SBSTA_20: In-session Adaptation Workshop Session 4. Solutions and opportunities: exchange of practical experiences Presentation Title: Strategies for Increasing Human Resilience in Sudan: Lessons for Climate Change Adaptation In the Sahelian Africa By: Nagmeldin Elhassan on behalf of AF14 project _SUDAN

Overview Rationale and Motivations Sudan AF14 Project: Overview Project Goal Major objectives Methodology: Research Goal Research Approach Research Scope Bara case study: Overview What happened? Results? Conclusions

Rationale and Motivations Urgent adaptation needs of most vulnerable groups Increase current coping capacity through adaptation Existence of local coping strategies and lessons from other disciplines (e.g., sustainable livelihoods, disaster mitigation, natural resource management); potential for integration Developing Countries in need of SD-consistent adaptation strategies Many no-regrets options and co-benefits exist But, disconnect between community needs and policy process

Sudan AF14: Overview Sudan AF14 project: Strategies for Increasing Human Resilience in Sudan : Lessons for Climate Change Adaptation in the Sahelian Africa One of the 24 regional studies of AIACC: Global Assessment of Impacts and Adaptation to Climate Change in multiple regions and sectors AIACC sponsor by GEF, with collateral funding from USAID,CIDA, US EPA and the WB. And implemented by UNEP and executed by START and TWAS Partners: Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources (HCENR) in Sudan and Stockholm Environment Institute Boston Center (SEI-Boston)

Sudan AF14: Project Goal by documenting cases of effective community- based adaptive capacity (AC) building and sharing lessons on why these cases were effective and how to support similar activity. To support the process of climate change adaptation to effectively respond to the needs of vulnerable communities Villagers from drought-affected area of Northern Sudan (USAID)

Sudan AF14: Major Objectives Strengthen capacity of national actors in Sudan (and surrounding countries) to respond to climate change Provide decision makers with most current information on SL/NRM strategies that can increase the AC of vulnerable communities. Share lessons for promoting climate change adaptation with the research, planning, policy- making, communities etc. Enhance and expand regional collaboration in the areas of EM, disaster mitigation and climate change adaptation

Methodology: Research Goals Measure impact of successful SL projects (change in AC pre- and post-project) Identify policies, institutions and processes that support or inhibit SL activities (enabling factors at different scales) Generate guidance for using the SL framework as an adaptation assessment tool Generate lessons for pro-poor adaptation policy, planning and implementation

Methodology: Research Approach  Climate variability and extremes as climate change proxy  Sustainable livelihoods framework and assessment tools  “ Successful ” AC-building experiences  Targeted participation  Indicators  Policy Process analysis of micro-macro linkages

3 or 4 case studies of successful SL projects in drought-prone communities 2 major elements per case study:  Project impact assessment (fieldwork): Has the project succeeded in building community adaptive capacity? In what ways? To what effect?  Policy/institutional analysis: What enabling factors account for project success? What policies, conditions, etc. (micro, meso, macro-scale) are behind successful experiences? How can these be built upon/encouraged? Methodology: Research Scope

Bara case study: Overview Context: Villages in the drought-prone Bara Province, Western Sudan Approach: Community-Based Rangeland Rehabilitation Two main development objectives: –Create locally sustainable NRM system to rehabilitate overexploited lands. –Reduce the risk of production failure by increasing the number of livelihood alternatives … leading to greater local stability Key Actors: Villages within Gireigikh rural council, pilot project staff, UNDP/GEF

Bara case study: What happened? A group of villages undertook a package of SL measures. These included: Institution Building Training and capacity building Rangeland Rehabilitation –Replanting –Stabilization of sand dunes –Creation of windbreaks –Livestock restocking and management Community Development –Water development –Rural energy management –Introduction of revolving credit –Drought contingency planning

Results: Natural Resources (natural capital) Rangeland improved in area, and the grazing allotment system introduced by the project improved the quality and diversity of rangeland, and hence its forage production (carrying capacity) Livestock improved in number and productivity particularly the sheep which is most adapted to the type of rangeland in the area Land use system become more adapted, more land allocated as grazing allotments at the expense of marginal land cultivation Access by marginal groups improved particularly to grazing allotments

Results : Financial Resources (financial capital) Access to credits (revolving funds and local banking system) improved More diversity of income sources (livestock, women gardens, poultry, small industries etc) Access to market very much improved, local market linked to national and regional markets (favored by supportive policy) Average income improved in level and stability More information become available and people learned how to use information for marketing and planning purposes

Results: Infrastructure (Physical capital) Water infrastructure improved, water harvesting systems and water pumps more water made available for household and irrigation purposes Food storage improved in capacity and quality (grains stores, grains mills) Mud building instead of using natural vegetation Improved stoves introduced and adopted Women gardens, Grazing allotments, veterinary pharmacy etc

Results: Human Resources (human and social capitals) Number of trained skilled people increased in areas of planning, NRM, veterinary, human health service, pumps and mills maintenance etc (high level of awareness). Education, human health and veterinary services improved Food production and quality improved (women gardens) Efficient Local institutions well recognized and able to mobilize community and to carry on interventions (natural resources, drought, revolving funds, coordination and other committees) Marginal groups are well represented in committees and participating in decision making Traditional leaders support the committees

Results: Sustainability and Risks concerns Number of migrating tribes attracted by the resources in the project area, they come along with their animals lack of clear land use and land tenure policies, lack of rangeland legislation and lack of proper coordination between the people and the rangeland administration. Committees lack adequate financial and logistical resources which affect their performance Need for political recognition and support Migration of trained people to work in towns and irrigated schemes

Conclusions  Adaptations to current climate risks are generally consistent with adapting to future climate change  Immediate actions on AC building and enhancement of current coping capacity are necessary to reduce vulnerability to current climate-related risks and climate change.  Adaptive capacity (AC) can improve where people have better access to resource, market, technology, information, social service, high level of awareness, skills, security, strong institutions and effective organizations  National policy processes and SD planning need to integrate AC building and adaptation strategies at the community level

Conclusions  Adaptation concept and practice will evolve overtime when more information on practical experience become available (but we need to start learning by doing now)  Effective mechanisms for information exchange and sharing of experiences are highly needed to advance knowledge and actions on adaptation  Need to identify and share lessons from successful community-based AC-building experience – both autonomous and project-based (AF-14 project goal).  Need to understanding the processes, priorities and dynamics of local communities before formulating practical adaptation strategies

Thank You