Você está na página 1de 112

Community

Champions:
Adapting to
Climate
Challenges

Hannah Reid, Saleemul Huq


and Laurel Murray
Community Champions:
Adapting to
Climate Challenges
First published by
International Institute for Environment and Development (UK) in 2010
Copyright © International Institute for Environment and Development
All rights reserved

Order No. : 10028IIED


ISBN: 978-1-84369-799-2

For a full list of publications or a catalogue please contact


International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)
3 Endsleigh Street
London
WC1H 0DD
United Kingdom
newbooks@iied.org
www.iied.org/pubs

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Citation: Reid H., et al., Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges,


International Institute for Environment and Development. London, 2010.

The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and conference
contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IIED.

Cover image: Novus Hléo


Design by: Good + Proper
Printed by: Park Communications, UK on Revive Pure White Uncoated paper,
using vegetable based inks.

Please recycle
Community Champions:
Adapting to
Climate Challenges

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation


Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 2010

Hannah Reid, Saleemul Huq and Laurel Murray


Contents

3 Preface

4 Introduction

9 Strengthening institutions

15 Management of water resources

23 Building adaptive capacity

29 The role of insurance and microfinance

33 Policy linkages for community-based adaptation

37 Agricultural practice and management

48 Community-based adaptation for drylands and pastoralism

55 Community-based adaptation in urban areas

0
6 Managing and communicating knowledge about good
community-based adaptation

70 Scaling up and replicating best practice

75 Vulnerable groups: women and children

81 The role of ecosystems in adaptation

87 Mainstreaming community-based adaptation within


disaster risk reduction

92 Community-based adaptation methodologies

98 Funding community-based adaptation

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges


Preface

The fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation


to Climate Change was held on 21-27 February 2010 in Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania. Since 2005, the Conference has grown and matured
demonstrating that, irrespective of the politics surrounding climate change,
real action is taking place on the ground. Roughly 200 participants
were in attendance from 35 countries representing government, donors,
non-government organisations, community-based organisations
and research institutions. The proceedings were punctuated by field trips
to community-based adaptation (CBA) projects and activities in Tanzania
with a further five days of interactive plenary and technical sessions.
The conference also saw the launch of the Global Initiative on Community-
Based Adaptation (GICBA): a knowledge-sharing platform for supporting
and promoting a stronger voice on CBA issues.

Community-based adaptation is targeted at those most vulnerable to


climate change and represents a relatively new approach consisting of
community-based development activities, practices, research and policies.
It is community-driven and has flourished throughout many vulnerable
communities in developing countries, and also some developed countries.
That said, CBA is still in adolescence with challenges surrounding
knowledge sharing, documentation and scaling up current CBA initiatives.
It was in response to these challenges that the annual international
conferences on CBA were initiated. Each conference has brought together
stakeholders from donor agencies to local NGOs to share their projects
and experiences, compare approaches and even challenge one another.

The Conference was structured around plenary and technical sessions


on a variety of important subject areas such as agriculture, water
resources and ecosystems to cross-cutting issues of policy, funding and
strengthening institutions. Nearly a hundred projects were showcased
and demonstrate the sheer variety and innovation of current community-
based projects. The projects and activity summaries described here will
hopefully act as a resource for information sharing and learning.

Laurel Murray - Kings College London


Editor

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 3


Introduction

Scientists are clear that climate change when their only cow drowns in a flood or
is happening, and that those likely to drought kills their maize crop for the year.
be worst affected are the world’s poorest And they do not have the political clout to
and most marginalised countries and ask why their country’s early warning
communities. Ironically it is these people system did not prepare them for floods.
who have contributed least to the problem
of climate change, because of their very Under the United Nations Framework
low greenhouse gas emissions, who Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),
will suffer most from its consequences. industrialised countries have accepted that
they have a responsibility to help poor and
Poor countries and communities are vulnerable countries to adapt. International
more vulnerable to climate change because climate change negotiations, multilateral
they tend to be located in geographically and bilateral agencies, donors and interna-
vulnerable areas, such as flood-prone tional governance and financial institutions
Mozambique, drought-prone Sudan, such as the World Bank are also paying
or cyclone-prone Bangladesh, and in other increasing attention to how best to help
vulnerable locations. The slums and people to adapt and making more funding
informal settlements surrounding many available for this purpose. However,
developing country cities are usually sited until recently, most efforts to help countries
on land prone to landslips or to flooding adapt focused on national planning and
and riverbank erosion. Wealthy people, top-down approaches based on climate
commerce and industry can afford to situate change modelling. Remarkably little atten-
themselves on safer land. tion has been paid to the knowledge and
experience held by communities themselves
Many poor communities are heavily on how to cope with a changing climate.
dependent on natural resources for their
livelihoods. Unpredictability in the timing
of rainfall makes it more difficult for
subsistence farmers to decide when to
cultivate, sow and harvest, for example.

Vulnerability to climate change also has


social, economic and political dimensions.
Poor people rarely have insurance to cover
loss of property due to storms or cyclones.
They cannot pay for the healthcare required
when climate change-induced outbreaks
of malaria and other diseases occur. They
have few alternative livelihood options

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 4


Good CBA needs to integrate both scientific
and local knowledge into its planning
processes. Scientific information includes
long-term predictions from climate change
models, seasonal forecasts, remote
sensing observations and satellite pictures.
Local knowledge includes information
about trends and changes experienced
by communities themselves and strategies
these communities have used in the
past to cope with similar shocks or gradual
climatic changes.
What is community-based
adaptation? Community-based adaptation is participa-
Community-based adaptation (CBA) tory and draws on approaches and methods
describes an approach to increasing the developed in both disaster risk reduction
resilience of some of the world’s poorest and community development work, as well
communities to the impacts of climate as sector-specific approaches such as
change. It should be a community-led farmer-led participatory research. It often
process, based on local priorities, needs, uses innovative participatory methods
knowledge and capacities, which can
then empower people to cope with and
plan for the impacts of climate change.

In practice, CBA projects look very like


‘development as usual’ projects and it is
difficult to distinguish the additional
‘adaptation components’. For example,
in a drought year, one cannot divide water
storage measures undertaken by local
communities into those initiated as a
response to ‘normal’ climate variability,
and those initiated as a response to
climate change. The difference, however, such as community mapping, transect-
is that CBA work attempts to factor in walks, and participatory theatre or video
the potential impact of climate change on to help communities analyse the causes
livelihoods and vulnerability to disasters and effects of climate change, and to
by using local and scientific knowledge of integrate scientific and community knowl-
climate change and its likely effects. edge in planning adaptation responses.

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 5


The use of genuine participatory processes
is important if CBA is to fit with community
priorities and build on existing practices or
those used in the past. Participatory tools
are sometimes used as a way of collecting
local information about vulnerability and
climate change to be used and analysed by
outsiders and it is not uncommon for
the priorities and interests of outsiders to
override those of communities in any
subsequent planning. There is still a lot
of ‘doing to’ communities, rather than of intensifying climate change impacts and
communities taking charge but if adaptation as interest in and support for adaptation
is to be effective and sustainable, it must grows at national and international levels.
involve and empower communities such Funding is increasingly available for
that they themselves can make changes. adaptation activities, but simply providing
Communities, scientists and development poor country governments with more money
workers need to learn, analyse and plan does not mean that it will reach those
action in partnership, but communities need who are most vulnerable to climate change,
to be in the driving seat. let alone increase their ability to adapt.

This has wide-reaching implications for Large scale CBA initiatives are now being
professional behaviour and attitudes, designed to try and answer some of the
and for institutional cultures and structures. questions arising through ‘action research’.
Genuine community-based approaches For example, Global Environment Facility
challenge the paradigm where outsiders supported projects have been systematically
are viewed as ‘teachers’ or ‘experts’ rather piloted in ten countries since May 2008,
than facilitators and students. Participatory and in 2009 the Small Grants Programme
processes also need time to develop launched a Mekong and Asia-Pacific CBA
and flexible funding as they rarely fit with Programme with AusAID support. The United
the pre-determined calendars, budgets and Nations Environment Programme has further
outputs demanded by governments and plans to scale up financial support for CBA
other donors. including launching a Global Partnership
on CBA involving United Nations agencies
Sharing learning on community-based and civil society with support from the
adaptation private sector and foundations. The Climate
The theory and practice of CBA are still in Change Adaptation in Africa Research and
their infancy. Both are growing very rapidly, Capacity Development Programme funded
however, as needs increase as a result by the International Development Research

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 6


Centre, Canada, and the Department for to climatic variability was the entry point for
International Development, United Kingdom, building adaptive capacity. The battle
also funds several CBA projects. to convince them of the value of CBA is now
largely won, and discussions at the third
Whilst CBA initiatives are increasing in and fourth conferences focused more
number, and information sharing on these on topics such as distinguishing CBA from
activities is developing, translating these community-based development; how to
activities and documentation into improved demonstrate the value of CBA and develop
policy responses and scaled up CBA indicators for monitoring and evaluation;
initiatives worldwide remain a challenge. scaling up CBA and making it policy-relevant;
It was in response to these challenges and, how to integrate climate science
that the regular international conferences into CBA whilst maintaining a community-
on CBA were initiated. Each conference driven process.
has brought together representatives from
governments, non-government organisa-
tions, community-based organisations,
United Nations agencies and major donors,
and taken them on a two-day field trip to
meet communities coping with climate
vulnerability and other environmental issues
before commencing the hotel-based
components of each conference.

At the second CBA workshop, the task was


to convince development practitioners
working at the CBA level that vulnerability
Several CBA projects are now in operation
in vulnerable communities in both developing
and also some developed countries,
and the Fourth International Conference
on CBA, which took place in Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania, in February 2010, shared
experiences from many of these projects.
Nearly 200 participants were present.
The Global Initiative on Community-Based
Adaptation (GICBA) was also formally
launched as a knowledge-sharing platform
for supporting and promoting a stronger
voice on CBA issues.

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 7


Remaining challenges
Despite the rapid progress in the develop-
ment and sharing of knowledge about
CBA, many challenges remain. Whilst the
number of CBA case studies is proliferating,
it will be important to find practical ways
to ‘scale up’ initiatives and to find better ways
to draw out and communicate lessons from
CBA more widely. Maintaining the balance
between community-driven approaches,
and more top-down global approaches to
CBA, for example under UNFCCC funding
streams, will be important, as will ensuring
that the importance of local knowledge in approach to CBA has limitations, particu-
emerging initiatives is not second to larly where future climate change impacts
scientific knowledge. Ways to demonstrate operate at a scale that cannot be addressed
the value of CBA to both development and by isolated interventions.
climate change policy makers are needed,
as are the development of effective Many initiatives, including the GICBA, the
monitoring and evaluation frameworks that CBA-Exchange, and existing action research
respond to donors’ demands whilst also projects, are helping to address these
being available to communities so that they challenges. It is hoped that by the time of
can access resources for CBA quickly the Fifth International CBA Conference
and efficiently. Lastly, it will be important in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in March 2011, we
to acknowledge that a project-based will see significant progress against these
challenges. In anticipation of this,
the theme of the fifth conference will be
‘Scaling up’.

Dr Hannah Reid & Dr Saleemul Huq


Climate Change Group
International Institute
for Environment and Development

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 8


Strengthening
institutions

9
Governance of community-based adaptation
by Rachel Berger

When funds begin to flow for adaptation, In Nepal, Practical Action has provided
they will flow to governments. Yet those training for Village Development Committees
most affected by climate change are often to undertake vulnerability and capacity
remote, poor rural communities. Govern- assessments; facilitated census building
ments do not have a good record of between groups of villages; and, helped to
channelling money to their most remote establish village level needs into district
or vulnerable citizens. In addition, it is government plans.
evident that when most governments think
about adaptation, they are considering Projects in Zimbabwe saw workshops and
the need to modify infrastructure, make awareness-raising at the provincial level
changes to export agriculture, or provide in techniques of participatory planning.
for additional health risks, rather than This led to the training and implementation
supporting vulnerable communities. of government staff at the district level
to facilitate community-based planning.
There is a demand and a need for oversight
of how international adaptation funds are Lastly, Practical Action established a capacity
disbursed and spent, to ensure that they building programme in Kenya to cope with
achieve the objective of enabling adaptation. the drought in the Eastern Province in 1997-
This paper draws on Practical Action’s work 2002. Part of the exit strategy was to build
on CBA and on governance in the countries a strong community-based organisation
where they are based to outline some key to link with local offices of the Ministries
principles for governance of adaptation. of Livestock and Agriculture. By the spring
of 2010, the organisation had grown and
These include national strategies that is now integrated with a network of over 150
enable local action as well as participatory local CBOs on dryland farming livelihood
planning, implementation and monitoring. improvement. The high organisational
These, in turn, included: capacity and understanding of technologies
(a) community-based planning and and resources strengthen their ability to
implementation cope with future climate variability, and offer
valuable lessons for community-based
(b) amalgamation of community plans
adaptation and governance.
at the district level and,
(c) civil society monitoring and resource
disbursement and implementation. Produced by:
The goal is to ensure that the voices of the Rachel Berger
Practical Action
most severely affected by climate change www.practicalaction.org
are heard and can influence how funds are email - rachel.berger@practicalaction.org.uk
allocated and spent.

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 10


From NAPAs to LAPAs: institutionalising
community-based adaptation
by Nanki Kaur, Jessica Ayers,
Bimal Regmi & Simon Anderson

Effective adaptation has to be planned local level to reach up to planned adaptation


and delivered across a range of scales. processes. For example, in Tanzania
Recognising this, the Copenhagen it has enabled them to be part of the urban
adaptation text has included the principle planning process rolled out by the
of “subsidiarity”, or making decisions municipality. Within policy, decentralised
and implementing response measures governance and community-based natural
at the most appropriate level. In theory, resource management aim specifically at
subsidiarity should be operationalised empowering local/subsidiarity. In terms of
through decentralised institutional institutions, there are a number of examples
designs that are responsive to local level of nested institutions which establish
vulnerability contexts, but also accommo- linkages between various scales of planning
date wider adaptation planning scales. (programme-related investments (PRIs),
federations, farmer’s groups) to enable local
However, existing institutional designs for involvement in planning and implementation.
adaptation generally focus either at the
national level through National Adaptation One proposal for incorporating a CBA-type
Programmes of Action (NAPAs), or comprise approach into NAPAs that is currently
of community-based adaptation initiatives beingdeveloped in Nepal is the “Local Adap-
that have tended to take a projectised tation Plans of Action” (LAPAs). LAPAs are
approach and are detached from broader envisaged as a way of taking CBA a step
climate and development policy contexts. further by using similar, detailed methods
Adding to this, the starting point for planned of local-level vulnerability assessments,
adaptation tends to be concerned with but with a focus on the institutions at the
protecting GDP/economic growth, which local level that will play a role in the delivery
is then translated into sectoral adaptation of NAPAs, thus linking local level planning
plans; whereas, the starting point for with national level delivery frameworks.
local adaptation is often livelihood security.
There is a significant lack of middle-range Produced by:
proposals for adaptation planning and Nanki Kaur & Simon Anderson
delivery that can meet the requirements International Institute for Environment and Development
www.iied.org
of subsidiarity in practice. email - nanki.kaur@iied.org

There exist a number of planning processes Jessica Ayers


London School of Economics
within budget-planning, policy and institu- www.lse.ac.uk
tions that can link planned and local email - j.m.ayers@lse.ac.uk
adaptation – processes that enable the
Bimal Regmi
local to reach up and draw down on planned Department for International Development, UK
adaptation. In terms of budgets, local email - B-Regmi@dfid.gov.uk
saving schemes have empowered the

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 11


Community institutions and advocacy for
adaptation policy: a case study from Malawi
by William Chadza

The increasing frequency of climate change experiences of community-based climate


related events, such as droughts and change adaptation governance in Malawi.
floods, has resulted in the least developed The emphasis is on ensuring effective
countries like Malawi seeing significant integration of newly introduced community-
growth in climate change adaptation based climate change adaptation institu-
programmes and projects; with most of tional arrangements, and how to make them
them being implemented by externally accountable to local communities.
funded environment and natural resources
management non-governmental organisa-
tions. The development of NGO interest
in climate change adaptation has come with
an introduction of new institutional and
management frameworks which have
added responsibilities, and perhaps further
confusion, at local community levels.

Amongst the many institutional arrange-


ments introduced are “democratically elected”
sectoral committees and NGO-based
committees. However, these have often
ignored existing informal institutions and
traditional leadership. The proliferation
and multiplicity of committees challenges
the effective implementation of community-
based climate change adaptation
programmes and projects.

This work by the Centre for Environment


Policy and Advocacy seeks to analyse Local leaders and institutions still have a
the scope of and constraints upon local principal role in the management of climate
level institutional arrangements in general. change effects
The project considers how to harmonise
existing informal institutions and traditional Produced by:
leadership on one hand, and introduce William Chadza
Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy
institutional arrangements for community- www.cepa.org.mw
based climate change adaptation on email - william@cepa.org.mw
the other. In addition, it highlights the

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 12


Networking amongst civil society organisations
to enhance climate change adaptation
by Shepard Zvigadza

At times, civil society organisations have educating of trainers, improved dialogues


not been well organised to tackle climate and other capacity building efforts. They
change challenges; and yet in Southern have collaborated with government and
Africa they act as constructive watchdogs, civil society organisations; including the
policy contributors and facilitators in agricultural research institutes, key
ensuring national governments achieve ministries, meteorological services and
their commitments, and voice climate parliamentarians. The fellows have further
impacts. One strong example is the Capacity participated in the National Adaptation
Strengthening in the Least Developed Plan of Actions in their respective countries,
Countries on Adaptation to Climate Change shared CBA frameworks for learning,
(CLACC) programme initiated by the created resource centres, and used climate
International Institute for Environment and scenarios and forecasts to better inform
Development. CLACC fellows come from about adaptation. The work provides
all across Africa, covering specifically many lessons learned for enhancing civil
Southern Africa, East Africa and West Africa; society networks towards climate change
and undertook a range of activities to adaptation.
help organise civil society organisations in
the run up to the Copenhagen Summit
held in December 2009. Produced by:
Shepard Zvigadza
ZERO Regional Environmental Organisation
The work by CLACC fellows highlights the www.zeroregional.com
practical challenges that face adaptation to email - SZVigadza@gmail.com
climate change. Such work includes the

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 13


Lessons from Malawi: the strengths and
weaknesses of using voluntary grassroots
structures in disaster management
by Robertson Khataza

In the recent past, climate change has grassroots structures in disaster manage-
had a negative impact on the livelihoods of ment programmes. This approach scores
people, particularly in rural areas. Almost highly on cost-effectiveness, accountability
the entire country of Malawi experiences and sustainability. Community preference
natural disasters, largely in the form or affinity towards incentive-based and
of droughts and floods, albeit in different remunerative systems tends to diffuse the
magnitudes. When such disasters strike, potential synergy which can be regarded as
it is the poor households that become a necessary ingredient in community-based
the most affected due to ill-health, reduced disaster management. This poses a great
production potential or lack of bargaining threat on the effectiveness and continuity
power for their traded commodities. of the programme. There is a need for
Recurrent droughts or floods easily erode community awareness and proper under-
development gains and impoverish the standing of the volunteers if such a system
rural communities through environmental is to continue.
degradation, food insecurity, disease out-
breaks, loss of assets including livestock
and social infrastructures, and even the Produced by:
loss of life in the more extreme examples. Robertson Khataza
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
(IITA) - Malawi
The main objective of this project was www.iita.org
to assess the strengths and weaknesses email - RKhataza@iitamw.org; rbkhatazam@yahoo.com
in order to draw lessons on the use of

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 14


Management of
water resources

15
Integrating community-based adaptation
in water projects across East Africa
by Katharine Cross & Cynthia Awuor

The International Union for Conservation


of Nature and CARE International conducted
climate change vulnerability assessments
for water-focused projects within the Global
Water Initiative (GWI) using a combination
of climate change adaptation tools, more
specifically the Climate Vulnerability and
Capacity Analysis (CVCA) Tool and CRiSTAL
(Community-Based Risk Screening Tool-
Adaptation & Livelihoods). One of the
objectives of the Global Water Initiative is to
ensure increased resilience to water-
related shocks in vulnerable rural commu-
nities and their environments. Where they
exist, there is the potential to link identified Activities that are outlined in the National
adaptation activities to deliver on the Adaptation Programme of Action and then
National Adaptation Programmes of Action. identified through vulnerability assessments
can be demonstrated and operationalised
Vulnerability assessments were carried at the local level. This can be achieved by
out in Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania and piloting successful approaches of managing
Kenya. Community members participated water resources to improve resilience
in identifying climatic hazards and their and promoting learning opportunities to
impact, and then defining the appropriate exchange information across scales – from
coping strategies. They also brainstormed the local to the national level.
on alternative coping strategies and the
resources needed to put these strategies Produced by:
into place. Facilitators were trained to Katharine Cross
assist with the collection of data. The International Union for Conservation of Nature, Eastern
and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO), Kenya
trained facilitators then went on to analyse www.iucn.org
the information in order to assess whether email - Katharine.cross@iucn.org
a project is climate proof, and what
Cynthia Awuor
feasible adaptation approaches could be CARE International - Kenya
implemented to reduce the vulnerability of www.care.or.ke
the communities to climate change.

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 16


Experiences on climate change adaptation
and sustainable development in Zimbabwe
by Felix Mutemachimwe

In developing countries, climate change Some farmers in the districts of Zvishavane,


places insurmountable challenges on small Shurugwi and Mberengwa have success-
farmers. Without the requisite conservation fully formed a Root and Tuber Association
and food production knowledge and skills, to promote the adoption of drought tolerant
food insecurity will continue to rise, further crops so as to enhance food security and
threatening livelihoods and the socio-eco- sustain livelihoods.
nomic wellbeing of vulnerable communities.

Zimbabwe has been experiencing recurrent


droughts and dry spells. Africare works
with communities on technologies that
enhance farmers’ capacities to cope.
Technologies employed include water
harvesting techniques such as small water
holding ponds, infiltration pits and dead
level contours. Working with farmers in the
Zvishavane district of Zimbabwe, dry land
has been transformed into crop sustaining
land. Africare showcases stories about
how farmers transformed semi-arid arable
land into a microenvironment that supports
the production of fruit trees, a wide range
of annual crops, vegetables, reeds, swampy
area crops (yams), and fish and bird life.
Sweet potatoes are drought tolerant; as
With the increasing unpredictability of such the crop has been promoted with good
rainfall seasonality and variability, Africare results in ensuring food security.
promotes the use of drought tolerant varie-
ties of crops such as sweet potatoes and Produced by:
cassava, helping to provide months of food Felix Mutemachimwe
Africare
security even during drought years, and www.africare.org
adding value through the agro-processing email - fmutemachimwe@africare.co.zw
of sunflower, soybean and groundnuts.

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 17


Vulnerability and adaptation of Lake Naivasha
freshwater ecosystems
by John Nyangena

Lake Naivasha is the only freshwater lake Vulnerability of freshwater ecosystems to


within the Kenya Rift Valley. It supports a climate change is a wake up call to incorpo-
large horticultural and floricultural industry, rate climate adaptation in the management
provides geothermal power, and is the site and conservation of the lake. Key stratgies
of several hotels and fishing sites; as well are: protection and restoration of ecosystem
as providing direct employment to over services, strengthening enforcement mech-
twenty thousand people. However, Lake anisms on water allocation, diversification
Naivasha has recently witnessed dramatic of livelihoods, reduction of non-climate
and predicted threatening changes. Most pressures, improved levels of information
studies have tended to attribute these and knowledge, and implementation of
to the burgeoning flower industry in the technology-based water-use technologies.
downstream and land use changes in the
upstream, whilst ignoring the effects of
climate change. This project, using Model
for the Assessment of Greenhouse-gas
Induced Climate Change A Regional Climate
Scenario Generator (MAGICC/SCENGEN)
scenarios, assesses the vulnerability
of the ecosystem to climate change and
adaptation options.

The results demonstrate an increase both


in mean annual temperature, ranging
between 2-3.5oC; and in mean annual
precipitation of 3 percent by 2050. Current
vulnerability is manifested in droughts,
flash floods and higher evapo-transpiration.
These are responsible for shifts in environ-
ment and in local livelihoods. Although lake
level has receded at an alarming rate, the role
of climate change is not easily discernable.
Invasive aquatic macrophyte floating on
Working in cohort with other anthropogenic Lake Naivasha
environment degradation, it is likely that
the lake’s ecosystems will change from one Produced by:
dominated by equilibrium species to John Nyangena
World Wildlife Fund
one dominated by low diversity opportunistic www.worldwildlife.org
species that would thrive in a variable, email -Jnyangena@wwfesarpo.org
unstable and unpredictable climatic regime.

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 18


Mainstreaming climate change in integrated
water resources management: the case of
the Pangani River Basin, Tanzania
by Katharine Cross, Emmanuel Mwendera,
Alfei Daniels, Excellent HaSylvand Kamugisha,
Onesmo Zakaria, John Owino & Hamza Sadiki

The Pangani River Basin Management


Project is building climate resilience in the
Pangani River Basin in Tanzania by combining
social and economic dimensions of develop-
ment with environmental restoration and
management. The interventions include
determining sustainable water allocations
based on future flow scenarios, establishing
water management institutions, assessing
the vulnerability of the communities to
climate change, and identifying practical
adaptation measures. The aim of the project
is to enhance the adaptive capacity
and improve the resilience of communities The Pangani River Basin
in the basin to climate change impacts.
The outputs from the assessments and
The project uses state-of-the-art climate modelling are being used to raise
change modelling combined with an awareness amongst water users and
integrated flows assessment, strengthen- transfer knowledge so that water user
ing water governance institutions and associations can effectively manage their
community climate change vulnerability water resources. Finally, the vulnerability
assessments to identify and implement assessment integrates community
adaptation strategies at the local and approaches for adaptation and activities
basin levels. The climate change modelling such as supporting the restoration of
provides sound scientific evidence for catchment areas; developing groundwater
predicting future scenarios in the basin. resources, maintaining and repairing
Both the modelling outputs and flows water infrastructure. These approaches are
assessment offer guidance on allocating integral components for management
water within the limits of the river’s flow, plans which integrate maintenance of eco-
including allocation of water to sustain system goods and services.
natural infrastructure such as wetlands
and estuary habitats. Produced by:
Katharine Cross, Emmanuel Mwendera & John Owino
IUCN, Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO),
In addition, water governance institutions,
Nairobi, Kenya
such as furrow committees; along with water www.iucn.org/esaro
user associations and sub-basin forums email - Katharine.cross@iucn.org
are also being strengthened.

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 19


Adapting to climate change in the water sector:
assessing effectiveness of community-based
adaptation interventions in eastern Ethiopia
by Nanki Kaur, Million Getnet,
Beneberu Shimelis, Zegeye Tesfaye,
Gebeyehu Syoum & Endale Atnafu

The RiPPLE programme (Research-inspired


Policy and Practice Learning in Ethiopia
and the Nile Region) was charged with the
goal of assessing the effectiveness of
community-based adaptation interventions
in reducing vulnerability to climate variability
and change in water-based livelihoods.

When viewing household coping strategies,


wealthier groups are those more able to
rely on supply side strategies; while the poor
tend to resort to demand side strategies.
Amongst CBA projects, the work showed Drinking water shortage in one of the study sites.
that small-scale irrigation, if equitable
access is assured and if based on ground The study also found that Multiple Water Use
water sources, can create and enhance (MUS) requires basing such projects on
the asset base of communities, as well as ground water in combination with natural
build their capacity to cope with and reduce resource management works which enhance
exposure to climate change. Improved local recharge. The major challenges
rangeland management, introduction of encountered were: maintaining water supply
improved fodder species and development under extreme weather events, such as
of water points which are based on droughts; and also coordination amongst
strong customary institution consultations stakeholders. To ensure effective
are also found to be crucial. community-based adaptation, MUS requires
inter-sectoral integration and buy-in from
In addition, the effective Productive Safety all stakeholders; a coordinated management
Net Programmes used social protection system; and, the organisation and training
aimed to improve food security for the of beneficiaries and stakeholders. Planning
chronically poor, market stimulation, and under MUS must focus on both the assess-
environmental rehabilitation. Measures ment of available water resources, and
included: supply side interventions investment in water resource management
such as micro basin and community pond in order to enhance the availability of water.
construction; demand side investments
including afforestation and soil and Produced by:
moisture conservation; and the creation of Million Getnet, Nanki Kaur, Beneberu Shimelis,
local institutions like water management Zegeye Tesfaye, Gebeyehu Syoum & Endale Atnafu
Haramaya University, Ethiopia
institutions. Lastly, the programme www.haramaya.edu.et
provided wage/food labour and access to email - milliongeb@gmail.com
credit schemes.

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 20


Developing early warning ground water
monitoring systems
by Bettina Koelle & Shannon Parring

In South Africa, small-scale farmers in Suid


Bokkeveld are farming in harsh environ-
ments in which people’s livelihoods depend
upon livestock, rooibos tea and subsistence
farming. With rainfall mainly in winter and
frequent droughts experienced over consec-
utive years, farmers identified the local
water sector as a priority area to respond to
extreme weather conditions and to increase
resilience to climate change. Water is a key
resource for livestock and subsistence
farming as well as for household use. This apply them before the water crisis becomes
affects especially the most vulnerable in acute. Water monitors across the area are
the community. also monitoring water quality of fountains to
detect any changes.
With support from Indigo Development &
Change, the farmers established a monitoring While the process of monitoring is an
system to record the levels of boreholes important one, the learning process has
and water quality of fountains. Close collabo- been key to increased adaptive capacity:
ration with scientists on this matter was not by developing a technical solution,
key to exploring local aquifers, to increase but by strengthening networks and the
the understanding of groundwater resources problem solving capacity of the farmers
and the processes that enhance ground themselves.
water accumulation.
Produced by:
The project aims to set up an early warning Bettina Koelle & Shannon Parring
Indigo Development & Change
system that will inform the farmers of www.indigo-dc.org
dropping borehole levels, allowing them to email - bettina@indigo-dc.org
develop appropriate strategies and then

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 21


Climate change and its impacts on
water resources in Malawi
by Oswald K. Mwamsamali

Malawi is a signatory to the United Nations Strategies include:


Convention on Climate Change, which was • Borehole drilling, especially deeper boreholes
ratified in 1994. The UNFCCC recognises to withstand the effects of climate change in
that “economic and social development and drought prone areas.
poverty eradication are overriding priorities
• Gravity-fed water supply schemes, some
of developing countries” in the fight against
of which are designed with large built in
climate change and climate variability.
water storage facilities.
The vulnerability of Malawi to climate change
and climate variability stems from the • Construction of small, medium and
global influence on its rainfall bearing and large dams.
weather influencing systems. For instance,
the inter-tropical convergence zone • Flood Forecasting and Warning Systems
greatly influences the rainfall receipt in the (FFWS), as seen for the Lower Shire valley.
country and hence the type of climate The last of these needs urgent attention as
experienced. existing flood and drought forecasting
and warning systems are not equipped to
Malawi is already experiencing climate issue real time warnings.
change and climate variability as seen from
Strategies for future action:
frequent floods and droughts. The 1992
• Emergency works for immediate restoration
drought, for example, caused widespread
of water and environmental security for the
water scarcity which forced the Government,
most vulnerable areas.
with donor assistance, to embark on the
construction of emergency boreholes. • Water conservation programmes that develop
Water utility companies also embarked on water infrastructure and facilities to take care
water rationing and the Electricity Supply of medium to long-term adaptation needs.
Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) started
load shedding as production capacity • Improved water demand management
fell from roughly 240 MW to nearly 80MW. strategies that develop management
This was due to low lake levels causing a schemes and services to support planning,
knock-on effect upon the Shire River development, operation and maintenance
levels, and hence leading to intermittent of the water resources infrastructure in a bid
power supplies. to adapt to climate change and variation.

There are, therefore, strong calls for an Produced by:


expedited implementation of adaptation Oswald K. Mwamsamali
Ministry of Irrigation and Water Development, Malawi
measures to mitigate the suffering of the
www.malawi.gov.mw
communities from the effects of climate email - omsamali@yahoo.com
change and climate variability.

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 22


Building adaptive
capacity

23
LITETA: Community adaptation in the
Chibombo district, Zambia
by Vincent Ziba

The LITETA (Local Initiative: Training for crops to encourage more sustainable
Enterprise, Transformation & Agriculture) farming technologies. There has been a
Project was founded in the central complete transition from shifting cultivation
province of Zambia, 61km north of Lusaka. to permanent conservation farming practices
The district has three constituencies: through crop rotation. Small livestock
Kembe, Chisamba and Liteta. According to were promoted in areas where chemical
the head-count undertaken by the Ministry fertilisers were used, and tree planting
of Health, the population stands at 304,000 was promoted in the community to replace
due to the movement of people from Lusaka the trees that have been cut due to
and other areas. Zambia is witnessing a charcoal burning and shifting cultivation.
changing climate as the rainfall months Tree nurseries were introduced in most
are becoming shorter, with flash floods and of the zones to replace the ones that have
droughts in some areas becoming more been cut. Natural regeneration and tree
frequent. In the Chibombo District there replanting is done by the farmers club and
are poor land management practices which the natural resource management commit-
result in land degradation with a high tees that are in place.
population growth that has led to negative
trends; farmers in the area practice a
subsistence single season mono-crop (maize)
food production system which is affected
by the unpredictable rainfall pattern.

This project incorporates various initiatives,


the first the Traditional Leaders’ Workshop
that facilitated the formation of the natural
resource management committees to
work together with local authorities in order
to curb the devastating charcoal burning
practice in the area. An awareness campaign
on environmental degradation was also Community Resource Planning
launched, carried out by the project staff
and the natural resources management Produced by:
committee. In addition, 750 farmers were Vincent Ziba
Local Initiative: Training for Enterprise, Transformation
trained in compost production, fertility & Agriculture (LITETA)
trenches, and the use of animal manure, email - vinceziba@yahoo.com
green maturing and soil fertility enriching

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 24


Enabling climate adaptation: from information
to network building and knowledge integration
by Anna Taylor, Sukaina Bharwani
& Basra Ali

There is a wide variety of data, information access and sharing. The network analysis
and knowledge that is relevant to making revealed that NGOs were considered
adaptation decisions in a given context: the an important bridging group, for example
location, scale, set of actors, physical facilitating information flows between CBOs
environment, policy environment etc. This and research organisations. However,
might include data on climate observations, there are weaker links between CBOs and
knowledge about local development prior- the two most ‘influential’ groups – donors
ities, information on the distribution of and the media – leading to a perceived
impacts caused by a certain climate hazard, lack of knowledge regarding ongoing work
knowledge of downscaled climate scenarios, ‘on the ground’, thought to be resulting
data on existing coping and adaptation in mismatched priorities and inappropriate
strategies, information on disaster risk funding decisions.
management policy instruments, knowledge
about how to access adaptation funding, This work tests the potential use of
and many others. The reality is that many Google Earth to enhance access to, and the
individuals, organisations and communities communication of, information from various
of practice hold different ‘subsets’ of this sources relevant to climate adaptation.
existing data, information and knowledge, It links perceptions of risk and adaptation
and have differential access to that strategies on the ground with the best
which they do not hold. This is partly to do available climate and impacts science in an
with the medium through which it can be, ‘adaptation story’; whilst also considering
and is, disseminated or communicated; the impacts and potential solutions for those
the motivation to engage with it; and, the with limited internet access. Recognising
skills and expertise needed to use it in order the power of such a technology, this project
to address climate risks and vulnerabilities, builds the tools needed to streamline the
whether this be by modifying livelihood process of inputting, finding and selecting
strategies, developing new policy measures, the set of relevant information for the user;
designing projects, making funding supporting the growth of the socio-institu-
decisions, raising public awareness, etc. tional networks fundamental to generating
and sharing information; and, generally
This is investigated within the context of integrating knowledge.
Kenya, where knowledge network mapping
exercises were conducted with various
governmental, non-government organisations Produced by:
(NGOs), community-based organisations Anna Taylor, Sukaina Bharwani & Basra Ali
Stockholm Environment Institute
(CBOs), research, donor, private sector and www.sei-international.org
media actors working on climate adaptation email - annactaylor@gmail.com
to identify the current scope of information

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 25


Promoting adaptive capacity of pastoralists through
inclusive and participatory planning approaches
by Abdirahman Ahmed

Changes in climate pose a dire threat to the and district authorities in order to co-plan
lives and livelihoods of pastoralists around and take responsibility for their local
world. The frequency of drought, famine, development initiatives. The technical skills
resource-based conflict, animal and human of the local administration in planning and
disease, and dependency on food aid has implementation capacity have been further
dramatically increased in the last decades. enhanced. The provision of a community
Pastoralists are never passive recipients of development fund for the action plans
what fate climate change may dictate, developed by the committees was created;
rather they survive and thrive in some of the and wider linkages and networks were
harshest landscapes of the world. However, established.
their inherent adaptive capacity to climate
change has been insufficiently accounted for
and addressed in development programming.

The Ogaden Welfare and Development


Association (OWDA) was established in
1999 with the mandate to eradicate poverty
amongst the most vulnerable pastoralists
in the Somali region. The work supports
the adaptive capacity of pastoralists to
enable them to withstand the natural and
man-made shocks affecting their lives, with
an emphasis on livelihood support projects,
health, education, women empowerment
and community capacity building. The
Adadle Community Development Project
was established to address these needs Mobility as a traditional coping mechanism
and has since improved the technical skills
and involvement capacity of Woreda Pastoral Produced by:
Development Committees and Kabale Abdirahman Ahmed
Pastoral Development Committees. Ogaden Welfare and Development Association (OWDA),
Ethiopia
www.theowda.org
This work has sought to mainstream
adaptive capacity through inclusive and Presented by:
participatory approaches, bringing together Beshir Abdulahi Abdikarim
the grassroot pastoral community, Kabale

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 26


Building local adaptive capacity in the Pacific
by Pelenise Alofa Maike Pilitati

Low-lying Pacific nations such as Tuvalu, Australia, is to support labour mobility and
Fiji, Tonga and Kiribati will be amongst the to ensure orderly migration. The KGWCCAG
first to face the impact of climate change began its adaptation programmes in 2008
and rising sea levels. The urgency for action for up-scaling and building capacities on
through mitigation and adaptation is a Kiribati, with a focus on improving literacy
call from Kiribati and from the 1000+ most and health/food education. Furthermore,
vulnerable Pacific low lying islands which it has started its research on village stays,
are affected by climate change. Climate water harvesting and land use (agriculture),
change is a threat to the culture, livelihoods, recycling of wastes, raised portable com-
health, food, water, resources and security munities, creating extended reef systems,
of the inhabitants. It is a threat to life itself. and the restoration of Banaba – the highest
island in Kiribati.
Kiribati President, Anote Tong (Vanuatu
meeting, 2010), stated that he does not The challenge is to maintain the momentum
accept migration (or relocation) as a first of programmes in Kiribati with a commit-
response for Kiribati. He did, however, ment to improved human resources, funds,
recognise that he wanted to see his citizens and a strong local and international network.
skilled or trained if relocation were indeed
a last resort. One of the goals of the non- Produced by:
government organisation, the Kiribati Pelenise Alofa Maike Pilitati
Church Education Director’s Association in Kiribati
Global Warming and Climate Change Action Kiribati Global Warming & Climate Change Action Group
Group (KGWCCAG), affiliated to the Pacific email - pelenise09@gmail.com
Calling Partnership based in Sydney,

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 27


Climate change and community adaptation
strategies in semi-arid regions of Nyeri
and Laikipia districts, Kenya
by P.N. Macharia, J.K. Lugadiru, S. Wakori
& E.G. Thuranira

A recent study conducted in the semi-arid The lack of pastures has led to a tendency
regions of Kieni and Lamuria Divisions in Nyeri to reduce cattle numbers in favour of sheep,
and Laikipia Districts, respectively, revealed goats, chickens and rabbits. This is due to
that 100 percent of the farmers were aware them being simple to manage, as well as
of climate change and its impacts. About 61 easy sources of meat, milk and revenue.
percent believe that the effects of climate There has also been an increased emphasis
change have become noticeable in the last on youth involvement, thus preparing the
10 years. Climate change was attributed next generation through training measures,
to tree cutting and general environmental as well as participation in community-based
destruction by the communities for short-term activities. However, in order to increase
economic gains, which led to unsustainable their resilience and effectively contribute
utilization of resources. The main indicators to mitigation against climate change, the
of climate change were: increased failure communities feel they need the support of
of the rains leading to increased droughts, government and non-government organisa-
scarcity of water, changes in rainfall patterns, tions through capacity building, appropriate
and temperature extremes. However, other technologies, enforcement of environmental
manifestations were an increased volume of laws and policies, and financial resources.
pests (centipedes, millipedes and birds),
and the disappearance of biodiversity (wild
animals and insects such as safari ants). The
result has been food insecurity and hunger
due to unsuccessful harvests, poverty, water
conflicts, and lack of pastures for livestock.

Due to not only a scarcity of resources,


but also the first-hand experiences of the
impacts of climate change, the communities
have now realised the need to adopt both
community and individual adaptation strate- Youths involved in the community capacity
gies towards food security and conservation building session grafting fruit trees
of the environment. The biggest efforts have
been towards tree planting and husbandry, Produced by:
especially by the communities living far away P.N. Macharia & E.G. Thuranira
from natural forests. Other activities have Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
www.kari.org
been to attend capacity building sessions, email - kss@iconnect.co.ke
environmental rehabilitation, water harvesting
J.K. Lugadiru & S. Wakori
(run-off and roof catchment), adoption Kenya Forestry Research Institute
of appropriate technologies and farming www.kefri.org

methods, and community mobilization.

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 28


The role of insurance
and microfinance

29
Weather index insurance and community-based
adaptation in Ethiopia
by Mengesha Gebremichael
& Yohannes Gebremeskel

The Horn of Africa Risk Transfer for Adapta- The project has established a growing
tion (HARITA) pilot project brings together awareness amongst farmers as to the ben-
subsistence farmers, non-government efits of insurance, to the extent that they
organisations, academics, government and are starting to request diversified insurance
the private sector to explore an innovative services, in some cases for livestock
approach to community-based climate and fruit. The programme is suitable for
change adaptation in Ethiopia. Over the participation of women as household
last two years, the HARITA project partners heads. The project also facilitates the work
have worked on designing a climate risk of microfinance through reducing the
management package for smallholders credit default.
in Ethiopia’s northernmost state of Tigray.
HARITA aims to foster holistic, community-
based adaptation in a replicable and
scalable approach.

The project has broken new ground in the


field of climate change adaptation and micro-
insurance by addressing the needs of poor
farmers through an unusual mix of disaster
risk reduction, micro-insurance and credit.

The Weather Index Insurance can:

• Provide a basic tool for risk management

• Reinforce the incentives for farmers


to engage in production management
decisions
Awareness raising events to help farmers make
• Prevent the erosion of productive assets free but informed decisions

• Reduce the need for emergency food aid


Produced by:
• Help farmers to take more risks in order by Mengesha Gebremichael
to increase their returns by investing in www.rest-tigray.org.et
email - agronomy2006@yahoo.com
drought mitigation activities
Yohannes Gebremeskel
• Provide more fertiliser and improved seeds Dedebit Credit & Savings Institution
www.decsi.com.et
• Enhance the saving practice of farmers.

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 30


Weather risk insurance for agriculture
by Satya Priya

Development of weather risk insurance The work continued by including the scale
capabilities for agriculture is perhaps one and resolution of actual data observation
of the most sustainable market-based points on which insurance products are
adaptation approaches in the context of created; demonstrating how weather
climate change. variables impact the robustness of an
insurance product.
This work covers weather risk insurance
in four key steps: Finally, in order to illustrate the structure of
the insurance contract, a weather index is
1. Identify significant exposure of an
developed using a combination of measura-
agricultural grower/producer to weather
ble weather variables including temperature
2. Quantify the impact of adverse weather and rainfall. Specific crop weather variables
on their revenues. that influence crop yield and production
will be illustrated. Other discussion points
3. Structure a contract that pays out when
will reflect if weather is insurable, and if
adverse weather occurs.
insurance is a viable method for adaptation.
4. Execution of contract.
Produced by:
An analysis was made of the regions at risk Satya Priya
AIT/UNEP Regional Resource Center for Asia
from weather and the weather stations
and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand
that reflect the risks over a period of time. www.rrcap.unep.org
It also identifies the weather index providing email - satya@rrcap.unep.org
the best proxy for exposure to weather.

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 31


Community-based adaptation of farmers
in the Philippines
by Maria Rebecca A. Campos

About five million small farmers in the them to carry on their livelihood activities,
Philippines now suffer the effects of climate support their families’ basic needs, and
change. This study describes their demo- slowly recover from their losses. At present,
graphic and socio-economic characteristics, about half a million farmers are dependent
and compares them to the average Filipino on the Department of Agriculture for loans
citizen. The production and profitability of to fund their farming operations. Their
farming corn, rice, bananas, sugarcane and repayment rate was at about 90 percent.
tomatoes has been affected by climate But with the occurrence of natural calami-
change; with losses resulting from typhoons, ties, farmers can neither pay nor renew their
floods, droughts, El Niño-Southern loans. The proposed Bridge Financing
Oscillation, pests and diseases. Although Scheme will enable them to continue their
farmers have natural adaptation practices farming activities so that the welfare of the
in place prior to, during, and after these entire household is not jeopardised.
natural calamities, they still need assistance
from institutions in order to cope with the Produced by:
impacts of climate change. Maria Rebecca A. Campos
University of the Philippines Open University
www.upou.org
The Bridge Financing Scheme can be an email - cmaribec@yahoo.com
effective and efficient instrument to enable

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 32


Policy linkages for
community-based
adaptation

33
Community governance in mainstreaming
adaptation in local development: experiences
from South Asia
by P.M.D. Ranga N. Pallawala

South Asia is recognised as a “disaster hot- adaptive capacity indicators show that
spot” as a result of climate change. Severe all the activities have directly contributed
impacts of climate change have made the towards building adaptive capacities
lives and livelihoods of millions of poor and of communities.
marginalised people in the region extremely
vulnerable. However, the local governance The experience shows that the potential
structures existing in the region are not to adopt a community governance concept
promoting active and meaningful participa- for local level development in South Asia
tion of poor and marginalised communities is very high. Community-led governance
in development decision-making processes. mechanisms can be used as a tool to
mainstream climate change adaptation in
Community governance is the process local development that could ultimately
in which the community is the main stake- lead to poverty reduction. Furthermore,
holder in planning and decision-making the community governance process can
processes, and has been tested over the confront the challenges of a rapidly changing
last ten years throughout 86 poverty-stricken climate and its increasing unpredictability.
villages in Sri Lanka and 326 villages in
the State of Orissa in India. Even though Produced by:
the pilot programmes have not considered P.M.D. Ranga N. Pallawala
Practical Action, South Asia Programme
climate change either as a main or a
www.practicalaction.org
cross cutting issue, as the evaluations of
the programmes reveal, the community Presented by:
governance system has contributed towards Bhathiya Kekulandala
climate change adaptation. The post- Practical Action, Sri Lanka
programme analysis of community change

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 34


A call for robust policy environments to reduce
disaster risks and ensure sustainable adaptation
in the Hindu Kush, Himalayan region
by Mats Eriksson, Julie Dekens, Lisa Schipper
& Tighe Geoghegan

The Hindu Kush in the Himalayan region This uncertainty calls for increasing action
is marked by a profound variation in access by government and other policy forming
to water between wet and dry seasons. agencies to ensure robust policy environ-
This seasonal fluctuation not only creates ments in which local spontanous adaptation
a hazardous environment of either flooding efforts to water-induced disasters are
or droughts; but it also complicates the supported, thereby leading to increased
issue of water availability and distribution community resilience.
within societies. This situation is not new.
The region has always faced either an
excess or a deficiency of water, and people
have adapted out of necessity. It could
therefore be assumed that adaptation
practices in this environment, as developed
over generations, will be beneficial in the
process of adaptation to increasing climate
related stress.

However, five case studies in the region


show that this is not always the case.
Although the studies illustrate many creative
responses to water stress and hazards,
they also highlight the need to be aligned
with other drivers of change if they are Jikhu Khola, Koshi Basin, Nepal
to reduce the risk of disasters and become
sustainable. The effectiveness of these Produced by:
responses is influenced by the development Mats Eriksson
context in which people live, which therefore International Centre for Integrated
MountainDevelopment (ICIMOD)
needs to be better understood. For example, www.icimod.org
changes in population density, infrastructure, email - meriksson@icimod
market access, national policies and
Julie Dekens & Tighe Geoghegan
institutions all have an influence on people’s International Institute for Sustainable Development
adaptation capacity, for better or worse. www.iisd.org
Simultaneously, climate change increases
Lisa Schipper
uncertainty in terms of when, where, and Stockholm Environment Institute
to what degree and force water will become www.sei-international.org
available next time.

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 35


Looking forward: implementing a national
strategy for ecosystem-based climate change
adaptation in the Marshall Islands
by Albon Ishoda & James Hardcastle

Ecosystem-based adaptation activities commitment made in 2006, which provides


by community land-owners in the Namdrik strong political will for effective manage-
atoll chain include shoreline vegetation ment of ecosystem services.
restoration for erosion control and water-
lens protection, pest control, changes The work on Namdrik highlights the ability
in agricultural practice, and protection for of government and civil society to begin
key ecosystems. These activities provide to respond to climate change on outer atolls.
a demonstration for a national strategy However, expectations are high. There is
on community engagement for ecosystem- a significant investment cost in community
based adaptation, called ‘Reimaanlok’ (Way engagement, and there is limited capacity
Forward). Designed to provide guidance for to respond to all community requests
a range of government and civil society for assistance. That said, the endogenous
partners to engage outer island communities, capacity of many atoll communities to
the Reimaanlok adds a ‘climate lens’ to a engage in adaptation activities is remark-
series of steps in participatory community ably robust.
development planning, to identify adapta-
tion strategies at the local level, in the Produced by:
Marshallese context. Albon Ishoda
Marshall Islands Conservation Society
email - taishoda@gmail.com
The Reimaanlok strategy places remote
James Hardcastle
island communities and ecosystems at the The Nature Conservancy, Asia-Pacific
heart of national climate change strategies. www.nature.org/wherewework/asiapacific
It builds on the ‘Micronesia Challenge’

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 36


Agricultural practice
and management

37
Agricultural Services Support Programme
and Agricultural Sector Development Programme
in Zanzibar
by Seif A. Seif & Khalfan M. Saleh

It is now widely accepted that climate soil and water conservation; disease and
change will affect agriculture in a range of pest control; and, irrigation. The Participatory
ways; for example, as a result of reduced Action Research conducted by Farmer Field
frequency and intensity of rains, increased Schools specialised on cassava and has
hot and dry seasons, changes in the distri- assisted farmers to adopt changes in their
bution of vector-borne diseases, and effects cultivation by selecting high yielding, heat
on the risks of disasters and malnutrition. tolerant and quick maturity varieties of Mwari
The overall balance of effects in agriculture and Sepideh, which are now considered
is likely to be negative, and farming to be the most successful cassava varieties.
communities in low-income countries like
Tanzania are particularly vulnerable.

Adaptation to climate change requires


special strategies by the farmers and
government as a whole. The Agricultural
Services Support Programme and the
Agricultural Sector Development Progr-
amme-Livestock (ASSP/ASDP-L) Zanzibar,
Tanzania, was implemented in nine rural
districts in Zanzibar to confront issues of
sustainable natural resource management
and adaptation at the community level.
The programmes were based on empow-
erment; improved skills and technologies
through a Farmer Field School approach;
the support of research institutions and
associated activities; and, facilitating a
policy dialogue to progress the legal and Measuring weight per stem
regulatory framework.
Produced by:
Focusing on the communities, the progr- Seif A. Seif & Khalfan M. Saleh
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
amme sought to enhance technology www.ifad.org
transfer with improved crop and livestock email - aliseifsan@yahoo.co.uk
diversification; the use of organic fertilisers;

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 38


Climate change and food security
in Maradi District, Niger
by Moussa Na Abou Mamouda

In the Maradi District, farmers practicing The Environment and Development Action
rainfed agriculture make up 75 percent of in the Third World (ENDA) is committed
the population. However, because of climate to fighting food insecurity in Maradi, building
variability and changes, either rainfall has a sustainable partnership and working
become uncertain, or the seasons are closely with local communities in a participa-
becoming shorter and annual temperatures tory manner. Our basic principle is that
more extreme. This has resulted in food communities who have been living there for
production decreasing every year despite centuries have experienced many climate
best efforts. After a rainy season, the related hazards and changes, and have more
harvested food is only sufficient to cover or less survived thus far. Partnering with
all households’ food needs for about three these communities and building upon local
months. Irrigation has become less knowledge and best practices to reduce
productive because of water scarcity and food insecurity in Maradi is vital to ensure
higher minimum annual temperatures. The the total involvement and empowerment
only river (Goulbi) flowing across Maradi of local actors, as well as fostering their trust
City used to flow for at least six months and ownership. In Maradi District, irrigation
after the raining season, but now only flows can still be a possible adaptation strategy
for one to two months because of a dam to complement rainfed agriculture. However,
set upstream in Nigeria. The combination due to the fact that the water is coming
of all these factors makes Maradi District from another country, Nigeria, there is a need
frequently exposed to food insecurity. to encourage decision makers from both
Niger and Nigeria to talk to each other
In case of bad food production led, inter and work out shared transboundary efficient
alia, by scarce rainfall as a result of climatic water use. Support should be given to
variability and changes, communities tend sustainable coping mechanisms already
to implement several coping mechanisms in place in communities such as food
to ensure their food security. These mecha- banks, diversification of income-generating
nisms include the sale of animals and activities, and mobilisation of social capital
crafts at the household level; the search (solidarity, networking, etc.).
for and purchase of food, particularly from
inter-community or State cerealbanks; This study has uncovered many lessons.
temporary migration to neighboring Firstly, the root cause of migration is
countries to conduct income-generating grounded in the unreliable conditions of
activities, and make remittances in advance local livelihoods, as recent surveys have
of the following rainy season; or even shown that people may not have migrated
permanent migration over longer distances if there were locally available opportunities.
to places in which work opportunities are People migrate temporarily from the
available, either on a legitimate or Maradi District towards neighbouring West
clandestine basis. African countries.

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 39


Partnering with these communities ENDA also saw that implementation of
adaptation and other coping strategies by
and building on local knowledge
communities are often of very low cost.
and best practices to reduce food Overall, the study demonstrates that adap-
tation to climate change should no longer
insecurity in Maradi is a key to ensure
be considered only as a local but as a multi-
total involvement, empowerment, level, multi-scale process. For example,
the construction of a dam at Jibya, upstream
and fostering trust and ownership
on the Goulbi River which flows from
from local actors Nigeria to Maradi District in Niger, means
that irrigation using the Goulbi River water
Owing to permanent climatic changes, they as an adaptation system in Maradi requires
tend to move and settle permanently in cooperation and dialogue between decision
countries like Nigeria, Ivory Coast or Libya. makers both in Niger and Nigeria.
Those who migrate to Libya tend to reach
European countries, legally or not.
Produced by:
There were also lessons learned about Moussa Na Abou Mamouda
action over research. Local communities Environment and Development Action in the Third World
(ENDA-TM)
are now implementing new approaches www.enda.sn
and ways of doing action research by either email - mamoudam@gmail.com
NGOs or other development agencies.

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 40


Sharing lessons from the use of different
types of organic manure in Malawi
by Mahara Nyirenda

Malawi has experienced the effects of


climate change in a dramatic sense, with
droughts and floods becoming increasingly
common. These have had a remarkable
effect on the landlocked and agriculturally-
based nation.

The effects of climate change have been


exacerbated by agricultural practices that
promote the use of inorganic farm inputs
since the country’s independence in 1964,
and are due to several factors including
the uncontrolled felling of trees. These
have left the land bare and soils completely The results have been positive and have
degraded for substantial agricultural produc- in turn led to increased adoption by
tion without external use of farm inputs. many farmers from within and outside the
work areas. Among the advantages are
The government has already started looking that materials for making manure are readily
at alternatives for ensuring access to farm available and affordable but also crops
inputs by targeting smallholder farmers applied with manure withstand moisture
(85 percent of country’s farmers with a weak stress better than those applied with
resource base) by introducing the Subsidised inorganic farm inputs. FAIR will share both
Farm Input Programme. This is not only lessons and success stories from the use
sustainable and reliable, as governments of different types of organic manures.
change, but it also targets specific crops.
Produced by:
FAIR has been working in Malawi since Mahara Nyirenda
FAIR, Malawi
2001 to implement sustainable environmen-
email - mzuzucoffee@malawi.net
tal technologies, such as the use of
organic manure. The use of manure has Presented by:
been promoted through trials and on-farm Dalitso Kafuwa
demonstrations.

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 41


Vulnerability assessment of rainfed agriculture
to climate change and variability: biophysical
and socio-economic analysis in semi-arid regions
of Tanzania
by H. J. Mongi, A. E. Majule & J. G. Lyimo

A vulnerability assessment of rainfed agri-


culture to climate change and variability in
semi-arid parts of Tabora Region in Tanzania
was conducted. Four village clusters were
selected, three forming the Millennium
Villages Project (MVP) in Uyui District; and
the fourth in the Tabora urban district. The
villages selected were Mbola, Mpenge
and Isila from Uyui District; and Tumbi from
Tabora urban. Both secondary and primary
data on temperature, rainfall and dry spells
were collected using structured interviews, Sampling and data collection
focus group discussions, documentary
reviews and field observations. Structured Major implications on rainfed agriculture
interviews were administered to a randomly include possible shrinking of the growing
selected seven percent of all farmers and to season, increasing moisture and heat stress
30 research and extension officers obtained for common food and cash crops, increased
through accidental purposeful sampling. insects and disease pests and eventually
Simple regression and t-test analyses low income and food security.
of numeric data for rainfall and temperature
collected over the last 35 growing seasons This research concludes that there is
were performed. Non-numeric data was strong evidence demonstrating the vulner-
coded, summarised and analysed. ability of rainfed agriculture to negative
impacts of climate change and variation in
While distribution of rainfall declined both the study area. Recommendations include
in time and space, inter-seasonal dry spells a need for multi-level interventions on
between January and February appeared adaptation to climate change and variability
to increase both in duration and frequency. taking into account a wide range of stake-
Increase in temperature was highly signifi- holders’ involvement.
cant; however, the minimum temperature
was seen to increase much faster than Produced by:
the maximum. Farmers and research and H. J. Mongi
Tumbi Agricultural Research Institute
extension officers also perceived these email - hjmongi@yahoo.com
changes with the help of a series of indicators.
A. E. Majule & J. G. Lyimo
Nevertheless, perception on the climate Institute of Resource Assessment
change indicators varied depending on the www.ira.udsm.ac.tz
type of livelihood activity most affected.

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 42


Climate change adaptation: empowering
local communities in Ayuom, Ghana
by E. Yeboah, P. Ofori, J.W. Six
& B. Vanlauwe

Climate change is already occurring and


future changes are inevitable. West Africa
is one of the most vulnerable regions to
climate change. In some countries, yield
from rainfed agriculture is likely to decrease
to 50 percent by 2020, thereby threatening
food security along with other aspects of the
Millennium Development Goals. Ayuom is
a farming community in the semi-deciduous
forest zone of Ghana with a population of
about 1000 people. Continuous cropping
with little external inputs in the form of
inorganic fertilisers has resulted in soil fertil-
ity decline, and thus decline in crop yields. Farmers are adapting to the precarious
Increasingly unreliable rainfall coupled with situation through the use of indigenous
a loss of soil fertility has resulted in food knowledge, varying cropping systems, the
insecurity of the farming community. use of drought tolerant maize varieties,
changing of food habits, and the use of agro-
Poverty is high in the community. There chemicals. Many indigenous and traditional
is an urgent need to empower local farming practices have immense potential
communties to debate on climate change for wider use to increase adaptation to
as they are the most vulnerable. Through climate change. National environmental
farmer participatory on-farm studies on policies need to be focused on those areas
Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) where they will be most effective.
initiated in 2002, the community is already
adapting to the impact of climate change. Produced by:
Such local approaches, however, are frag- E.Yeboah & P. Ofori
mented and mechanisms for communicating CSIR-Soil Research Institute, Academy Post Office,
Kwadaso, Kumasi, Ghana
successful practices remain limited. www.csir.org.gh/index1.php?linkid=122&sublinkid=133
email - eyeboah5@hotmail.com
Awareness of climate change is now being J.W. Six
promoted through stakeholder involvement Plant Sciences, One Shields Avenue,
in workshops, learning forums, farmer field University of California, Davis, USA
www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/plantsciences/index.htm
schools and farmer participatory research.
The study also involves greater participation B. Vanlauwe
Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT,
of both the print and the electronic media to Nairobi, Kenya
create awareness of climate change adapta- www.webapp.ciat.cgiar.org/tsbf_institute/index.htm
tion options available to the community.

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 43


Programme de promotion de revenus
ruraux, Madagascar
by Aimé Randriambola
& Niaina Rakotondrastima

Madagascar a connu plusieurs bouleverse- Le projet FIDA PHBM (Projet du Haut


ment dus à la variabilité climatique actuelle Bassin de Mandrare) situé au sud-est de
et à celle des dernières décennies. Parmi les l’île (zone sèche) s’est achevé en 2009 et a
plus importants de ceux-ci on compte les conduit plusieurs activités de reboisement,
cyclones, les inondations et les sécheress- en étroite collaboration avec le Service
es. Ces perturbations deviennent de plus en malgache de l’environnement et des Eaux-
plus fréquentes et intenses et génèrent des et-Forêts de Tsivory. Le projet PPRR (Pro-
impacts importants que l’on compte notam- gramme de Promotion de Revenus Ruraux)
ment en termes de pertes de vies humaines, vient d’être mis en place dans la côte est
de diminution des productions agricoles et du pays (régions cycloniques). Le projet
animales, de destruction des infrastructures, a conduit plusieurs activités en vue de
de dégradation des ressources naturelles la construction d’infrastructures anticyclo-
(eaux, sols et forêts) et d’érosion côtière, niques. Les deux projets ont touché près
rendant ainsi précaires la sécurité alimen- de 50,000 ménages à ce jour.
taire, l’alimentation en eau potable et
l’irrigation, la santé publique et la gestion Abstract du réseau AfricaAdapt:
de l’environnement et du mode de vie. Ces Aimé Randriambola & Niaina Rakotondrastima
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
impacts mettent la population malgache et www.ifad.org
ses activités de développement en situation email - e_infras@pprr.mg/randriambola12@yahoo.fr
de vulnérabilité répétitive et croissante.

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 44


Promotion of rural income programmes
in Madagascar
by Aimé Randriambola
& Niaina Rakotondrastima

Over the past decades, Madagascar has region of the island (its dry area) was
experienced several turmoils due to the completed in 2009 and led to several
current climatic variability. Amongst the afforestation activities, in close collabo-
most notable are hurricanes, floods and ration with the Madagascan Service for
droughts. These perturbations are grow- Environment and Waters-and-Forests
ing in frequency and intensity, and have of Tsivory. The RIPP project (Rural Income
a significant impact on the loss of human Promotion Programme) has just started
life, the reduction of agricultural and animal in the country’s West coast area
production, the destruction of facilities, (its cyclonic area). The project has led
damage to natural resources (water, earth several activities with the objective of
and forests) and coastal erosion. Conse- building anticyclonic facilities. Both
quently, this is threatening food security projects have had a significant effect on
and access to drinkable water supplies, the lives of about 50,000 households to
irrigation, public health, and environmental this day.
and life management. These impacts are
putting the Madagascan population and
their development activity in a position of Produced by:
repeated and growing vulnerability. Aimé Randriambola & Niaina Rakotondrastima
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
www.ifad.org
The FIDA MHBP project (Mandrare Higher email - e_infras@pprr.mg/randriambola12@yahoo.fr
Basin Project), set in the South-East

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 45


La régénération naturelle assistée comme
moyen de combattre le changement
climatique en milieu rural
by Par Awaiss Yahaya

L’environnement naturel du Niger est aride. pauvreté grâce à l’augmentation de la


La pluviométrie est faible et variable et production agricole, la production de four-
les températures sont élevées. Malgré les rage pour les animaux, de bois pour les
contraintes naturelles et la variabilité du besoins du ménage et pour la vente, et une
climat, le secteur rural constitue une partie diversification de l’alimentation entraînant
très importante de l’économie nationale. des conséquences positives sur la nutrition
L’agriculture et l’élevage représentent les et la santé. Bien qu’étant intégrée dans le
principales activités de la majorité des système d’exploitation des paysans, cette
populations rurales. Ainsi, pour lutter contre pratique connait quelques difficultés
la désertification et la dégradation des notamment en ce qui concerne le droit
ressources naturelles, qui ont pour conséqu- d’exploitation des arbres entretenus, les
ence une augmentation de la pauvreté et coupes frauduleuses, le surpâturage.
de la vulnérabilité des populations rurales, C’est pour améliorer cette pratique sur le
la Régénération Naturelle Assistée (RNA) plan communautaire et permettre aux
est une pratique largement adoptée des populations de développer des stratégies
ruraux de la région de Maradi. résilientes au climat que Care Niger va
développer des programmes dans la région
La RNA consiste à laisser aux champs de Maradi.
un certain nombre de jeunes pousses,
de souches ou de rejets sur souches selon Abstract du réseau AfricaAdapt:
une certaine densité à l’hectare afin de Par Awaiss Yahaya
Care International au Niger
régénérer la végétation dans les champs. www.careinternational.org
Parmi les impacts socio-économiques email - yahaya_awaiss@yahoo.fr
de la RNA on compte la réduction de la

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 46


Assisted natural regeneration as a way
to combat climate change in rural areas
by Par Awaiss Yahaya

The natural environment in Niger is arid. agricultural production; the production of


Recorded rainfalls are very low and variable, animal fodder; the production of wood for
and temperatures are high. Despite natural household needs and sale; and growing food
constraints and climate variability, the diversification, which has a positive impact
rural sector stands for a high percentage of on nutrition and health. Although such
the country’s economy. Agriculture and activities are integrated within the farmers’
animal breeding are the rural populations’ business, these practices face a number
main activities. Thus, in order to fight of difficulties: such as the right to exploit
against desertification and natural resources “kept” trees, fraudulent cuttings or an over-
damage, both increasing rural poverty and grazing tendency. In order to improve this
vulnerability, the Assisted Natural Regen- practice on a community level and to allow
eration (ANR) is a largely adopted practice populations to develop climate resilient
by the rural population of the Maradi area. strategies, Care Niger is going to develop
such programmes in the Maradi region.
The ANR consists of leaving a certain
number of young shoots, stumps or stump
shoots within the fields, according to a Produced by:
certain density per hectare, in order to regen- Par Awaiss Yahaya
Care International au Niger
erate field vegetation. The ANR is giving www.careinternational.org
way to many socio-economic improvements: email - yahaya_awaiss@yahoo.fr
the reduction of poverty by an increase in

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 47


Community-based
adaptation for drylands
and pastoralism

48
Adapting pastoral and agricultural practices
to the realities of climate change in Niger
by Adeline Aubry

The Community-Based Adaptation Progr- The project area has a strong tradition
amme is a five-year United Nations of pastoralism dating back to its original
Development Programme global initiative inhabitants, the nomadic Touareg and
funded by the Global Environmental Peulh tribes. Farmers from the Haoussa
Facility (GEF). The project’s implementing tribe moved into the area during the 1960s
partner is the GEF Small Grants Programme in search of fertile land. Both pastoralists
(SGP). Co-financing partners include the and farmers now depend on increasingly
Government of Japan, AusAID, UN volun- scarce natural resources for their liveli-
teers, and local NGOs. The CBA’s goal is to hoods. Plagued by high levels of poverty
strengthen the resiliency of communities and structural food insecurity, the area
to adverse climate change impacts. suffers from unsustainable agropastoral
practices and increasing risks of conflicts
The CBA project, Adapting Pastoral and over natural resources. Working with three
Agricultural Practices to the Realities of communities consisting of about 6,000
Climate Change, focuses on the village of people, the CBA project will involve 2,000
Rombou in the Maradi region of central Niger. participants in activities that promote
The Sahara desert and bordering semi-arid more sustainable agricultural and pastoral
Sahel zone cover approximately 80 percent practices; and will help the population
of the country’s land. A majority of Niger’s deal with predicted climate changes.
water resources are concentrated in a small
green belt in the south. The Tarka Valley is Produced by:
one of the nation’s few remaining fertile Adeline Aubry
United Nations Development Programme
areas. Although it borders the Tarka Valley,
www.undp.org
the village of Rombou is at risk of desertifica- email - Adeline.Audry@undp.org
tion as the semi-arid Sahel zone expands.

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 49


Establishing community-based sustainable
rangeland resource management systems
in the Gash Barka Zone, Eritrea
by Amanuel Negasi, Mesghena Ghilay Hagos
& Tsegai Araya

The livestock in the western lowlands of According to the impact assessment


Eritrea rely almost entirely on grazing and report, the project resulted in a tremendous
browsing on the rangelands and riverine increase of total area closures; rising
vegetation following the grazing routes. from an initial 15,696ha to a total area of
Recurrent droughts caused by climate 105,450ha. Hence, the production of
change have resulted in a shortage of graz- biomass has increased significantly with
ing resources, hindrance of cattle movement 527,250 tons, as opposed to only 47,088
and environmental degradation. tons before the project.

The objective was to tackle the critical


drought season by extending the grazing
period and minimising the livestock
migration season. Since 2004, the general
regeneration of natural resources,
particularly of herbaceous and tree layer
biomass, has been observed thanks to
the introduction of a community-based
rangeland management system aided by
International Fund for Agriculural Develop-
ment (IFAD) funded projects. The main Urea straw treatment training for
activities were: the establishing of Voluntary agro-pastoralists
Livestock Exclusion Areas; the treatment
of denuded rangelands using various soil Produced by:
and water conservation measures; the Amanuel Negasi, Mesghena Ghilay Hagos & Tsegai Araya
International Fund for Agricultural Development
construction and distribution of livestock www.ifad.org
watering points; and, over-sowing adaptive email - amanuel@moa.gov.er
native grass seeds.

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 50


The survival of pastoralism in a
changing climate in Northern Kenya
by Eric Kisiangani

The links between development and The research showed three main strategies
climate change adaptation, and reducing for household survival: physical, capital and
social and environmental vulnerability are pastoral strategies. These range from herd
now more urgent than ever in pastoral areas accumulation, animal diversity and a more
of northern Kenya. Supportive government varied diet; to herd mobility beyond the
policies are essential. normal dry season grazing areas, herd
dispersal, selective breeding, intensification
Enhancing Adaptive Capacity of Pastoral- of land for animal feed, and conquering
ists to Climate Change in Northern Kenya “enemy” grazing land or acquiring permission
was a two-year project undertaken on to use it.
adaptation of pastoralists based on data
generated from Turkana and Mandera The two-year project revealed four policies
research sites. where action and resources are needed.
Firstly, peaceful coexistence and security
The objectives of the project were to: amongst local communities in northern
Kenya must be strengthened for effective
• Identify ecological and structural factors adaptation of pastoralists through improved
underlying vulnerability of pastoralist
access to pasture and water. Mobility must
communities to climate change
also be ensured for livestock herds because
• Identify and evaluate gender dimensions access to pasture and water is the best
of vulnerability amongst social groups in adaptation strategy for pastoralists. This
Turkana and Mandera must be recognised and supported by the
government agencies responsible for
• Undertake participatory analysis of protecting pastoralists’ land and resource
traditional and emerging climate change rights. Moreover, increased access to
adaptation options and strategies, additional adaptive skills in planning and
at both household and community levels, managing rangeland resources is needed,
against future scenarios as well as access to sources of information
such as seasonal forecasts and market
• Identify factors constraining pastoralists’
access to, and use of, climate change intelligence. Lastly, the removal of
adaptation options and strategies in constraints to efficient livestock markets:
pastoral ecosystems of Turkana and improved market infrastructure, vet services,
Mandera districts flood-proof roads, and communication links.

• Identify and analyse the institutional Produced by:


barriers to, and opportunities for, Eric Kisiangani
Practical Action
incorporating climate change adaptation
www.practicalaction.org
measures into national development email - Eric.kisiangani@practicalaction.or.ke
policies

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 51


Pastoralism and climate change:
enabling adaptive capacity
by Brian Otiende

The effects of climate change on the dry- Pastoralism thus presents a logical adapta-
lands of the Horn and East Africa pose tion route in areas of increased climatic
particular and difficult policy challenges in variability, and has an important role to play
the region. The drylands are characterised where other livelihoods are threatened.
by an arid climate that makes them highly
vulnerable to the impacts of climate Pastoralists need the ‘freedom to’
change. Climate science already projects
take action, whether they choose to
increasing temperatures, rainfall variability
and increasing frequency and severity of remain in pastoralism, or to diversify
extreme weather events including droughts.
their livelihoods in a way which would
In addition to the chronic poverty levels
amongst pastoral communities, under- ensure economic well-being
exploited development potential and poor
policies that conflict with the unique needs As opposed to providing adaptation strate-
of the drylands, climate change will result gies for them, pastoralists’ resilience to
in the loss of pastoral livelihoods and drought can be improved by strengthening
will exacerbate poverty levels amongst their inherent adaptive capacity,
dryland communities. (autonomous adaptation); improved drought
preparedness; disaster management
This study argues that climate change structures and risk reduction efforts,
presents both a challenge and an opportu- (anticipatory adaptation); and, using climate
nity for development within drylands. Of all information or foresight in development
the natural resource-based land uses in planning (planned adaptation).
the drylands, the dominant land use system
– pastoralism – has unique adaptive charac-
teristics. However, this must be supported Produced by:
by the appropriate enabling policies and Brian Otiende
Oxfam GB
investments. Pastoralism functions at a www.oxfamgb.org
stronger level within the prevalent context of email - botiende@oxfam.org.uk
wide rainfall variability and unpredictability.

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 52


Community-based climate change adaptation
strategies amongst pastoralists in Shinile
Woreda of Somali Regional State, Ethiopia
by Nur Abdi Mohammed

Pastoralists perceive climate change as


increased temperature, expanded desertifi-
cation, droughts and reduction of grazing
lands. Moreover, they experience climate
change as reduced livestock productivity
(milk, ghee and meat), change in livestock
feed availability, reduced quality of natural
pasture, and increased human and livestock
diseases. In this regard, the Pastoralist
Welfare Organization (PWO) has recently
conducted a rapid assessment on com-
munity-based climate change adaptation heavy floods, deepening of underground
strategies in Shinile Woreda of Somali water, inadequate skills and inter/intra-clan
Regional State, Ethiopia. The assessment conflicts. The development/non-traditional
focused on the major climate change interventions are also challenged by climate
hazards; their impact on livelihoods and change impacts such as the drying up of
traditional adaptation strategies; and, to many water sources like shallow/hand
some extent, development interventions. dug wells, ponds and reservoirs. As per the
projected climate change scenarios in
The results of the assessment demonstrated the lowland parts of Ethiopia, climate change
evidence of climate variability and climate hazards may continue to harm traditional
change, as seen through drought, extreme adaptation strategies as well as modern
temperature, increased human and animal development interventions. In order to
diseases, and rangeland degradation. reduce the impact of these climate change
Climate variability and change have led to hazards, there is a need to diversify pastoral
pasture and water shortages, increased loss livelihood activities. In addition to modifying
of livestock, and heightened vulnerabilities livestock diversity, composition and
to climate change hazards amongst numbers, there is a need to engage in
pastoralists. The assessment results have saving and credit, education and skill devel-
also indicated that communities are doing opment amongst other strategies.
their level best to cope with climate change
hazards through spatial mobility, digging of Produced by:
water wells in the riverbeds, and birka con- Nur Abdi Mohammed
struction amongst other strategies. These Pastoralist Welfare Organization (PWO)
email - pworg@ethionet.et; pastoralistwalfare@yahoo.com
traditional adaptation strategies are currently
less effective due to prolonged droughts,

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 53


Local climate change adaptation strategies amongst
pastoral communities in Awash Fentale Woreda,
Afar National Regional State, Ethiopia
by Wendessen Gulelat Wolde

Studies show that pastoral communities trade and daily labour were also found to
are the first to be affected by the adverse be important local adaptation strategies.
effect of current and future climate change However, the communities’ adaptive capacity
in Africa. Pastoral communities in Ethiopia was also significantly threatened by
have been adapting their livelihoods certain non-climatic factors such as: the
to changing environmental conditions for establishment of national parks and large
centuries. Pastoralist Forum Ethiopia (PFE) scale commercial farms, resulting in the
in partnership with Promoting Local Innova- loss of community-owned small farm land,
tion in Ecologically-Orientated Agricultural the loss of pastureland, and the blockage
and Natural Management (PROLINOVA) of water access; as well as other factors
Ethiopia, have conducted an in-depth study like bush encroachment (Prosopis).
on climate change variables and local
adaptation strategies of Afar pastoral com-
munities in Fentale Woreda, Afar National
Regional State.

The result of this project reveals that there


is evidence of variability in rainfall and
temperature across the years, as well as an
increasing trend in wind speed. The research
also demonstrates that pastoralists have
innovatively adapted to the harsh climate
situations. Mobility with its own specific
pattern was found to be one of the key local
innovations in adapting to climate change. Afar community
In the study area, social safety nets;
development of the local level conflict Produced by:
management system; herd splitting; species Wendessen Gulelat Wolde
Pastoralist Forum Ethiopia
diversification; livestock selling and bank www.pfe-ethiopia.org
deposits; animal disease management; email - pfe@pfe-ethiopia.org; wendessen@pfe-ethiopia.org
and livelihood diversification such as petty

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 54


Community-based
adaptation in
urban areas

55
Old notion - new relevance: exploring the concept
of social capital in the context of climate change
adaptation in East-African coastal cities
by Justus Kithiia

Most studies using the concept of social refineries; as well as a substantial workforce.
capital focus on its role in facilitating Furthermore, they are important centres of
development outcomes in rural as opposed coastal tourism.
to urban areas. Indeed, few studies have
shown how this old sociological notion can This project found that in relation to climate
attain new relevance by motivating the change, local capacities mediated through
initiation and accomplishment of measures social capital can:
to overcome urban climate change risks, • Provide a foundation for effective climate
more so in Africa. However, not only are mil- change adaptation
lions of city dwellers in Africa at risk
• Ensure acceptability and effectiveness
from the impacts of climate change, but
communication and linkages that bring • Build adaptive capacity at a range of
critical resources to bear are easier in the urban scales
cities than in rural areas. Addressing adap-
tation to the uncertain climate using social The use of social capital in the context of
capital discourses will be of necessity and climate change will succeed if viewed as an
will involve removing the informal-formal element in the wider theme of sustainable
barriers and allowing social cohesion development; as well as choosing adaptation
through engagement in mutually beneficial, strategies in the context of poverty driven
vulnerability-reducing collective actions. economic survival urbanisation. It is also
vital that policies are aimed at linking
This work builds on the existing conceptual- climatic conditions with urban development,
isation of social capital and associated housing, land use management and infor-
concepts in climate change theory and policy. mation dissemination. Lastly, there exists
The application of the concepts, and their the larger need to transcend social divisions
use in framing the debate and thinking of the and build horizontal and vertical social
role of social capital in facilitating adaptation cohesion to confront the uncertain changes
to climate change in the East African cities in climate.
of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam is explored.
Produced by:
Mombasa and Dar es Salaam are port cities Justus Kithiia
which represent important national and Department of Environment and Geography,
Macquarie University, Australia
regional engines of economic development. www.mq.edu.au/departments/envirogeog/
In addition to their ports, they contain email - jkithiia@els.edu.au; muleius@yahoo.com
important infrastructure such as airports and

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 56


The climate change adaptation deficit
of Lusaka City in Zambia
by George B. Kasali

Sensitivity to drought

This paper examines the exposure of institutional and community responses to


Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia, to the climate-induced disasters that have occurred
climate extremes of droughts and floods, over the years.
and makes recommendations for planned
adaptation. The sensitivity of the city to
these extremes is investigated in terms Produced by:
of the impacts on water supply, sanitation, George B. Kasali
Energy & Environmental Concern for Zambia (EECZ),
health, infrastructure and food prices. The Zambia
adaptation deficit is assessed by evaluating email - kasali_george@yahoo.com
the adaptive capacity of the city in terms of

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 57


Reducing the vulnerability of urban poor
in Indian cities through adaptive strategies
by Yenneti Komalirani
& Joshi Gauravkumar

Climate-related disasters have brought some adaptation measures that can be


widespread misery and huge economic undertaken by the urban poor and the
losses to India, adversely affecting public Government, especially through analysing
health, food security, agriculture, water the case studies in an Indian context.
resources and biodiversity. In the case of
Indian cities, the size and vulnerability The success and failure of implementing
of informal settlements, generally built in adaptation measures depends largely on
fragile areas such as coastal zones, flood- policymakers. There is a need to strengthen
prone planes and ravines, and geologically the institutional and financial capacity of the
unstable slopes, greatly increases their city’s decision-makers and administrators,
vulnerability which thus forces them to who ultimately control the built environment
follow a path of adaptation for sustainable and the power to implement change. This
development. sensitisation would prove to be an effective
tool to protect the microenvironment
The rapid pace of urbanisation with the as well as create awareness about the poor.
concentration of an ever increasing share
of the population has also significantly
increased the overall vulnerability of urban Produced by:
areas to such dangers. With regard to Yenneti Komalirani
this, the paper deals with the assessment Environmental Research Planner, CEPT University, Indian Youth
Climate Network
of impacts, vulnerability and adaptation www.cept.ac.in; www.iycn.in
to climate change in Indian cities. While email - komalirani.y@gmail.com
dealing with the relationship between climate
change and Indian cities, the research Joshi Gauravkumar
PGPIM, Infrastructure Management, Adani
assessed the impacts of climate change Institute of Infrastructure Management
and vulnerability of the urban poor in www.aiim.ac.in/index.htm
Indian cities. This paper will also identify

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 58


Strengthening urban governments
in planning adaptation
by Lucinda Fairhurst

Climate change is expected to have severe with particular reference to gender impacts
physical, social, environmental and eco- and issues, and placing an emphasis on
nomic impacts on cities in Africa. It is the importance of early action. The frame-
predicted that certain areas will be affected works will highlight areas of concern within
by sea-level rise, increased precipitation, the five project cities and encourage the
increased wind speeds and incidences development of early warning systems
of cyclones, a higher frequency of droughts, that will reduce the risks of climate change.
and a rise in temperatures. This project Lastly, the frameworks will provide the
aims to address the knowledge, resource, necessary steps for increasing adaptive
capacity and networking gaps of five capacity and lay the groundwork for a Local
Southern African cities by strengthening Climate Adaptation Strategy and Action
their ability to plan for, and adapt to, the Plan for each of the project cities.
impacts associated with climate change.
There are five urban centres chosen Through a participatory process, this project
for this project, one of which is Windhoek will build on, and/or establish long-term,
in Namibia. multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral stake-
holder platforms in the five Southern African
The project will test the theory that the cities. These platforms will comprise of
most vulnerable people living and working academics, communities and the local
in these different geographical, climatic government, and will facilitate knowledge-
and ecosystem zones will be impacted sharing as well as promoting proactive
by climate change in very distinctive ways. climate adaptation and resource opportuni-
Therefore, unique sets of actions will be ties in the cities. Networks of stakeholders
required to be undertaken by the respective within each urban centre will be estab-
local governments in order to address their lished, in turn feeding into a larger regional
vulnerability to climate change. Through network of local authorities and partners in
this project, tailor-made Local Climate Sub-Saharan Africa; and then globally
Adaptation Frameworks will be developed through the existing International Council
for each local government. for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)
global network, ensuring global best practice,
These frameworks will provide the neces- roll-out and long-term sustainability.
sary steps to enable the future extension
of a participatory approach, with multiple Produced by:
stakeholders, for the implementation Lucinda Fairhurst
of climate change adaptation strategies International Council
for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)
and policies. Furthermore, it will review www.iclei.org
the important economic, social and email - lucinda.fairhurst@iclei.org
environmental costs of climate change;

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 59


Managing and communicating
knowledge about good
community-based adaptation

60
How online tools can be effective in learning
and sharing about climate change adaptation:
experiences from the Oxfam and weADAPT
collaboration
by Anna Taylor & Charlotte Sterrett

Oxfam Great Britain (GB) has been working During the development of weADAPT,
in collaboration with weADAPT since mid- many lessons were learned including the
2009 to design a suitable online knowledge need for more ‘translation’, less technical
base and web platform for learning and language, and the need for more context
sharing on climate adaptation that can be specific examples of adaptation. We obser-
easily accessed and used by Oxfam practi- ved a mismatch between the information
tioners. The overall aim of the collaboration that practitioners want, and the answers
is to ‘Create and sustain a global online that science can provide (e.g. detailed
learning and sharing resource for Oxfam information on impacts). There also exists
GB programme practitioners working on a preference for audio-visual mediums as
climate change adaptation’. well as a need to navigate and find content
more easily. Lastly, there is the larger
weADAPT offers both the technology and need to move beyond information sharing
an expanding network of leading organi- to knowledge co-production.
sations across a range of sectors to grow,
manage and deliver critical information and
knowledge in order to make better informed Produced by:
adaptation decisions, plans and strategies Anna Taylor
weADAPT
from local to national and regional scales.
www.weadapt.org.uk
weADAPT transforms information into email - annactaylor@gmail.com
knowledge by creating meaningful links
Charlotte Sterrett
between resources using state-of-the-art Oxfam GB
semantic search technologies, and thereby www.oxfamgb.org
supports users in their learning process.

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 61


Climate through culture: British Council
climate change work in Sub-Saharan Africa
and how we support future policy
by Hannah Cowin

The British Council (BC) has been engaged engage, inform and empower Africans at
in climate change activities since the local, national and international levels about
1992 Rio summit. In recent years this work climate change. The initiative collates com-
has been focused on developing informed munity opinions and gives voice to people at
and connected young leaders who have all levels of society. ATC will inform the
the ability to influence decision-makers to work of the British Council amongst others
take positive action in order to prevent working on regional climate change projects
or reduce climate change on local, national with the publishing of the results in early
and international levels. 2010. We expect the findings to develop into
a climate change communications strategy
The British Council sent a group of “Inter- and help shape future project development.
national Climate Champions” from across
the globe to the UNFCCC Kyoto Protocol The BC focuses on youth and leadership:
(COP 3) in 1997. This was so successful that raising awareness and empowering and
a further group attended the recent summit informing young people who are our future
in Copenhagen. In Sub-Saharan Africa community, national and international
there are now groups of BC International leaders and policymakers. Overall we hope
Climate Champions in ten countries: Kenya, our projects will reach out to rural and
Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana, Uganda, Sudan, urban communities across the region, and
South Africa, Botswana, Malawi and Zimba- influence leaders through the voices of
bwe. Champions are young people with a the young, thus helping climate adaptation
passionate interest in climate change and mitigation methodologies to become
who want to make a difference. They spend a part of daily life for people in Africa
a year working with their local communities and across the world. As a cultural relations
carrying out projects that raise awareness organisation, our focus is on cross-cultural
of climate change and encourage people to international knowledge exchange and
change their behaviour. The BC supports acquisition, and trying to emphasise the
the Champions with training in project global interdependency of this issue.
management and communication. Champions The BC hopes to ensure that our work
work with their local communities to imple- helps all sectors of society to work together,
ment changes on projects like plastic bag regardless of status or income, to take
bans or “greening the school”. An important a community approach to solving a
part of local work is encouraging others global problem.
within the community to get involved.
Produced by:
Africa Talks Climate (ATC) involves research Hannah Cowin
British Council
conducted with the British Broadcasting www.britishcouncil.org
Corporation World Service Trust (BBC WST) email - hannah.cowin@britishcouncil.org.tz
in ten African countries. Its focus is to

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 62


The Regional Climate Change Adaptation
Knowledge Platform for Asia
by Satya Priya & Roopa Rakshit

The Regional Climate Change Adaptation In 2009, activities were initiated in the five
Knowledge Platform for Asia (Adaptation pilot countries, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal,
Knowledge Platform) has been developed to Thailand and Vietnam, mobilising local
respond to demand for effective mechanisms partners and identifying key knowledge and
for sharing information and developing capacity gaps. The major challenges faced
adaptive capacities in Asian countries, many were associated with the diversity among
of whom are the most vulnerable to the countries with regards to priority, production,
effects of climate change. The Adaptation dissemination and utilisation of climate
Knowledge Platform supports research change adaptation knowledge. Problems
and capacity building, policy making and included weak or non-existent information
information sharing to help countries in Asia and knowledge of management procedures,
adapt to the challenges of climate change. inadequate information and communication
The Adaptation Knowledge Platform will technology infrastructure, insufficient
seek to facilitate climate change adaptation networking activities, and lack of financial
at local, national and regional levels; and resources to support knowledge manage-
to strengthen adaptive capacity of countries ment activities.
in the region – whilst working with existing
and emerging networks and initiatives. The Adaptation Knowledge Platform’s know-
ledge management focused on activities
The Adaptation Knowledge Platform sup- supporting three pillars: networking, devel-
ports the mainstreaming of climate change oping and sharing knowledge; the necessity
adaptation into regional economic and to work collaboratively with access to
development policies, working together in shared knowledge at local, national and
partnerships, and complementing and regional levels; and, contributing to a lasting
bridging both existing and emerging networks climate adaptation knowledge legacy.
and knowledge. Activities implemented fall The report presents strategic directions for
under three main components: knowledge management at both regional
and national levels.
• Generating new knowledge on climate
change adaptation

• Translating science into policy Produced by:


relevant knowledge Satya Priya & Roopa Rakshit
United Nations Environment Programme
• Working towards an effective knowledge www.unep.org
sharing system, at regional and email - satya@rrcap.unep.org

national levels

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 63


Collaborative change: approaches
and experiences in ComDev applied to
community-based adaptation
by Cleofe Torres & Federica Matteoli

Community-based adaptation approaches Initiative (CSDI): a global programme to


emphasise the need to empower rural test, document and share communication
communities and identify, through participa- strategies, services and tools for climate
tory learning methodologies, suitable change adaptation and sustainable Natural
adaptation options. Planned knowledge Resources Management (NRM). Based on
and communication activities have two cases in Congo and Bangladesh, this
to be acknowledged as strategic assets to presentation will draw on field experience
improve information sharing, peoples’ to demonstrate that sharing knowledge
participation and concerted action towards on good practices amongst peers fosters
social learning for livelihood adaptation. horizontal collaboration and helps rural
people define new adaptation strategies
As recommended by participants at the 3rd to climate change, while reaffirming their
CBA Conference, communication processes right to communication services.
and strategies are essential to enhance rural
institutions’ capacity to assist small farmers The contribution will also introduce a
and reduce communities’ vulnerability. These CSDI initiative in response to the need for
should be fully integrated and mainstreamed enhanced communication capacities
within the CBA approach in order to: amongst development practitioners, field
agents and decision-makers. It aims
• Facilitate equitable access to knowledge
to establish a cross-regional and
and information
cross-institutional community of practice
• Enhance learning and action to ensure for sharing information and knowledge on
co-creation of knowledge communication applied to climate
adaptation, through networking and
• Promote peoples’ participation and
partnerships with development programmes,
direct involvement in the design of coping
institutions, non-government organisations,
strategies
universities and research centres.
• Bridge the “glocal information divide”
between global environmental systems Produced by:
and local communities; improving Cleofe Torres
University of Los Baños
linkages amongst research, extension, www.uplb.edu.ph
advisory services and farmers. email - cleofe.torres@yahoo.com

Federica Matteoli
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Organization is implementing the Commu- www.fao.org
nication for Sustainable Development

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 64


An innovative knowledge sharing network
for climate change adaptation in Africa
by Moussa na Abou Mamouda

AfricaAdapt is an independent bilngual net- Sharing Innovation Fund focuses on those


work (French/English) focused exclusively marginalised and hard-to-reach groups,
on “Africa”. The Network’s aim is to facilitate and is looking to fund initiatives that involve
the flow of climate change adaptation know- them in the process of knowledge sharing
ledge for sustainable livelihoods between through innovative ways of communication,
researchers, policy-makers, civil society ideas and methodologies.
organisations and communities who are
vulnerable to climate variability and change The impacts of climate change and variability
across the continent. are already affecting the livelihoods of
African communities. As media who have a
The network uses an interactive web-based fundamental interest in broadcasting
information portal, as well as other media about issues that are of key relevance to
such as community radio, mobile phones, their listeners, community radio broadcasters
print publications, face-to-face meetings, have a responsibility to understand and
etc. to share knowledge, know-how communicate how climate change is affect-
and any information to support climate ing the people in their areas. They are also
change adaptation in Africa for the benefit strategically placed as media who can
of vulnerable communities. interact with local communities in languages
and formats that are easily understood, for
Whilst the use of information technology is better knowledge and information sharing
expanding rapidly across Africa, information at all levels.
and knowledge do not reach large sectors
of the population, particularly the poorest. Produced by:
The result of this is that vulnerable groups Moussa na Abou Mamouda
AfricaAdapt
will still be excluded from the knowledge www.africa-adapt.net/AA/Default.aspx
exchange chain, in turn exacerbating their email - mamoudam@gmail.com
vulnerability. The AfricaAdapt Knowledge

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 65


Community-based adaptation exchange
(CBA-X)
by Blane Harvey

CBA-X is a shared online web space


designed to bring together those working
in this field. It is supported by the Interna-
tional Institute for Environment and
Development and hosted by Eldis. CBA-X
facilitates the exchange of community-
based adaptation knowledge between
continents, sectors and disciplines, with a
focus on: news and commentary; cutting
edge research; relevant case studies; and
tools and practice. There are over 650
members, 65 percent of which are from
the global south.
A number of complementary Institute of
CBA-X uses a number of interactive and Development Studies Knowledge Services
multimedia tools such as: blogs and on Climate Change will be introduced, as
discussions, calendar of events and videos. well as an overview of how CBA-X can help
The uploaded resources on the CBA-X you in your work.
platform are linked to summaries on the
Eldis Climate Change Resource Guide, Produced by:
which provides access to more than 1,600 Blane Harvey
Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Sussex, UK
fully summarised climate-related documents; www.ids.ac.uk
and links to over 250 organisations working email - b.harvey@ids.ac.uk
on climate change issues.

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 66


The role of radio in creating better responses
to climate change: the Development Broadcasting
Unit in Malawi
by Hamilton Chimala & Charles Chikapa

The Development Broadcasting Unit (DBU)


was established in September 1999 as an
autonomous not-for-profit, public sector
unit under the Malawi Broadcasting
Corporation-MBC. The Unit engages in
development communication programming
using participatory approaches to provide
a platform for the marginalised poor.
The format uses Radio Listening Clubs in
which local leaders discuss issues which
they would like to see addressed by the
Government or any other stakeholders in Radio listening club
their respective areas. The Development
Broadcasting Unit plays a facilitating Success stories using this Radio for
role by linking the listening clubs with the Development approach in Malawi are well
relevant specialists in a particular topic. documented. Facilities such as health
A forum is organised where the official, centres, clinics, and water points to
or officials, are put in the spotlight by the mention but a few have been provided in
local communities. The dialogues are the remote parts of the country. Climate
recorded and packaged by the communities change is a new topic that the DBU has
themselves and sent to the DBU offices, taken on board, and currently several
where they are edited and then aired on projects are in the formulation stages to
national radio. be rolled out in 2011.

The project has proved hugely popular, Produced by:


and plans are underway to seek funding to Hamilton Chimala & Charles Chikapa
The Development Broadcasting Unit
start “live” broadcasts, with a long-term (DBU), Malawi
goal of establishing community radios using email - chimalah@yahoo.com
the Radio Listening Clubs as focal points.

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 67


Le réseau AfricaAdapt
by Binetou Diagne

Le réseau AfricaAdapt vise à promouvoir le Le réseau innove aussi en lançant son


partage des connaissances sur l’adaptation Fond d’Innovation pour le Partage de
aux changements climatiques en Afrique. Connaissances qui promeut les initiatives
Il veut capitaliser et communiquer les nom- de partage de connaissances au niveau
breuses connaissances locales et leçons communautaire.
qui ont été tirées des expériences sur
le terrain. Le réseau invite tous les acteurs Son partenariat avec les radios commun-
aupartage, notamment les communautés autaires vise notamment à améliorer la
moyennes qui demeurent à ce jour en compréhension du changement climatique
marge des processus formels de partage à l’échelon communautaire et à
des connaissances. renforcer les capacités de résilience des
populations.
Grâce à une approche intégrée, le réseau
AfricaAdapt utilise aussi bien les nouvelles
technologies de l’information que les Produced by:
moyens de communication traditionnels Binetou Diagne
AfricaAdapt
pour toucher ses publics variés: chercheurs, www.africa-adapt.net/AA/Default.aspx
décideurs politiques, société civile, email - Binetou.diagne@gmail.com
et communautés locales.

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 68


The AfricaAdapt Network
by Binetou Diagne

The AfricaAdapt network aims to promote makers, non-trading companies and local
the sharing of knowledge on climate change communities. The network is also innovating
adaptation in Africa. It seeks to capitalise by launching its Innovation Fund for the
as well as communicate the rich local Sharing of Knowledge, which is promoting
knowledge and the lessons that have been sharing initiatives at the community level.
learned from local experience. The network Its partnership with community radios aims
is inviting all participants to share, in particu- specifically at improving climate change
lar the middle-class communities whom understanding at the community level, as
to this day tend to remain aside from formal well as reinforcing the resilience capacity of
actions of knowledge sharing. the population.

Thanks to an integrated approach, the Produced by:


AfricaAdapt network uses both new media Binetou Diagne
technologies and traditional means of AfricaAdapt
www.africa-adapt.net/AA/Default.aspx
communication in order to reach varied email - Binetou.diagne@gmail.com
audiences: researchers, political decision-

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 69


Scaling up
and replicating
best practice

70
Incorporating sustainable livelihoods, disaster
risk reduction and natural resource management
into climate change adaptation approaches:
an Oxfam GB perspective
by Charlotte Sterrett & Steve Jennings

Oxfam GB believes that lifting people out that deal specifically with climate change
of poverty and overcoming injustice is impacts, as well as addressing the underly-
central to our mission, which is why tackling ing vulnerability to climate risk.
climate change is a major priority for our
humanitarian, campaigning and long-term In addition, Oxfam is addressing climate
development work. change through its programme manage-
ment cycle: from identification and analysis;
Oxfam’s approach to climate change to programme planning and design,
adaptation focuses on the core areas of implementation and management; through
disaster risk reduction, livelihoods and to monitoring, evaluation and learning.
natural resource management; whilst
ensuring that gender is addressed as a
cross-cutting theme. It is an approach that Produced by:
includes working at multiple levels, from Charlotte Sterrett & Steve Jennings
Oxfam GB
community and local, to national
www.oxfamgb.org
and international. The approach further email - csterrettt@oxfam.org.uk
advocates for a range of interventions

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 71


Critical factors for up-scaling community-based
adaptation technologies in semi-arid areas:
experiences from food security initiatives
in Zimbabwe
by Douglas Gumbo

The food security initiatives implemented by distinguish between the two in order to
Practical Action in Zimbabwe included rain- demonstrate how support organisations can
water harvesting technology as a major promote rainwater harvesting technologies.
component. These initiatives will be used
as a case study to identify the different The paper will conclude by suggesting
scaling up models and their critical success the major steps that support organisations
factors. The paper contributes to answering and policy makers can adopt in mobilising
the question posed by development communities to up-scale rainwater
practitioners on how successful rainwater harvesting technologies in order to improve
technologies can be promoted and adapted food security in areas facing low and
to other regions, countries and sectors reducing rainfall.
in order to improve their replication and
up-scaling. The enabling environments Produced by:
necessary for up-scaling and replication Douglas Gumbo
Practical Action, Zimbabwe
elsewhere will also be explored. Replication www.practicalaction.org
and up-scaling tend to be used in tandem. email - douglasg@practicalactionzw.org
This paper will highlight their use and

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 72


Institutional collaboration and up-scaling
of water harvesting in Tigray, Ethiopia:
the experience of the Relief Society of Tigray
by Teklewoini Assefa

Up-scaling community-based adaptation Many key lessons have been learned from
is crucial for allowing communities to the project. Firstly, the fact that communities
adapt to future changes and to respond to are already coping demonstrates their
planning processes and adaptation finances. capacity to adapt to climate change using
Experiences of up-scaling already exist and their own initiatives. There is a great need
can thus form a basis for future learning. to integrate good adaptation practices into
This project focuses on the adaptation existing development planning at community,
experience of communities in Tigray region, regional and national levels, in collaboration
in northern Ethiopia – one of the most with government institutions in order to
vulnerable regions to climate change achieve faster up-scaling. Civil society
suffering frequent incidences of drought: organisations are capable of piloting various
on average every three years. types of local adaptation technologies, but
scaling up is a major role of the Government
The Relief Society of Tigray (REST), in colla- because of its accountability to its citizens.
boration with local community institutions Lastly, it is essential for the success of
and governments, promotes various water adaptation strategies to confront structural
harvesting technologies to address water constraints to adaptation such as policies
availability for agriculture and households for water user rights, both at community
as critical enabling factors for adaptation. and regional levels (conflict prevention).
The activities focus on scaling up small-scale,
labour intensive water harvesting technolo-
gies; organizing communities on a water-
shed basis and to undertake participatory
planning; and community mobilisation for
public work in collaboration with local Baito.

The presence of strong institutional collabo-


ration and community governance was
critical to the successful up-scaling of these
crucial adaptation measures. Thus far
about 1.4 million ha (50 percent) of the
regional land mass have been covered with
Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) meas- Community mobilisation
ures. There has been an increased access
to dry season irrigation from 4,000 ha Produced by:
in 2005 to 70,000 ha, with plans to expand Teklewoini Assefa
The Relief Society of Tigray (REST)
to 300,000 ha over the next two years. www.rest-tigray.org.et
Furthermore, irrigation is now practiced at email - rest@ethionet.et
the household, group and community level.

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 73


Greening Darfur: scaling up work to increase
drought resilience by strengthening civil society
organisations to manage development
by Mohamed Siddig Suliman

Practical Action has continued to implement


development work in north Darfur through-
out the conflict period, focusing on increasing
food security through better soil and water
management. A key aspect of the work
has been building the capacity of community-
based organisations, and then forming
networks between them.

Building upon this work, a new programme


called “Greening Darfur” is underway. The
intended outcome of Greening Darfur is
adaptive livelihoods. This will be achieved
by bringing together the following elements:

• Civil society networks (networks of Village


Development Committes and Womens
Darfur has adopted improved stoves through
Development Associations) achieving
the multiplier effect of ‘Training of Trainers’
effective linkages between their members
training
and government institutions

• Systematic gathering of relevant The essential element for building adaptive


information on land, water, agriculture, capacity is an extensive phase of information
livestock and climate gathering and sharing behind the design
and implementation of project activities.
• Communication and awareness of this
Overall the project has witnessed many
information for all stakeholders conducting
successes including strengthening partners
Participatory Action Planning
who are involved in adaptation initiatives;
• Presentation of Participatory Action enhancing local community capacities
Plans as projects to draw down financial to contribute to the collection of local metro-
resources - including international logical data; and scaling up successful
adaptation funds adaptation practices through influencing
partners and donors.
• Implementation of the Action Plans,
for example the construction of a water
Produced by:
harvesting dam
Mohamed Siddig Suliman
Practical Action, Sudan
• Replication of this planning process www.practicalaction.org
at all levels from village level up to email - Mohameds@practicalaction.org.sd
territorial level.

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 74


Vulnerable groups:
women and children

75
Counting on women: climate change
adaptation in the Himalayas
by Brigitte Leduc

With the increasing trend of emigration


amongst men and the feminisation of
agriculture, Himalayan women will play a
crucial role in the adaptation strategies
to climate change of their household and
community. Work undertaken by the
International Centre for Integrated Mountain
Development (ICIMOD) in the Himalayan
region on local adaptation to water stresses,
on gender perspectives in rangeland
resources management, and on climate
change adaptation shows that women hold
a rich knowledge and a variety of skills It is vital that gender become mainstream
for maximizing the use of natural resources in climate change adaptation strategies
of the fragile mountain ecosystem and in in the the Himalayas. To illustrate this, in
farming practices. If their role were more the Chitrali region women play an important
fairly acknowledged, their experience role in a community early warning system,
could be an important asset for mountain utilising stones as a flood monitoring
communities in adapting to the new system. When they interpret the danger,
challenges of climate change impacts. they signal other villages by shouting and
the use of mirrors. Women also aid in the
However, the gender perspective is still recovery effort by securing livestock and
rarely integrated in climate change policy removing debris. This is but one example
and strategies both at international and of the role women play which emphasises
national levels. Similarly, the mountain the need to include gender analysis in
perspective and the implication of its climate change adaptation work.
feminisation are also often lacking. ICIMOD
is conducting gender analysis of the impacts Produced by:
of climate change in the mountain context; Brigitte Leduc
promoting the knowledge and skills of International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
(ICIMOD)
mountain women; and advocating for the www.icimod.org
integration of a gender perspective in any email - slpr@icimod.org
plan or strategy, addressing both women’s
and men’s needs and reducing gender Presented by:
inequalities in order to build mountain peo- Mats Eriksson
ples’ resilience to climate change.

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 76


Child-centred adaptation and disaster
risk reduction: lessons from Mozambique
by Lydia Baker

The impact of climate change on children and nutrition, and the livelihoods of both
is no longer a distant scenario. Its effects orphans and vulnerable children living in
are being felt today and the poorest children communities affected by HIV/AIDS.
are already bearing the brunt. Water It provides a strong model for combining
scarcity, reduced agricultural yields, and climate change with education on the
the increased frequency of disasters all hit impacts of environmental degradation.
children the hardest. Children also have
many more years than adults in which they
must face the impacts of climate change.

However, children are not only victims. They


are also leaders in the fight against climate
change and disasters. Given the space
and opportunity to do so, children lead risk
reduction and adaptation activities, engage
the wider community, as well as ensure that
they themselves are protected. Children
can also influence the policy and practice of
their local and national governments.

In Mozambique, the Junior Farmer Life


School educates children on alternative
agricultural practices and climate change;
as well as innovative disaster risk reduction Produced by:
activities such as child parliaments in which Lydia Baker
Save The Children
children can express their views to decision www.savethechildren.org
makers. The project began with the objec- email - L.Baker@savethechildren.org.uk
tive to improve access to food

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 77


Flood and drought management strategies in
the case of Oyola/Wakesi community and
participatory video for participatory monitoring
and evaluation
by Judi W. Wakhungu, Elvin Nyukuri,
Dan Ongor & Charles Tonui

Adaptation has become part of the discourse For example, the 1999/2000 La Niña
of global warming and is now widely recog- droughts resulted in 4.7 million Kenyans
nised as a fundamental and necessary facing starvation. The effects of the
response to the threat posed by the climatic 2008/2009 drought could be more severe,
changes that will occur, or are already but unofficial reports put the number of
occurring due to past and present carbon people facing hunger at some 10 million.
emissions. A new statistical analysis has These impacts, amongst others, portend
estimated the global-scale net effect of a worsening of the situation in the future
climate change on crop yields for the world’s given that the global greenhouse gas
six most widely grown crops. According to emissions are continuing unabated.
this study, “the historical temperature-yield
relationships indicate that at the global Efforts are being made at the local level
scale, warming from 1981-2002 very likely to document how communities are respond-
offset some of the yield gains for wheat, ing to these challenges. Here we focus
maize and barley”. Technological advances, on the two communities of Oyola and
rising carbon dioxide and other non-climatic Wakesi, who reside on the fringes of Lake
factors had minimal effects on the yields Victoria in the Kano Plains of Western Kenya.
for rice, soy and sorghum. This shows how The African Centre for Technology Studies,
most countries in Africa that depend highly in partnership with Uhai Lake Forum, is
on such commodities are facing the adverse undertaking action research and testing
impacts of climate change, both in terms of an adaptation tool called Local Options for
food security and human safety. Communities to Adapt and Technologies to
Enhance Capacity (LOCATE) methodology
In Kenya, droughts and floods have become to document the findings.
more frequent and intense. The country has
witnessed increased average and extreme
temperatures, successive crop failures, as Produced by:
well as the spread of vector-borne diseases Judi W. Wakhungu, Elvin Nyukuri, Dan Ongor
like malaria to places where the disease & Charles Tonui
ACTS, Kenya
is not known to be endemic. These climate www.acts.or.ke
driven changes affect resources critical to email - j.wakhungu@acts.or.ke
the health and prosperity of Kenya.

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 78


Lived experiences: adaptation to climate change
in Gogonyo Sub-County, Pallisa District, Uganda
by Judi W. Wakhungu, Susan Nanduddu,
Elvin Nyukuri & Charles Tonui

Climate change has become a local phen-


omenon just as it is a global one. The
magnitude of climate variability is now being
felt at almost all scales and in all regions
with extreme events such as drought,
excessive rainfall, cold and heat waves, as
well as dry spells affecting much of rural
Africa, Uganda inclusive. Climate change
adaptation has now become indispensable
due to the increasing vulnerability of rural
populations to the associated effects.
Remotely located communities in countries
such as Uganda are likely to be more
vulnerable due to their limited access to
social services, their dependence on natural
resources for their livelihoods, and the
limited opportunity they have to inflence
the policies that affect their lives. Gogonyo
Sub-County in Pallisa District, Eastern
Uganda, represents some of these charac-
teristics and has been affected lately by
droughts, excessive rainfall and dry spells, The project was further responsible for train-
exposing people to hunger to such an ing and awareness campaigns; improved
extent that some food handouts were networking; dissemination of rainwater
distributed in the area. harvesting; energy saving technology;
drought resistant seeds; along with tree
This study was conducted to assess the growing activities.
effects of climate change on rural livelihoods
in Gogonyo with the aim of identifying Produced by:
practical adaptation and mitigation strate- Judi W. Wakhungu, Susan Nanduddu,
gies for the population. The study assesses Elvin Nyukuri & Charles Tonui
Development Network of Indigenous Voluntary Associations
community perceptions on climate (DENIVA), Uganda
change and vulnerability. It also examines www.deniva.or.ug/deniva
the impacts on livelihoods and the socio- email - nanduddu@yahoo.co.uk

economic setup of the Gogonyo sub-county.

Produced by:

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 79


Gender, food insecurity and climate change
amongst pastoral communities: case studies
of Mandera and Turkana in Northern Kenya
by Nancy Omolo

Pastoralists in Kenya earn their livelihoods business as a source of income is now much
in arid and semi-arid lands. The roles, more visible). Most importantly, there is an
relations, responsibilities, opportunities increase in the number of female-headed
and constraints of pastoralists pose households but no evidence in the increase
different challenges to women and men of women decision-making.
because of uneven access and control
of resources. With few studies undertaken
on the impact of climate change and its
consequences, this research focused on
using quantitative and qualitative methods
as well as a multi-dimensional approach
to assess vulnerability.

Using data on pastoralists’ attitudes and


perceptions related to climate change
and variability on food security, it was found
that women’s workloads and the pastoralists
over-reliance on food relief increased
because of climate variability and change. Women’s focus group
Overall, the findings show that there are
changing patterns of settlement (i.e. from Produced by:
nomadism to semi-permanent settlement). Nancy Omolo
University of Kwa Zulu Natal
This has led to a diversification of www.ukzn.ac.za
livelihoods (i.e. turning to agro-pastoralism, email - nancy.omolo@gmail.com
urban employment, fishing and petty

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 80


The role of ecosystems
in adaptation

81
Ecosystem adaptation: What it is and why it is
important to integrate it with community adaptation
by Beth Marshall, Jonathan Cook
& Judy Oglethorpe

At the same time that communities are adaptation holistically, taking into account
experiencing climate change, the natural the needs of both people and nature,
systems on which they depend are also and the close interrelationships between
affected. This is resulting in shifts in the them. This means working at larger scales
abundance and distribution of species than a single community. The failure
which provide communities with natural to mainstream ecosystem adaptation into
resources (e.g. fuelwood, timber, foods community adaptation will risk short-term
and medicinal plants). solutions for people that place increased
pressure on the environment, leading
Ecosystem services such as water supplies, to maladaptation and worsened conditions
crop pollination and protection from for communities in the longer term.
natural disasters are also affected. Natural
systems need to adapt, just as people do. Produced by:
They can achieve this more easily if other Beth Marshall
World Wildlife Fund-UK
stresses like habitat destruction, over-
www.wwf.org.uk
harvesting of resources and pollution are
minimised. But as climate change threatens Judy Oglethorpe & Jonathan Cook
World Wildlife Fund-US
people’s livelihoods in rural areas of the www.worldwildlife.org
developing world, they tend to fall back on email - judy.oglethorpe@wwfus.org
natural systems as a safety net. This can
further impair these systems’ ability to Presented by:
adapt and continue to support human popu- Kit Vaughan
lations. Hence it is very important to plan

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 82


Adaptive mechanisms at community level within
the context of climate change and human-wildlife
interactions in the Mount Kenya environment
by Liz Esiromo

Mount Kenya Forest is one of the largest


and most commercially viable forest areas.
It deserves protection owing to its excep-
tional biodiversity, presence of threatened
species, and as a major water catchment
area which supplies more than 80 percent
of Nairobi water requirements and hydro-
electric power.

Commercial logging continued after gaining


independence in 1963, and demands for
land resulted in excisions being made into empowerment and environmental conserva-
the Forest Reserve, in turn contributing tion management. These community initia-
to substantial degradation of the forest. tives, especially regarding human/wildlife
The Forest Act 2005 has resulted in local interactions, are leading to improved land
participation in forest management between productivity and incomes; and subsequently
government and communities. This project an improved quality of life for communities
began with the premise that poverty in these areas.
is a core driving force for environmental
degradation. An integrated approach Produced by:
addresses issues of current climate change Liz Esiromo
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
and the ways in which communities www.ifad.org
are adapting to these new challenges with email - liz_ammo2002@yahoo.com
regard to water, livelihoods, community

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 83


Effective ecosystem-based adaptation
in Madagascar: existing challenges
and future priorities
by Tiana Ramahaleo & Alison Clausen

Madagascar is a country of exceptional for ecosystems and human communities


biodiversity. Over 5 percent of the world’s will be essential. Ecosystem-based adapta-
species, including a quarter of all primate tion is a promising adaptation strategy
species, are endemic to the island. The for Madagascar.
country’s 20 million inhabitants are predomi-
nantly rural and highly dependent on the The World Wildlife Fund’s Madagascar and
goods and services provided by natural Western Indian Ocean Programme Office
ecosystems. Overexploitation of resources is currently implementing a number
has already had significant effects on of ecosystem-based adaptation activities.
species and ecosystems: approximately Early results from implementation of
90 percent of the original natural forest has these projects, which are amongst the first
been lost, and the habitat that remains is adaptation activities to be implemented
poorly connected; whilst marine ecosystems in Madagascar, have allowed conclusions
suffer from sedimentation and overfishing. to be reached about the key challenges
to effective adaptation, along with the
Historically, the climate has played a central priorities for future adaptation directions.
role in the development of the diversity
found in Madagascar. However, the rate and Produced by:
unpredictability of current climate change Tiana Ramahaleo & Alison Clausen
has the potential to severely disrupt the World Wildlife Fund-Madagascar and Western Indian Ocean
Programme Office
fragile balance between human communities www.madagascar.panda.org
and ecosystems. Coupled with forecasted email - aclausen@wwf.mg
significant population growth, adaptation

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 84


An integrated approach to community-based
adaptation in Nepal
by Moon Shrestha

Since the Climate Change and Energy


Unit started in 2003, climate adaptation
has always been an important component
for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal.
Initially, the programme focused more
on understanding the impacts of climate
change in the Himalayas, examining the
vulnerability of the ecosystem and
local livelihoods. Based on research and
various assessments, WWF Nepal is
piloting community-based adaptation in
its priority area.

Vulnerability is assessed with the use of


scientific data and the use of various
participatory methodologies within the
communities themselves, which proved to
be an effective tool for incorporating
communities’ perceptions and experiences.
Communities are active and at the forefront
of the whole process, from the identification This pilot project has been able to integrate
of adaptation priorities through to their the different components of the climate
implementation. adaptation work of WWF Nepal (such as
hydro-meteorological research, biodiversity
The approach of the pilot project is an and habitat shift studies, livelihood and
integrated one examining the vulnerability fresh water components, policy aspects etc.)
of the communities and the ecosystem. and amalgamate them into one project.
The project has five major components Based on the lessons learned from this
which build the resilience against climate project, WWF Nepal is planning to replicate
impacts: and up-scale this integrated approach into
its priority landscapes.
• Assessing climate data

• Disaster risk reduction Produced by:


Moon Shrestha
• Building the resilience of the communities
World Wildlife Fund-Nepal
www.wwfnepal.org
• Improving climate change policy email - moon.shrestha@wwfnepal.org

• Communication of best practices

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 85


Building resilience to global climate change
within the Mesoamerican Reef
by Nadia Bood

Coral damage - Use stock photo

Pieces of coral removed from the reef are used to form a wall to help protect the foundations
of a church building in Kiribati, Tarawa

Climate change is expected to impact both The World Wildlife Fund has a project under-
natural and human systems, altering the way to foster climate change resilience
productivity and functions of many ecosys- building within both natural and human
tems and human livelihoods around the systems of the Mesoamerican Reef. Major
world; with the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) focus is being placed on assessing
being no exception. For reef and mangrove reef resilience, coral garden exploration,
resource-dependent communities of the mangrove mapping and pilot mangrove
MAR, climate change will compound restoration, coastal community vulnerability
existing vulnerabilities. Heavy dependence assessment, and local based adaptation
on ecosystem services places communities’ exploration, among others. The project has
welfare at the mercy of environmental a holistic approach, addressing the
conditions, such that if the availability and significant and growing threat of climate
quality of these natural resources declines change with an integrated vision. Efforts are
in the MAR, so too will the security of liveli- currently underway in Belize and Honduras.
hoods and other social benefits tied to such
resources. With climate-related impacts Produced by:
already being observed in the MAR, there is Nadia Bood
World Wildlife Fund-Central America
an urgent need for adaptive response www.wwfca.org
measures to build resilience to climate email - nbood@wwfca.org

driven threats.

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 86


Mainstreaming
community-based
adaptation within
disaster risk reduction

87
Building resilience to climate related shocks
in the Greater Horn of Africa
by Mark Gordon & Hans Vikoler

The Greater Horn of Africa (HoA) has been


increasingly affected by recurring droughts
and flooding since the beginning of the new
millennium. The most recent of these events
was the HoA crisis in 2008/2009, which
affected over 21 million people in this region.

Traditional livelihoods in the HoA have devel-


oped over centuries allowing households
to adapt to specific environments; and a key
factor in determining these livelihoods is
the climate regime within which a household
is located. Historically, the HoA has been
affected by a major drought every 10 years.
Although destructive, the ensuing interval develop livelihood assets. These include
allowed farmers, agro-pastoralists and irrigation ditches; rainwater harvesting weirs;
pastoralists to recover and develop resilience water catchment points; and hill slope
for the next event. However, since the end recovery and stabilization. These assets
of the 20th century, more pronounced strengthen household and community
climate variability has meant the increasing resilience to the recurrent climate related
frequency of droughts and flooding, eroding shocks, which are likely to further intensify
household recovery and resilience. in the coming decades.

In the Greater HoA, vulnerable and food Produced by:


insecure communities/households in part- Mark Gordon & Hans Vikoler
World Food Programme (WFP)
nership with the World Food Programme, www.wfp.org
government and non-government organisa- email - Mark.Gordon@wfp.org
tions, engage in food for asset activities that

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 88


Building an independent participatory
monitoring process for climate adaptation
and disaster risk reduction
by Marcus Oxley

Bridging the gap between international and


national policy aspirations and the realities
of policy execution at the local level is
the greatest challenge to building resilient
communities. It requires an impartial
local-level policy monitoring process that
can deliver the following:

• An independent overview of progress


at the local level

• A credible evidence-base to link policy


and practice

• Local baselines to measure


future progress

• Strengthened public accountability for Vulnerability/capacity assessments with


policy execution local people

• Open political space for policy dialogue Accordingly, in the next phase it should
between different stakeholders be possible to bring together a truly global
• Consensus and trust between actors alliance of disaster risk reduction, environ-
(social capital) mental and development civil society
organisations in a collaborative venture.
• Increased awareness and understanding
of policy and practice This could provide a means to impartially
• Increased “social demand” for appropriate measure progress towards building
resilience building the resilience of communities that would
serve to connect measurable outputs and
• Increased transparency and domestic outcomes at sub-national level, with
accountability (increases political measurable inputs at the national and
commitment) and international levels ahead of the 2012
• Enhanced local research, analytical, post-Kyoto agreement.
monitoring and advocacy capacities.
Produced by:
Recent experiences gained in local monitor- Marcus Oxley
ing of national risk reduction policies are of Global Network of Civil Society Organisations
for Disaster Reduction
direct relevance to building climate-resilience www.globalnetwork-dr.org
given that there is close convergence of email - Marcus.oxley@globalnetwork-dr.org
these issues at the household level.

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 89


Climate-smart disaster risk management: the
Strengthening Climate Resilience and Africa Climate
Change Resilience Alliance Programme of work
by Katie Harris, Alemayehu Konde,
Mohamed Adow & Alphonce Katunzi

The Strengthening Climate Resilience by governments and civil society organisa-


(SCR) project, in partnership with the tions to see what can be inferred about
African Climate Change Resilience Alliance climate resilience. Both consortia are
(ACCRA), seeks to increase resilience to working in East Africa through a number
climate change amongst vulnerable people of partner agencies.
by enhancing the ability of governments
and civil society organisations to manage Both the SCR and ACCRA programmes
disaster risk and uncertainties more will be conducting field research, holding
effectively. The two consortia are working consultations and knowledge-sharing
together to develop a framework which events to identify an evidence-base of
will allow them to assess and collect policies, projects and programmes that
evidence of where disaster risk manage- highlight the benefits and trade-offs
ment interventions contribute to climate involved with integrating climate change
resilience, before going on to use this adaptation, disaster risk management
evidence to advocate for changes in and other development approaches.
practice and policy. In this context, the
framework will identify characteristics and
indicators of climate-smart disaster risk Produced by:
management, while bearing in mind the Katie Harris
Institute of Development Studies
following question: what do disaster risk www.ids.ac.uk
managers, linked practitioners and policy- email - k.harris@ids.ac.uk
makers working across all development
Alemayehu Konde
sectors need to do differently considering Plan International Tanzania
the impacts of climate change? www.plan-international.org/where-we-work/africa/Tanzania

Mohamed Adow
As a first step, the project has begun to Christian Aid, Kenya
develop the concept of ‘climate-smart www.christianaid.org.uk/whatwedo/africa/kenya.aspx
disaster risk management’, and the ACCRA
Alphonce Katunzi
consortia will be looking at a range of Inades, Tanzania
disaster risk management and development www.inadesfo.net/spip.php?rubrique19
interventions used with communities and

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 90


How communities are preparing to face the
challenges of climate risk and disaster risk
by Provash Mondal

Vietnam is highly vulnerable to climate


change and is regularly affected by
disasters, especially typhoons, floods and
landslides. Oxfam is facilitating commu-
nity-based adaptation and risk reduction
activities in the most vulnerable provinces
to sea-level rise, warmer temperatures,
unpredicted rain and disasters.

People are working together to develop


community-based adaptation plans using
Participatory Capacity and Vulnerability rescue and evacuation, contingency
Analysis tools, and methodologies to adapt planning, monitoring and evaluation, gender
to the new challenges of climate change and humanitarian issues, standards and
and related disasters. They have identified accountability, and humanitarian needs
specific measures for improving vulnerable assessment.
livelihoods by introducing disaster and
salinity resistant crops, extension services, Many disaster prone communities are
early warning systems, water supply systems, capable of preparing themselves to live with
improving public health knowledge, as well disasters. Oxfam’s experiences have been
as empowering women through improving considered to improve the local govern-
income generation and community ments’ disaster risk reduction and adapta-
forestation activities. tion plans.

Communities are in the process of improv- Produced by:


ing their capacities to respond to the emer- Provash Mondal
gencies and live with adverse climate by Oxfam, Vietnam
www.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam_in_action/where_we_work/
participating in Information Education and vietnam.html
Communication (IEC) events, and training email - pmondal@oxfam.org.uk
courses on early warning, swimming,

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 91


Community-based
adaptation
methodologies

92
Climate change and environmental degradation
risk and adaptation assessment: a new tool for
climate risk assessment and adaptation
by Oenone Chadburn

Climate change and Environmental Degra- reduction as well as general development


dation Risk and Adaptation Assessment NGOs will find CEDRA useful. CEDRA is
(CEDRA) is an environmental field tool for designed, ideally, to be used by people who
agencies working in developing countries. are experienced in planning and manag-
It helps agencies working in developing ing development projects. This is a tool
countries to access and understand the endorsed by the United States Agency for
science of climate change and environmental International Development (USAID) and a
degradation, and compare this with local number of other international aid agencies.
community experience of environmental
change. It is a logical guide to finding out
what climate change projections exist for
a specific country or district; reviewing the
resilience of programmes of work across all
sectors; and deciding, in consultation with
a sample of communities, how to adjust the
programmes in order to make them more re-
silient to climate and environmental change.

Using CEDRA, civil society organisations


can prioritise which environmental
hazards may pose a risk to their existing
project locations, thus enabling them to
make decisions to adapt some projects, Diverse planting in Ethiopia
stop doing some projects, or start new ones.
Adaptation options are discussed, and Produced by:
decision-making tools are provided to help Oenone Chadburn
Tearfund
organisations plan their responses to
www.tearfund.org
the hazards identified. Non-government email - Oenone.chadburn@tearfund.org
organisations working in disaster disk

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 93


The impacts of climate change and possible
adaptation activities: a case study in the
Lower Rufiji, Tanzania
by Alfei Daniel, Jessica Campese
& Doyi Mazenzele

Lower Rufiji is exposed to the impacts of


climate change: floods, droughts and
strong winds are the main climate hazards.
The livelihoods include farming, fishing
and beekeeping. Livelihood resources,
especially natural resources (like land, water,
forests, etc) are severely impacted by
these hazards.

A climate change vulnerability assessment


was undertaken in four villages of lower
Rufiji (Nyamwage, Nyamwimbe, Nyaminywili
and Mtanzamsona), using the community-
based Risk Screening Tool-Adaptations The list of revised coping strategies that
and Livelihoods. During the assessment, translated into adaptation measures
community representatives identified includes: promoting conservation farming;
some coping strategies that are used for construction of permanent water sources;
climate change hazards. They included improving hygiene and sanitation; planting
gathering and eating wild fruits and roots, of trees around/along waters sources, farms
water rationing, supplementary feed to bees, and settlements; establishing an irrigation
temporary settlements, use of traditional system; and entrepreneurial training. The
medicine, water rationing, income diversifi- assessment highlights the substantial time
cation, etc. However, most of the strategies and resources needed for implementing
had limited success or were not sustain- the adaptation measures.
able in the face of long-term climate change
impacts. This demonstrated a need to Produced by:
revise coping strategies into adaptation Alfei Daniel, Jessica Campese & Doyi Mazenzele
IUCN Climate Change and Development Project (CCDP)
activities that are both functional and www.iucn.org
sustainable to the long-term impacts of email - Alfei.daniel@iucn.org
climate change.

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 94


Participatory forest management process:
a case study from Northern Malawi
by Jando Nkhwazi

Participatory Forestry Management Planning will be retained by the Village Natural


Process allows rural communities to manage Resource Management Committee and
the forest resources, thus fostering owner- disposed of in accordance with its
ship and sustainable utilisation. This enables constitution and by-laws.
communities to formulate their own by-laws
and sign agreements with governments as
a bond of recognition, ensuring sustainable
use of forest areas.

Since 2001, Rural Foundation for


Afforestation, has been working with rural
communities to implement sustainable
afforestation programmes. It has been
observed that community ownership of
the initiatives is the best way to deal with
environmental problems. The research
demonstrates why it is so important to
involve rural communities in conservation
practices, who have often been ignored
during the policy-making process.

The conclusion of a Forest Management


Agreement will grant the community in Example of a map drawn by communities
question the authority to license commercial
forestry activities within its Village Forest
Area (VFA), so long as these activities are Produced by:
consistent with the forest management Jando Nkhwazi
Rural Foundation for Afforestation (RUFA),
plan. Revenues arising from the licensing Malawi
of commercial forestry activities by a Village email - rufa@africa-online.net
Natural Resource Management Committee

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 95


Conservation-based adaptation plans in vulnerable
ecosystems of Andean-Amazon landscapes
by Luis Germán Naranjo

The Eastern Cordillera Real contains the and the Güiza basin in Nariño Province in
source of the Amazon River and the head- southern Colombia, populated by indig-
waters of important tributaries such enous communities.
as the Caquetá, Putumayo, Napo, Pastaza,
Santiago and Chinchipe Rivers. The com- Based on participatory vulnerability assess-
munities living in these mountains are ments at the watershed scale combined
highly dependent on the provision of goods with Global Information System (GIS)
and services from the high elevation modelling of climate, biological and socio-
grasslands (páramos) and the cloud forests economic variables at the regional scale,
of the Andean slopes which currently face we estimated climate change vulnerability
the exacerbation of major threats due to indexes that guided the participatory design
alterations of local weather brought about of local and regional adaptation plans.
by regional and global climate change.
Similar situations have been identified
in other watersheds of the Northern Andes Produced by:
such as the coffee-growing mountainous Luis Germán Naranjo
World Wildlife Fund-Colombia
region of the Quindío, Risaralda, Caldas and www.wwf.org.co
Tolima Provinces inhabited mostly by farm- email - Ignaranjo@wwf.org.co
ing communities; and the Chiles community

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 96


Participatory video monitoring and evaluation
work in Kenya and Zimbabwe through the
community-based adaptation programme
by Isabelle Lemaire

Now that video tools are easily accessible


and affordable, organisations have been
able to cheaply, quickly and effectively
communicate lessons from the field and
help to share adaptation strategies.
Community-based adaptation videos aim
to spread these adaptation stories across
communities, organisations and nations.
The template ensures that the necessary
information is told within each film, and
that their production remains accessible
to most organisations.

It is not easy to gauge and communicate


the effect that a programme has had
on the lives of beneficiaries. Those best
positioned to explore and convey these Participatory Video M&E pilot projects
messages are the beneficiaries themselves in Kenya and Zimbabwe
– they are trusted sources and can speak
about first-hand impacts and outcomes.
For this reason, Participatory Video adds Produced by:
value, encourages iterative learning, Isabelle Lemaire
InsightShare
and explores qualitative data often missed www.insightshare.org
through traditional Monitoring and email - ilemaire@insightshare.org
Evaluations (M&E) methods.

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 97


Funding
community-based
adaptation

98
Making the Adaptation Fund
work for the most vulnerable
by Sven Harmeling

For many of the world’s poorer countries, developing countries in order to address
adaptation to climate change is now an the issue of ownership. It also has an
essential priority rather than an option. This innovative funding mechanism whereby
paper aims to establish the link between fund revenues are obtained primarily from
community-based adaptation and the a 2% share in the proceeds from the Kyoto
development of the Adaptation Fund under Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism
the Kyoto Protocol. project activities. And lastly, a focus on
the most vulnerable communities with
Unlike many other funds such as the transparent policies.
Least Developed Countries Fund and the
Special Climate Change Fund under the Produced by:
United Nations (UN) Framework Convention by Sven Harmeling
on Climate Change, the Adaptation Fund Germanwatch
www.germanwatch.org
falls under the Kyoto Protocol. Some of the email - harmeling@germanwatch.org
unique features of the fund include direct
access, which aims to simplify and Presented by:
accelerate the process by which resources Alpha Kaloga
for adaptation flow to developing countries. Germanwatch
There is majority representation from

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 99


Lessons and future outlook from the
United Nations Development Programme
by Delfin Ganapin

The United Nations Development Programme


has been running and testing methodologies
for effective community-based adaptation
for many years through the Small Grants
Programme (SGP). In the last 21 months,
there has been the systematic piloting of
Global Empowerment Facility (GEF) -
supported CBA projects in ten countries.

Last year the SGP also launched a Mekong


and Asia-Pacific CBA Programme with
AusAID support. Lessons arising from these
programs that include: effective measures
for increasing the adaptive capacities of
communities; influencing national policies; CBA Programme with AusAID in Mekong
networking amongst member countries and
practitioners; sharing and replication will also be discussed and materials shared.
of knowledge and good practices globally, Further, plans of the United Nations Devel-
will be shared. The Vulnerability Reduction opment Programme focusing on scaling up
Assessment methodology, project develop- financial support for CBA including a Global
ment and approval processes, monitoring Partnership on CBA involving United Nations
and evaluation scheme will be discussed agencies and civil society with support
and their potential replication by other part- from the private sector and foundations will
ners explored. be presented.

Current programmatic achievements, Produced by:


networks and knowledge products already Delfin Ganapin
UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme
in use will be highlighted. Gender www.sgp.undp.org
mainstreaming activities and practices using email - delfin.ganapin@undp.org

successful case studies across regions

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 100


The UK’s Department for International
Development support for adaptation
to climate change
by Andrew Clayton

STOCK PHOTO

The UK’s Department for International some of the key challenges for DFID in
Development (DFID) offers strong support providing more effective support to
for adaptation to climate change at a community-based adaptation and our
national level. Activities include resourcing lessons learned.
and capacity building for national govern-
ments, as well as DFID mechanisms for
supporting civil society. This paper will Produced by:
reflect on lessons for adaptation from DFID’s Andrew Clayton
Department for International Development (DFID)
experiences in sustainable livelihoods,
www.dfid.gov.uk
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and social email - A-Clayton@dfid.gov.uk
protection. The work will also highlight

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 101


Photography: The images used to illustrate the
various abstracts in this publication, were all
sourced from the original CBA presentaions.
All other images were supplied by friends and
associates of IIED.

Title pages

© Espen Rasmussen © Bui Hoa Tien © Marie Monimart © Espen Rasmussen © David Sandison

© Espen Rasmussen © Marie Monimart © Liz Carlile © Isabelle Lemaire © Espen Rasmussen

© Espen Rasmussen © Sarah Henson © Espen Rasmussen © David Sandison © Camilla Toulmin

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 102


Text pages

© Isabelle Lemaire © Hannah Reid © Hannah Reid © Hannah Reid

© Hannah Reid © Hannah Reid © Corinne Schoch © Corinne Schoch

© Corinne Schoch © Camilla Toulmin © Jocelyn Carlin © Nguyen Thanh Hai


Panos Pictures

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 103


Other IIED climate change publications

Assessing the costs Climate change adaptation Development and Climate.


of adaptation to climate in developing countries: A collection of short films
change: A critique of issues and perspectives
This DVD showcases a selection of
the UNFCCC estimates for economic analysis films screened during the Develop-
Martin Parry, Nigel Arnell, Muyeye Chambwera, ment and Climate Film Festival at the
Pam Berry, David Dodman, Jesper Stage UNFCCC COP in Copenhagen,
Samuel Fankhauser, December 2009. The film festival
Chris Hope, Sari Kovats, This paper is intended to provide some provides a platform for amateur and
Robert Nicholls, guidance to the policy-oriented independent filmmakers from around
David Sattherwaite, researchers’ work on valuing climate the world to showcase short films on
Richard Tiffin, Tim Wheeler change adaptation in developing issues relating to climate change.
countries. The objective of this paper They raise awareness, share ideas,
This book takes another look at the is to develop a framework for analysing and convey important messages
costs of adapting to climate change. the costs and benefits of climate in a creative and engaging way. The
The estimates for 2030 used by the change adaptation in developing films cover topics such as adaptation,
UN Framework Convention on Climate countries and the specific contexts in impacts, REDD, and technology -
Change are likelyto be substantial which these could be applied in across Africa, Asia and South America.
underestimates. The authors press the potential IIED work on the economics
case that there is an urgent need for of adaptation. 2010, Free, Order No. 10025IIED,
more detailed assessments of these email: newbooks@iied.org
costs, including case studies of 2010, ISBN 978-1-84369-775-6,
costs of adaptation in specific places 40pp, US$20.00
and sectors. This report aims to Order No. 15517IIED
demonstrate the need for the further
and transparent refinement of
cost estimates for responding to
climate change.

2009, ISBN 978-1-84369-745-9,


111pp, US$40.00
Order No.15516IIED

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 104


Other worlds are possible Where does the carbon Community-based
Human progress in an age footprint fall? adaptation to climate change
of climate change Developing a carbon map Hannah Reid, Mozaharul Alam, Rachel
Andrew Simms, Victoria Johnson, of food production Berger, Terry Cannon, Angela Milligan
Michael Edwards, Working group on Katharina Plassmann,
Climate Change and Development This special issue of Participatory
Gareth Edwards-Jones Learning and Action (PLA 60) focuses
Other Worlds are Possible describes on community-based, participatory
The concept of local food is appealing approaches to climate change
how the costs and benefits of global to many consumers. But it is difficult to
economic growth have been unfairly adaptation which build on the priorities,
define what actually constitutes local knowledge, and capacities of local
distributed, with those on lowest food. Given the globalised nature
incomes getting the fewest benefits people. It discusses how community-
of agricultural markets, bread baked based approaches to climate change
and paying the highest costs. A wide in a small village bakery in England
range of examples of more positive have emerged, and the similarities
may be made from grain grown and differences between community-
approaches are given from the wide, in Canada. This report advances the
practical experience of the agencies based adaptation (CBA) and other
discussion about defining the local participatory development and disaster
in the coalition. Altogether they paint by examining the geographical location
a picture of more qualitative develop- risk reduction approaches. It highlights
of greenhouse gas emissions along the innovative participatory methods which
ment that is not dependent on further supply chains upstream of two case
global are developing to help communities
study farms in the UK. The resulting analyse the causes and effects of
over-consumption by the already carbon map illustrates the amount
rich, in the hope that crumbs of poverty climate change, integrate scientific
and location of the GHG emissions and community knowledge of climate
alleviation are perhaps passed to related to the provision of inputs
those at the bottom of the income pile. change, and plan adaptation measures.
and on-farm processes, and enables Whilst CBA is a relatively new field,
characterization of the ‘localness’ some lessons and challenges are
2009, ISBN 978-1-904882 67 1, of the two farm systems.
64pp, US$20.00, beginning to emerge, including
Order No. 10022IIED how to integrate disaster risk reduction,
2009, ISBN 978-1-84369-751-0, livelihoods and climate change
41pp, US$15.00, adaptation work, climate change
Order No. 16023IIED knowledge gaps, issues around
the type and quality of participation,
and the need for policies and institutions
that support CBA.

2009, ISBN 978-1-84369-729-9,


224pp, US $32.00
Order No. 14573IIED
Free download at -
http://pubs.iied.org/14573IIED.html
Also available in Arabic at -
http://pubs.iied.org/G02730.html

Fourth International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, 2010 105


Sponsors of the Fourth International Conference
on Community-based Adaptation 2010

Adaptation

Community Champions: Adapting to Climate Challenges 106


The Climate Change Group at the International Institute for Environment and Development
has been leading the field on issues relating to adaptation to climate change since
its inception as a discrete programme in 2001. Climate change disproportionately affects
the poorest people in the world, who not only have the least capacity to respond and adapt
to its impacts, but are historically the least responsible for its causes. In conjunction
with partner organisations in industrialised and poor nations, the group seeks to improve
the lives of the poorest communities in developing countries who are exposed to
increasingly severe and unpredictable weather events that can devastate communities,
destroy livelihoods and exacerbate poverty.

The International Institute for Environment and Development is a global leader in sustainable
development. As an independent international research organisation, we are specialists
in linking local to global. In Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Central and South America,
the Middle East and the Pacific, we work with some of the world’s most vulnerable people to
ensure they have a say in the policy arenas that most closely affect them — from village councils
to international conventions. Through close collaboration with partners at the grassroots,
we make our research and advocacy relevant to their needs and alive to their realities.

International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)


3 Endsleigh Street
London
WC1H 0DD
United Kingdom

ISBN: 978-1-84369-799-2

Você também pode gostar