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The framing and governance of climate change adaptation projects in Lao PDR and Cambodia

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Abstract

This study explores the way climate change adaptation projects in Cambodia and Lao PDR have been framed. Four frames were identified: inadequate infrastructure; information deficits; limited planning capacity; and insecure access. In all frames, there was internal coherence among: the problems identified; the form solutions are expected to take; and who should be included and in what roles. All projects claimed to be addressing the needs of farmers vulnerable to climate change. The infrastructure, information, and capacity frames are apolitical and privilege expert knowledge, whereas the access frame places rights and justice issues centrally, and thus holds more potential for addressing the root causes of vulnerabilities and supporting more just distribution of resources and power. Framing can interact with how projects are governed, for example, through assigning roles to actors based on types of solutions prescribed. The extent and direction of frame elaboration also depend on how a project is governed. Meeting local needs and objectives, for example, is constrained when external actors have too much influence in project governing structures, and initial project plans written from afar are followed too narrowly. This study shows that frames are an important part of the governance of adaptation projects.

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Notes

  1. Interview, LGCC project member, 2014.

  2. Interview, ADB Official, February 2014.

  3. Interview, Project Adviser, 29 April 2014.

  4. Interview, project official, 25 April 2014.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit for Social and Environmental Research, School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand

    Louis Lebel & Phimphakan Lebel

  2. School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Louis Lebel & Phimphakan Lebel

  3. University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Mira Käkönen

  4. Royal University of Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

    Va Dany & Try Thuon

  5. National Economic Research Institute, Vang Vieng, Lao PDR

    Saykham Voladet

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  1. Louis Lebel
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  2. Mira Käkönen
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  3. Va Dany
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  4. Phimphakan Lebel
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  5. Try Thuon
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  6. Saykham Voladet
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Correspondence to Louis Lebel.

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Lebel, L., Käkönen, M., Dany, V. et al. The framing and governance of climate change adaptation projects in Lao PDR and Cambodia. Int Environ Agreements 18, 429–446 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-018-9397-x

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