director of ICCA, in writing, whether they will opt
for a thesis or project paper, not later than the last day of classes of the second
semester in the first academic year.
4.7 Prerequisite for course unit ICCA 654 is an introductory course unit to GIS offered
in the Department of Geology (SGL 310: Photogeology and Remote Sensing;
Geography (CGP/SGP 418: Geographic Information Systems) or Geospatial and
Space Technology (FGE 345 and FGE 348: Geoinformation Systems A and
Geoinformation Systems B) and can only be taken after the prerequisite has been
successfully completed.
4.8 A candidate wishing to defer admission shall write to the Director, Board of
Postgraduate Studies, through the Director of ICCA, stating the reason for deferral
and when admission will be taken up.
4.9 Deferrals may be granted for a period of twelve months and can only be extended
once, following a subsequent application for a further period of up to twelve
months.
4.10 A candidate may withdraw from the programme by notifying the Academic
Registrar through the Director of ICCA and Board of Postgraduate Studies in
writing.
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4.11 Mode of delivery
The programme is offered through a face-to-face mode of delivery, transdisciplinary approaches, community outreach projects using participatory
methodologies, webinars (online seminars), and teleconferencing.
5.0 Thematic Areas of Specialization
The selection of the following thematic areas was informed by a scoping exercise;
consultations with various stakeholders colleagues from the University of Nairobi
and other universities offering similar courses and the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) amongst others. These thematic areas reflect the transdisciplinary nature of climate change and adaptation science and an attempt to
break away from disciplinary ‘silos’. In this regard, most of the disciplines for
example forestry (carbon sequestration) would be covered in several if not all the
thematic areas. The thematic areas are:





Climate Risk Management and Food Security
Human Dimensions and Health
Policy and Communication
Technologies
Water, Environment and Ecosystems
6.1 Course Outline
Core Courses
Code
ICCA 601
ICCA 602
ICCA 603
ICCA 604
ICCA 605
ICCA 606
ICCA 607
ICCA 608
Title
Foundations of Climate Change Science
Impacts of Climate Variability and Change
Vulnerability and Adaptation
Climate Change and Adaptation Policies,
Legislations and Treaties
Climate Change Mitigation
Research Methods in Climate Change and Adaptation
Resource Use Efficiency
Critical Debates in Global Climate Change and Adaptation
Hours
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
Specialization and General Elective Courses
Climate Risk Management and Food Security
Code
Title
ICCA 609
Resilient Agro-ecosystems
ICCA 610
Land Management and Governance
ICCA 611
Climate Sensitive Agro-ecological Zones
ICCA 612
Climate Change and Food Production Systems
ICCA 613
Climate Change Implications for Fisheries and Aqua-culture
Hours
45
45
45
45
45
4
ICCA 614
ICCA 615
ICCA 616
ICCA 617
ICCA 618
Overview of Climate Risk Management
Drivers of Risk, Policies and Approaches, Tools and Practices
Decision Support Tools for Reducing Climate Risks
Regional Focus
Institutional Mechanisms and Issues
Human dimensions and Health
Code
Title
ICCA 619
Gender and Climate Change
ICCA 620
Urban Areas, Climate Change and Adaptation
ICCA 621
Economics of Climate Change and Adaptation
ICCA 622
Livelihoods, Poverty, Human Security and Climate Change
ICCA 623
Infrastructure and Industry Adaptation for Climate Change
ICCA 624
Climate Change and Health
ICCA 625
Health Vulnerability to Impacts of Climate Change
ICCA 626
Climate Change and Climatotherapy
ICCA 627
Health Statistics and Climate Change
ICCA 628
Health Interventions in a Changing Climate
Policy and Communication
Code
Title
ICCA 629
Policy Development
ICCA 630
Integrating Climate Change Policies at Multiple Levels
ICCA 631
Policy on Technologies
ICCA 632
The Politics of Climate Change
ICCA 633
The Politics of Water
ICCA 634
Principles of Communication
ICCA 635
Strategic Communication for Influencing Environmental
Behaviour
ICCA 636
Process and Structure of Mass Communication
ICCA 637
Climate Change Information Packaging
ICCA 638
Information Dissemination and Advocacy
Technologies
Code
ICCA 616
ICCA 623
ICCA 631
ICCA 638
ICCA 639
ICCA 640
ICCA 641
Title
Decision Support Tools for Reducing Climate Risks
Infrastructure and Industry Adaptation for Climate Change
Policy on Technologies
Information Dissemination and Advocacy
Greening the Built Environment
Technologies for Climate Change Adaptation in
the Urban Environment
Technologies for Climate Change Adaptation in
45
45
45
45
45
Hours
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
Hours
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
Hours
45
45
45
45
45
45
5
Code
ICCA 642
ICCA 643
ICCA 649
Title
the Rural Environment
Renewable Energy Technologies
Technologies for Carbon Foot-print Reduction
Early Warning Systems and Communication
Water, Environment and Ecosystems
Code
Title
ICCA 644
Climate Change and Water Policy
ICCA 645
Water Resources and Climate Change
ICCA 646
Water Pollution and Rehabilitation
ICCA 647
Water Resources Management
ICCA 648
Prediction and Management of Droughts and Floods
ICCA 649
Early Warning Systems and Communication
ICCA 650
Ecosystems, Climate Change and Adaptation
ICCA 651
Bio-geophysical Impacts of Climate Change
ICCA 652
Air, Soil and Water Pollution Abatement
ICCA 653
Climate Dynamics
General Electives
Code
Title
ICCA 654
Application of Remote Sensing and GIS in Climate
Change and Adaptation Assessments
ICCA 655
Scenarios Development
ICCA 656
Knowledge Management and Capacity Building
Hours
45
45
45
45
Hours
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
Hours
45
45
45
7. Examination Regulations
7.1 Written Examinations
7.1.1 The common regulations governing the examinations of Masters Degree shall
apply to all courses.
7.1.2 Candidates shall take written examinations at end of each semester.
7.1.3 The end of semester examination shall constitute 70% of total marks whereas
continuous assessment tests shall account for 30%.
7.1.4 The end semester examination shall be of three hours.
7.1.5 The pass mark shall be 50%. Grading shall be based on the following scale:
Class
Mark (%)
A
70-100
B
60-69
C
50-59
D
0-49
7.1.6 A candidate who fails to obtain pass mark in any course may be allowed to
take supplementary examination in the failed paper.
7.1.7 A candidate shall only be permitted to take supplementary examination in a
maximum of two course units.
7.1.8 A candidate who fails in more than two papers, in one academic year, may on
recommendation of ICCA Board, be discontinued by Senate.
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7.1.9 A pass obtained by supplementary examination shall be recorded as 50%.
7.1.10 A candidate who fails in the supplementary examination or fails to complete
the course work in the prescribed time shall, on recommendation of the Board of
ICCA and approval of the Senate, be discontinued.
7.1.11 There shall be a special examination where a candidate fails to take
scheduled examination provided there are satisfactory reasons.
7.2 Examination of Thesis
7.2.1 The thesis shall, on submission, be examined by three internal examiners
from ICCA and one external examiner. The candidate shall present themselves for
oral examination and defend the research findings before a ICCA panel of
examiners constituted by the Director of ICCA and approval by the Board of
Postgraduate Studies
7.2.2 The pass for the thesis shall be 50%.
7.2.3 A candidate who fails in the thesis may, on recommendation of ICCA Board
of Examiners and approval by Senate, be allowed to resubmit the thesis for
examination within the stipulated period.
7.2.4 A pass obtained in the re-submission of the thesis shall be recorded as 50%.
7.2.5 A candidate who fails to obtain a pass mark in the thesis at the re-submission
shall, on recommendation of ICCA Board and approval by Senate, be discontinued.
7.3 Examination of Research Project
7.3.1 Candidates shall be required to submit Research Projects for examination at
least three weeks before end of semester in which they are to be examined.
7.3.2 The Research Project shall be examined by three internal examiners, and the
ICCA appointed external examiner for the year and subjected to oral defence by a
panel constituted by the Director of ICCA.
7.3.3 The pass mark for the Research Project shall be 50%.
7.3.4 A candidate who fails in the Research Project may, on recommendation of
ICCA Board of Examiners and approval by Senate, be allowed to re-submit the
project for examination, within the stipulated period.
7.3.5 A pass obtained in the re-submission of a Research Project shall be recorded
as 50%.
7.3.6 A candidate who fails to obtain a pass mark in the Research Project at the
second –re-submission shall, on recommendation of ICCA Board and approval by
Senate, be discontinued.
7.4 Special course unit ICCA 608 Examination
The course unit ICCA 608: Critical Debates in Global Climate Change and
Adaptation shall be examined by the Institute through grading of assignments out of
seventy percent (70%) and seminar presentations out of thirty percent (30%).
Examination Time Table and Assessment Marks
Code
Title
ICCA 601 Foundations of Climate Change
ICCA 602
Impacts of Climate Variability and Change
ICCA 603
Vulnerability and Adaptation
Exam Hours
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
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Code
ICCA 604
Title
ICCA 605
Climate Change and Adaptation Policies,
Legislations and Treaties
Climate Change Mitigation
ICCA 606
Research Methods in Climate Change and Adaptation
ICCA 607
Resource Use Efficiency
ICCA 608
ICCA 609
Critical Debates in Global Climate Change and
Adaptation
Resilient Agro-ecosystems
ICCA 610
Land Management and Governance
ICCA 611
Climate Sensitive Agro-ecological Zones
ICCA 612
Climate Change and Food Production Systems
ICCA 613
Climate Change Implications for Fisheries and Aquaculture
Overview of Climate Risk Management
ICCA 614
ICCA 615
ICCA 616
Drivers of Risk, Policies and Approaches, Tools and
Practices
Decision Support Tools for Reducing Climate Risks
ICCA 617
Regional Focus
ICCA 618
Institutional Mechanisms and Issues
ICCA 619
Gender and Climate Change
ICCA 620
Urban Areas, Climate Change and Adaptation
ICCA 621
Economics of Climate Change and Adaptation
ICCA 622
ICCA 624
Livelihoods, Poverty, Human Security and Climate
Change
Infrastructure and Industry Adaptation for Climate
Change
Climate Change and Health
ICCA 625
Health Vulnerability to Impacts of Climate Change
ICCA 623
Exam Hours
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
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Code
ICCA 626
Title
Climate Change and Climatotherapy
ICCA 627
Health Statistics and Climate Change
ICCA 628
Health Interventions in a Changing Climate
ICCA 629
Policy Development
ICCA 630
Integrating Climate Change Policies at Multiple Levels
ICCA 631
Policy on Technologies
ICCA 632
The Politics of Climate Change
ICCA 633
The Politics of Water
ICCA 634
Principles of Communication
ICCA 635
ICCA 636
Strategic Communication for Influencing Environmental
Behaviour
Process and Structure of Mass Communication
ICCA 637
Climate Change Information Packaging
ICCA 638
Information Dissemination and Advocacy
ICCA 639
Greening the Built Environment
ICCA 640
ICCA 642
Technologies for Climate Change Adaptation in
the Urban Environment
Technologies for Climate Change Adaptation in
the Rural Environment
Renewable Energy Technologies
ICCA 643
Technologies for Carbon Foot-print Reduction
ICCA 644
Climate Change and Water Policy
ICCA 645
Water Resources and Climate Change
ICCA 646
Water Pollution and Rehabilitation
ICCA 647
Water Resources Management
ICCA 648
Prediction and Management of Droughts and Floods
ICCA 641
Exam Hours
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
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Code
ICCA 649
Title
Early Warning Systems and Communication
ICCA 650
Ecosystems, Climate Change and Adaptation
ICCA 651
Bio-geophysical Impacts of Climate Change
ICCA 652
Air, Soil and Water Pollution Abatement
ICCA 653
Climate Dynamics
ICCA 654
ICCA 655
Application of Remote Sensing and GIS in Climate
Change and Adaptation Assessments
Scenarios Development
ICCA 656
Knowledge Management and Capacity Building
ICCA 657
ICCA 658
Research Project
Research Thesis
Exam Hours
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
1x3hr, 70%,
30%, CAT
180 hrs
270 hrs
8. Award of Degree
The name of the degree to be awarded shall be Master of Climate Change
Adaptation (XXXXX Option), where XXXXX represents one of the thematic areas.
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
CORE COURSES
ICCA 601: Foundation of Climate Change Science
Descriptions of the atmosphere and fundamentals of climate; Concept of radiative
forcing; External climate forcings; solar variability; Earth-intrinsic climate forcings and
feedbacks; Climate monitoring and prediction; Climate variability; Palaeoclimate
variability and abrupt climate events; Climate sensitivity; Basics of atmospheric
chemistry; The greenhouse effect; Concepts of natural and anthropogenic climate
changes; Natural causes of climate change; Anthropogenic causes of climate change;
Detection and attribution; Projections of future climate changes; Global and regional
climate change scenarios.
ICCA 602: Impacts of Climate Change
Climate hazard mapping; Climate extremes and socio-economic development;
Vulnerability indicators for natural systems Development baseline; Climate vulnerability
maps; Drivers of current vulnerability; Future climate hot spots based on environmental
and projections to socio-economic scenarios; Economics of climate including damages
and losses; Climate risk reduction versus disaster risk reduction; Hyogo Framework
Actions for disaster risk reduction.
ICCA 603: Vulnerability and Adaptation
Principles of conventions, treaties, policies, and legislation formulation; Review of global
climate change conventions and treaties; Regional and national agreements and
legislations; Processes for domesticating international conventions and treaties; Critical
evaluations of national action plans for adaptation; Key policy instruments and
challenges of implementation such as: - Montreal protocol for ozone depleting
substances and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM); United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), , United Nations Convention on Biodiversity
(UNCB),United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) etc.
ICCA 604: Climate Change Policies, Legislation and Treaties
Definition and concepts of vulnerability, resilience, adaptation; Conceptualization and
delineation of social vulnerability; Resource dependency, social resilience and
vulnerability; Inequality as an indicator of collective social vulnerability; Climate hazard
and vulnerability mapping; Indicators of institutional effectiveness in ameliorating
vulnerability; sustainable adaptation and community-based adaptation; Adaptation
needs and options; International, national, and sectoral assessments, including National
Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs); Planning and measuring adaptation;
Addressing maladaptation; Insurance and social protection; Links between adaptation
and development; Indigenous knowledge; Case studies in key socio-economic sectors.
ICCA 605: Climate Change Mitigation
Key definitions and concepts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction; Trace gas
emission measurements from a range of sources; monitoring and verification of
emission reduction and sequestration; Analysis of typical projects in renewable energy,
agriculture and forestry; Harnessing development opportunities in greenhouse gas
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mitigation projects (low carbon development pathways); International interventions
including Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs), Reducing carbon Emission
from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD), Clean Development Mechanism
(CDM) and voluntary mechanisms such as gold standard; Prerequisites for effective low
carbon development programmes; Inter-linkages between adaptation and mitigation and
practical examples such as climate-smart agriculture; Country case study – Kenya’s
country strategy and action plan for greenhouse gas mitigation.
ICCA 606: Research Methods in Climate Change and Adaptation
Nature of research; Approaches in research – mono-disciplinary, multi-disciplinary,
inter-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary; Methods of research; Steps in research; Scope
of research; Proposal writing, publications; Data collection, quality assessment, and
analysis; Data presentation; Ethics in research; Conceptual models for vulnerability,
adaptation and scenario building; Computational statistical and qualitative data analysis;
Correlation and regression analyses, data simulation and modelling; Application of
standard soft-wares such as: - SPSS, EPI info, MATLAB, ENVI ArcGIS, ATLAS.
ICCA 607: Resource Use Efficiency
Resource use efficiency definition; concepts of cost-benefit analysis, understanding the
global production networks; Measures of efficiency, quality versus cost, quantity versus
cost; Principles of measuring efficiency; Product life cycle assessment data and
methodologies; Impact assessment indicators and methods; Decoupling and resource
use efficiency; Recycling; Eco-innovation; Sustainability and optimisation in resource
use management; Ecological foot printing; Energy analysis; Co-benefits of mitigation in
a low carbon development pathway such as energy efficiency and increased reliance on
renewable resources.
ICCA 608: Critical Debates in Global Climate Change and Adaptation
Candidates shall be assigned literature readings on topics such as poverty eradication,
social justice, global emissions rise, deforestation, population increase and its effect on
climate change, malnutrition or any topical issue of the day. Candidates shall present
weekly seminars on the assigned readings. The seminar and the assignment write up
shall be used to grade the candidate.
ELECTIVE COURSES FOR EACH OF THE THEMATIC AREAS
CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT AND FOOD SECURITY
ICCA 609: Resilient Agro-Ecosystems
Modelling climate change impacts on agriculture; Early warning systems; Soil nutrient
improvement, management and conservation; Water catchments; Irrigation and
conservation; Pest and disease resistant crops; Pest and disease management;
Drought, saline, heat and flood tolerant plants and animals; Types and breeds of
animals and their management.
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ICCA 610: Land Management and Governance
Land tenure systems; Access and utilization; Land management practices- flood-prone,
arid, semi arid and forested land areas, adaptation and mitigation; Agricultural systemsbio-fuels, aqua culture, land use and land cover change; Conservation and resource
utilization; Management of feed base and pastures; Emerging land use challenges –
“2nd” scramble for land in Africa (green grabbing).
ICCA 611: Climate Sensitive Agro-Ecological Zones
Impact of climate change on agro-ecosystems; Effects of extreme climate events on
germplasm in specific environments; Water availability, salinization, access, harvesting
and utilization, land management, reduction of vulnerability and mitigation.
ICCA 612: Climate Change and Food Production Systems
Livelihood and food production systems; Food types, processing, distribution and
access; Access to markets; Post harvest practices; Food security; Value chain analysis;
Precision agriculture climate change threats and opportunities; Adaptive and mitigation
strategies to enhance resilience of food production system to climate change.
ICCA 613: Climate Change Implications for Fisheries and Aqua-culture
Marine, freshwater fisheries and aquaculture; Ecological and nutrient dynamics;
Fisheries prediction/performance models; Vulnerability assessment and adaptation
planning; Impacts of physical interventions and policy regimes on fisheries, resources
and related livelihoods.
ICCA 614: Overview of Climate Risk Management
Concepts and terminologies in climate risk management; Overview of climate change
and climate risk; Linking climate to development; Principles of climate risk reduction –
mitigation measures (structural and non-structural), preparedness (contingency
planning), early warning systems; Review of current knowledge on climate-related
extreme events and expected future trends; State of risk - extreme events and disaster
trends, losses, damages, humanitarian crises, complex emergencies.
ICCA 615: Risk Drivers, Policies and Approaches
Drivers of increasing risk-socio-economic information and trend and social dimensions
of risk; Policies and approaches to reduce and manage extreme events; Sources of
vulnerability and disaster risk-information, including government sources; Cross sectoral
coordination; Gender-sensitive policies and community based approaches; Policies and
approaches for managing new and changing risks and adaptive practices – for example,
Sahel in 1970s experience as surrogate for adaptation.
ICCA 616: Decision Support Tools for Reducing Climate Risks
Data and information – sources, availability, adequacy and quality; Climate modeling for
climate risk management; Development and use of local climate outlooks; Climate risk
mapping; Gap analysis on capacities and technologies; Assessment of implementation
practices; Cost of options;Damage, loss and needs assessment;Dissemination and
scale-up potential.
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ICCA 617: Regional Focus
On IPCC-Identified most vulnerable areas-Africa-the Sahel, Eastern Africa droughts and
floods, Southern Africa water shortage; Existing partnerships at global, regional,
national and local levels; Role of regional, national and local institutions; Community
resilience building and local development sustainability; Partnerships in building
community resilience; Asia mega deltas, small islands: existing capacities and needs for
women and men, including technology transfer.
ICCA 618: Institutional Frameworks
Institutions for management of extreme events; Financing-current structures and
opportunities for joint financing; Inter-sectoral collaboration; Public information and
understanding; Policy barriers and opportunities; Links with mitigation; Scaling-up
options.
HUMAN DIMENSIONS AND HEALTH
ICCA 619: Gender and Climate Change
Conceptualizing gender and gender mainstreaming; Social inequalities, gender and
marginalized populations; Gender and vulnerability to climate variability and change;
Legislation and gender mainstreaming in climate change adaptation and mitigation
actions; Gender and adaptation; Gender sensitive strategies and technologies for
mitigation actions; Gender mainstreaming in climate risk reduction and climate change.
ICCA 620: Urban Areas and Climate Change and Adaptation
Urbanization processes, sustainable habitats, climate change risks, urban microclimates – including urban heat islands; Housing and settlements; Green concepts in
urban planning, management and governance, landscape and regional
interconnections.
ICCA 621: Economics of Climate Change and Adaptation
Political ecology, factors influencing use of ecosystems – cultural, political, economic
and values; Climate variability Loss and damage assessment; Climate change
adaptation and mitigation costs and benefits at global, national, sectoral and local
levels; Financing for adaptation and mitigation; Inter-relationships between
adaptation/mitigation costs and residual damage; Climate change opportunities,
economic instruments as incentives, carbon trading; Market-based approaches for
climate change decision-making; Monitoring and verification of climate change and
adaptation projects.
ICCA 622: Livelihoods, Poverty, Human Security, and Climate Change
Scope and definition of poverty and livelihoods; Differences within communities (gender,
wealth, tribe, language, culture) and their influence; Impacts to adapt to impacts of
climate change; Climate change impacts on poverty and livelihoods; Impact of
adaptation and mitigation on livelihoods and poverty; Potential climate change risks and
opportunities for livelihoods and poverty; Human security- vulnerable indigenous
communities; Indigenous knowledge systems; Migration and population displacement –
including environmental refugees; conflict; community resilience.
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ICCA 623: Infrastructure and Industry Adaptation for Climate Change
Climate variability and impacts on networked infrastructure – transportation, energy,
water and sanitation; Industry, for example manufacturing, tourism; Corporate social
and environmental responsibility; Climate change and global production networks.
ICCA 624: Climate Change and Health
Disease classifications relevant to climate/health relationships; Climate sensitivity of
infectious diseases and vectors; Impact of climate change on water borne and water
diseases; Water quality, availability and sanitation; Emerging and re-emerging diseases;
National assessments of health impacts of climate change; Monitoring the health effects
of climate change.
ICCA 625: Health Vulnerability to Impacts of Climate Change
Scale and nature of health vulnerability to climate change (degree of exposure to
climate hazards, sensitivity and adaptive capacity of the individual, population or
community); Definition of risk factor and exposure scenario; Risk communication; Health
impacts assessments; Impact of climate change on existing health challenges for
marginalised populations; Health and climate refugees; Impact of climate change on
current health burdens.
ICCA 626: Climate Change and Climatotherapy
Definition of climatotherapy; Epidemiology of climatotherapy; Interventions for climate
change health impacts such as aerotherapy, UV radiation prevention and therapy,
heliotherapy, thalassotherapy, allergen and anti-allergics therapy; altitude change,
modified environments.
ICCA 627: Health Statistics and Climate Change
Health statistics and populations; Health statistics and climate change; International
politics of health statistics; Data collection and management of climate change induced
diseases; Modelling and prediction.
ICCA 628: Health interventions in a changing climate
Socio economic and political factors influencing public health policy development and
health adaptation options; Public health policies for climate change; Scenarios for
decision making.
POLICY AND COMMUNICATION
ICCA 629: Policy Development
Policy development process: types of policies; factors affecting policy formulation and
implementation; Normative standards of good policy; Use of research to inform and
guide policy; Practical effects of policy on the society and environment; Challenges to
policy formulation in developing countries; The role of data in climate change policy
formulation; Policy instruments; Implementation process and challenges; Overview of
climate change policies in developing versus developed countries.
ICCA 630: Integrating Climate Change Policies at Multiple Levels
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Integrating climate change and adaptation and mitigation policies at regional, national,
county, sectoral, community and project levels; Operationalising adaptation policies;
The process of integrating adaptation into existing policies – the process of reviewing
current policies to determine if they are supportive of efforts to adapt to climate change;
removing policies that act as barriers to adaptation; and creating policies (e.g. water
management policies) that are themselves robust enough to be applicable in a variety of
different circumstances; Key challenges for policy implementation; Integrating
adaptation policies into local development processes; Key challenges for action for
example: - adaptation finance, policy planning, role of governance; Governance
structures at the global level, frameworks and structures at the national level,
governance at the local level; SWOT analysis of governance structures at global,
national and local levels, appropriate governance frameworks and structures.
ICCA 631: Policy on Technologies
Policies as relates to climate change adaptation and mitigation incentives, technology
innovations, and clean technologies; Government energy policies including carbondioxide emissions, electric utilities, renewable energies; Carbon/energy taxation and
green fiscal reform; Carbon emissions trading at the national and international level;
The economics of energy efficiency (relevant analytical techniques such as cost benefit
analysis, decomposition analysis and energy). (Elective available to candidates taking
Technologies Option)
ICCA 632: Politics of Climate Change
International politics; Politics of global and regional economic blocks; Politics of
resource utilization and interest groups at global, regional, national and local scales;
Case studies - Conference of Parties (COP) negotiations, Kyoto Protocol, Clean
Development Mechanism, Adaptation Fund, Joint Implementation Project and emerging
issues; The politics of climate change within Africa – the role of the different
intergovernmental bodies in Africa, decisions taken on climate change and the factors
influencing these processes.
ICCA 633: Politics of Water
Scale and range of hydro politics; Regional cooperation as a component of hydro
politics; Regime and security complex for understanding cooperation within river basins;
Historical water conflicts; Socio-cultural considerations to water policy development and
implementation.(Elective available to candidates taking Water Option)
ICCA 634: Principles of Communication
Ethics; self awareness, verbal and non verbal messages; Visual communication; Audio
visual communication; Listening and adapting; Interpersonal communication;
Communication in groups; Public speaking; Interviewing; Writing; Mass media
(persuasive writing, mass advertising); Communication and technology.
ICCA 635: Strategic Communication for Influencing Behaviour Towards the
Environment
Audience categorization and characterization; Barriers to effective climate change
information communication; Interrogative communication, from sender to receiver and
vice versa; Importance and role of media and education on sustainable development
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and adaptation strategies in response to climate change variability; Maintaining
perceptions; Management and evaluation of communication programmes.
ICCA 636: Process and Structure of Mass Communication
Mass psychology and behaviour; Methods for communication; Role of social actors;
Types of communication media; How to use climate information communicated by
media; Importance of media and education on sustainable development and climate
change adaptation strategies; Management of barriers to effective climate change
communication.
ICCA 637: Climate Change and Information Packaging
Sources of information and resources; Types of climate change information and
packaging for example: - policy briefs, documentaries; audience profiling for effective
communication; development of user specific information; engaging the media in
climate change adaptation communication; Management and evaluation of climate
change information and dissemination.
ICCA 638: Information Communication and Advocacy
Communication of climate change information; Modes of information dissemination;
Timing of dissemination; Identifying and nurturing links and platforms for the
dissemination chain; Barriers to effective dissemination and advocacy; Strategies for
lobbying.
TECHNOLOGIES
ICCA 616: Decision Support Tools for Reducing Climate Risks
Data and information – sources, availability, adequacy and quality; Climate modeling for
climate risk management; Development and use of local climate outlooks; Climate risk
mapping; Gap analysis on capacities and technologies; Assessment of implementation
practices; Cost of options;Damage, loss and needs assessment;Dissemination and
scale-up potential
ICCA 623: Infrastructure and Industry Adaptation for Climate Change
Climate variability and impacts on networked infrastructure – transportation, energy,
water and sanitation; Industry, for example manufacturing, tourism; Corporate social
and environmental responsibility; Climate change and global production networks.
ICCA 631: Policy on Technologies
Policies as relates to climate change adaptation and mitigation incentives, technology
innovations, and clean technologies; Government energy policies including carbondioxide emissions, electric utilities, renewable energies; Carbon/energy taxation and
green fiscal reform; Carbon emissions trading at the national and international level;
The economics of energy efficiency (relevant analytical techniques such as cost benefit
analysis, decomposition analysis and energy). (Elective available to candidates taking
Technologies Option)
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ICCA 638: Information Communication and Advocacy
Communication of climate change information; Modes of information dissemination;
Timing of dissemination; Identifying and nurturing links and platforms for the
dissemination chain; Barriers to effective dissemination and advocacy; Strategies for
lobbying.
ICCA 639: Greening the Built Environment
Green real estate; Green office buildings; Alternative low energy sustainable
approaches to building design; Thermal comfort and day lighting practices; Home-owner
perceptions; Energy management in buildings; Building mechanical systems; Energy
consumption and conservation in buildings; Technical regulations; Building codes;
Building optimization; Building upgrades and building materials.
ICCA 640: Technologies for Climate Change Adaptation in the Urban Environment
Urban planning and energy conservation; Urban ecology; Urban adaptation and
sustainability; Urban transport; Broad understanding of the potential for renewable
energies within the urban environment; Energy use and carbon mitigation in the
transport sector; ICT – enabled adaptation technologies in urban environments.
ICCA 641: Technologies for Climate Change Adaptation in the Rural Environment
Link between energy, poverty and rural development; Rural energy needs, sustainable
development, potential for renewable energies within the rural environment such as
solar, wind, micro-hydro; bio-energy systems; ICT-enabled adaptation technologies in
rural environments; environmental conservation and eco-technologies.
ICCA 642: Renewable Energy Technologies
Renewable energy technologies including wind energy-wind power, electric power
generation, hydrogen-based energy sources – hydrogen, biomass, photosynthesis;
Solar energy conversion-based technologies – solar energy conversion, photovoltaic
cells, thin film devices, bulk junction cells, dye-sensitized cells; Marine energy-based
technologies – marine energy, tidal power, wave energy; Geothermal energy; Other
emerging technologies.
ICCA 643: Technologies for Carbon Footprint Reduction
Carbon foot-print; Technologies that improve production networks, business decision
making, energy efficiency, electricity generation, carbon emissions, energy recovery
systems; Carbon-trading, recycling and re-use technologies; Analysis of the energy
performance of buildings, industry and transport; as well as energy audits and surveys.
ICCA 649: Early Warning Systems and Communication
Overview of types of climate risks to environmental systems; Concept of prediction,
early warning and early action; Evaluation and selection of indicators for early warning;
Sources of information and resources; Tools for climate change related disaster;
vulnerability assessment and risk reduction; Disaster risk reduction at the local level;
Communication of information; Community based early warning systems; Assessment
of the benefits of early warning systems.
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WATER, ENVIROMENT AND ECOSYSTEMS
ICCA 644: Climate Change and Water Policy
Freshwater availability; Freshwater availability versus demand at various levels;
Scenarios for climate change and water availability; Regional and trans-boundary water
issues; Stresses on water resources; Constraints on access to water resources; Africa
Water Vision; International, regional and national water policies, protocols, treaties and
conventions for water management; Policy options for climate change adaptation in the
water sector.
ICCA 645: Climate Change and Water Resources
The water (hydrological) cycle, variability and change in various components of the
hydrology cycle; Precipitation; Surface water resources and climate change;
Groundwater resources and climate change; Oceans and global climate change;
Regional water issues in Africa, Eastern Africa and Kenya; Water management and the
environment; Climate variability and water resources; Climate change and adaptation
strategies in water and environmental management; Mitigation strategies at the regional
and local scale; Water resource conflicts.
ICCA 646: Water Pollution and Rehabilitation
Principles of water pollution; Natural and anthropogenic sources of water pollutants;
Vulnerability of bio-geophysical and social systems to pollution; Pollution and climate
change; Pollution monitoring and analytical techniques; Water pollution control
technologies; Water resources rehabilitation technologies; Climate change and water
quality.
ICCA 647: Water Resources Management
Hydrological observations and data requirements for IWRM; Introduction to and
economic instruments for Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM); Integrated
Lake Basin Management (ILBM); Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM);
Climate change impacts on water use sectors; Capacity building and adaptation
strategies for water resources management.
ICCA 648: Prediction and Management of Droughts and Floods
Overview of hydro-climatic hazards (floods, drought); Origin and nature of hydro-climatic
hazards; Measure of event location; Measure of event variability; Event time series and
trend analysis; Correlation and regression approaches; Flow duration analysis; Mass
curve analysis; Event distribution types; Probability plotting; Management and mitigation
of hazards/disasters; Strategic approach: structural measures, benefits and costs of
early warning and preparedness.
ICCA 649: Early Warning Systems and Communication
Overview of types of climate risks to environmental systems; Concept of prediction,
early warning and early action; Evaluation and selection of indicators for early warning;
Sources of information and resources; Tools for climate change related disaster;
vulnerability assessment and risk reduction; Disaster risk reduction at the local level;
Communication of information; Community based early warning systems; Assessment
of the benefits of early warning systems.
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ICCA 650: Ecosystems, Climate Change and Adaptation
Ecosystem science and management principles; Ecosystems structure and function;
Biodiversity and conservation; The interaction of climate and ecosystems; Ecosystems
resilience to climate change; Ecosystem approach to adaptive management; Ecosystem
modelling for environmental management; Climate- induced ecosystems change
implications for livelihoods and adaptation.
ICCA 651: Bio-geophysical Impacts of Climate Change
Introducing the atmosphere, land, biosphere, hydrosphere and linkages; Introduction to
bio-geophysical systems; Atmospheric circulation patterns; The hydrological cycle,
extreme events and climate change; The cryosphere; Sea surface temperatures, sea
level rise; Ocean acidification; Land surface changes; Biogeochemical cycles of Carbon,
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulphur; Aquatic ecosystems; Terrestrial ecosystems;
Aerosols; Global and regional projections of impacts.
ICCA 652: Air, Soil and Water Pollution Abatement
Sources and sinks of air pollutants, photochemical smog, cause and methods for
avoidance, mitigation strategies for green house gases; Sources of water pollutants,
pollution monitoring and abatement, water quality standards; Sources of soil pollution,
industrial processes that abate pollution; Practical solutions to water and soil
remediation at local scales.
ICCA 653: Climate Dynamics
Climate processes; Global circulation modelling; climate change modelling, greenhouse
gases; Transport processes in the atmosphere; Socio-economic scenario development;
Global climate scenario development - incremental, analogue, and global circulation;
Downscaling of global scenarios - regional global circulation models; Incorporation of
indigenous and traditional knowledge; Challenges in climate predictions; Feedback
mechanisms and uncertainties.
GENERAL ELECTIVES
ICCA 654: Applications of GIS and Remote Sensing in Climate Change Impacts
and Adaptation Assessments
GIS database creation; Data visualization and analysis; Spatial analysisof raster and
vector data sets; Modeling climate change variables such as soil moisture,
evapotranspiration, vegetation in a GIS system; Remote sensing air and space borne
systems; Spectral characteristics of different surfaces; Satellite imagery; Common
approaches and methodology for digital image processing; Using remote sensing for
environmental monitoring and analysis - case studies on water resources dynamics,
dryland degradation, hazard assessment, urban development, management of
agricultural and forest ecosystems.
Pre-requisite: Student to demonstrate basic GIS knowledge which will be assessed by
an ICCA administered test before being allowed to take the elective course.
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ICCA 655: Climate Change Scenarios Development
Concept of “scenarios”; Storylines; Types of baseline data; Developing climate
scenarios; Developing socioeconomic scenarios; Developing environmental scenarios;
Uncertainties; Application of scenarios in impacts assessment and adaptation.
ICCA 656: Knowledge Management and Capacity Building in Climate Change and
Adaptation
Knowledge resource repositories, inventory, gathering, organization, sharing and
analysis; Knowledge management, people, and networking; Knowledge management
systems and structure – documentary and online; Sustaining knowledge management
systems; Capacity needs assessments at systemic, institutional and individual levels;
Stakeholder engagement for capacity development; Formulating and implementing
capacity development responses; Monitoring and evaluation of capacity development.
ICCA 657: Research Project Option
A supervised research project on an approved topic
ICCA 658: Research Thesis Option
A supervised research thesis on an approved topic
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