Adaptation in Eastern and Southern Africa Supporting ground level and policy change Jo-Ellen Parry, Program Manager
Project Background Integrating Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change into Sustainable Development Policy Planning and Implementation in Eastern and Southern Africa Goal: To reduce the vulnerability of communities to the impacts of climate change, thereby improving their well-being and protecting their livelihoods Objective: To promote the mainstreaming or integration of vulnerability and adaptation to climate change into sustainable development plans and planning processes through demonstration projects in Kenya, Mozambique and Rwanda
Conceptual Framework Anticipated Outcomes Generate capacity to implement adaptation measures in the field Increase capacity to generate and use information about climate change to affect change in relevant development policies Increase knowledge of the links between development planning and climate change POLICY FIELD TESTING Up- Scaling Down- Scaling
Project Partners Project Management Team Funders National Implementation Organizations Kenya: Centre for Science and Technology Innovations with the Arid Lands Resource Management Program Mozambique: AMBERO-IP with GTZ Rwanda: Kigali Institute for Science and Technology Observer Countries: Tanzania and Madagascar Time Period: 2005 to 2009
Kenya Pilot Project Responding to Drought in Makueni District Objectives To increase household food security by enhancing the resilience of local agricultural practices to drought To reduce poverty through improved livelihoods To facilitate integration of adaptation to climate change into Kenya’s National Disaster Management Policy Activities Downscaling and communicating climate forecasts Improving agronomic practices Enhancing water conservation activities Merry-go-round credit scheme Outcomes to date Increased agricultural output Replication in other districts expected Draft National Disaster Management Policy
Mozambique Pilot Project Community-base Fire Management in Sofala Province Objectives To reduce vulnerability to forest fires exacerbated by climate change To promote the inclusion of vulnerability to climate change considerations into relevant policies and strategies in Mozambique Activities Introduce community-based preventive measures for wild land fire management Establish a provincial round table for the coordination of wild land fire management Acceptance of community-based fire management strategy by district decision makers, creating a model for national policies Outcomes to date Training provided in fire suppression, prevention, preparedness, fighting and management Provincial round table established to coordinate the collection and sharing of information
Rwanda Pilot Project Reducing Vulnerability in the Hydroelectric Sector Objectives: To restore and protect the watersheds supporting Rwanda’s hydroelectric sector while improving the livelihoods of local communities To integrate climate change considerations into the management and operation of Rwanda’s hydroelectric power plants To promote the integration of vulnerability and adaptation to climate change into energy and sustainable development plans and processes Activities: Watershed level: soil conservation measures; income diversification; improved water access; sustainable energy access Hydropower stations: maintenance training; climate scenario awareness Policy engagement: workshops; advice; guidance documents Outcomes to date: Established erosion control structures; tree nurseries; beekeeping associations; rainwater catchment tanks; improved cookstoves
Regional Level Activities Regional team meetings Regional meeting with policy makers Technical assistance Networking and communications
Observations Lessons learned Need for enhanced access to climate data at the local level Importance of agriculture improvements for vulnerability reduction Challenges Climate change projections Capacity variances Regional coordination