3rd IKI Peru Networking Meeting

During the 3rd IKI Peru Networking Meeting, EPICC presented a 1-minute video on the impacts of COVID-19 on the work of the project, experience of EPICC in overcoming the challenges, as well as EPICC's vision for post-crisis recovery. The video was recorded in the Spanish language. 

Please find the English version of the video script below:

Covid-19 pandemic affected EPICC project in various ways. This year’s travel restrictions resulted in nearly all planned in-person events with our stakeholders to be postponed. These are the workshops and trainings with Peruvian scientists and practitioners, as well as meetings with the Peruvian Advisory board members. Despite the difficulties, EPICC actively updates and disseminates information on the ongoing research, we participate in webinars and virtual training sessions organized by IKI, Peruvian ministries and other parties, and plan online meeting with the Peruvian Advisory Board. We believe that post crisis recovery can only be achieved through green recovery. Our project supports the strategy by providing user-oriented climate forecasts and predictions that can prevent major economic losses and foster the development of resilient infrastructure.

Please find below more information about EPICC work during the COVID-19 pandemic and post-crisis recovery:

1. What impacts does COVID-19 have on your project?

With the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic this year, the world faced a big shock, while being in the middle of the climate crisis. EPICC project and its members and stakeholders all experienced common and individual effects of the pandemic. Since EPICC is a project that aims to strengthen resilience to climate change in countries across three continents, building strong relationships with our stakeholders on the ground, has always been a key element of our work. This opportunity has been strongly compromised by the travel restrictions imposed due to the pandemic. As a result, a number of the planned events had to be postponed, such as workshops and trainings with Peruvian scientists and practitioners, as well as meetings with the Peruvian advisory board members, who provide crucial support to the project towards the integration of the results in climate change plans, strategies and policies. Additionally, we have not been able to invite Peruvian researchers for scientific exchange visits. All these changes challenge EPICC’s ability to disseminate project results and anchor knowledge in local climate change adaptation processes.

We understand that most of our counterparts have found themselves in challenging home office situations with irregular access to the Internet connection and difficult family situations, rendering the online collaboration hard from both sides.

2.       What good practices were used to overcome the crisis?

Despite the difficulties, EPICC is continuously trying to find ways to effectively engage with its stakeholders. We are actively updating and disseminating information on our ongoing research, participate in webinars and virtual trainings organized by IKI, Peruvian ministries and other parties. EPICC project participated in online sessions to support the development of the National Adaptation Plan of Peru and Action Plan on Climate Migration. Currently we are planning an online meeting with the Peruvian Advisory Board members to learn more on how we can improve collaboration during this time of uncertainty.

3.       What does your project propose for post-crisis recovery?

The global pandemic showed that science-based policy advice is essential in preventing, managing and overcoming complex crises that have inherent delays between cause and effect. EPICC aims to foster science-policy dialogue on the climate crisis to improve preparedness of Peru to its adverse effects. Our project provides user-oriented climate forecasts and predictions that can prevent major economic losses and foster the development of resilient infrastructure. We believe that post crisis recovery can only be achieved through green recovery. EPICC will continue providing top-notch research to support this strategy.