Southern Africa / Afrique australe
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Item Local participation in decentralized water governance : insights from north-central Namibia(Springer, 2020-08-20) Hegga, Salma; Kunamwene, Irene; Ziervogel, GinaThe study analysis reveals that decentralized governance of water resources can be ineffective if governments do not allocate sufficient resources to support and enable local governance systems. In southern Africa, community-based management of natural resources has expanded in line with governments’ stated intentions of increasing local participation and ownership. Their capacities to contribute meaningfully to decentralized water management, as well as the presence of enabling institutional arrangements and financial resources, are limited. Achieving greater equity and efficiency in the water sector while reducing climate risk will require that local actors receive more support in return for fuller and more effective participation.Item Can climate information salvage livelihoods in arid and semiarid lands? : an evaluation of access, use and impact in Namibia(Elsevier Ltd, 2020-08-04) Gitonga, Zachary M.; Visser, Martine; Mulwa, ChalmersThe study evaluates the impact of climate information on adaptive capacity and food security. The survey of 653 households showed that half of the households receiving climate information rated it as insufficient for decision-making, and relied on traditional knowledge. The main channels were radio and farmer’s peers, but trust was low. Effective response to climate information for risk mitigation will require enhanced community awareness of available adaptive choices, development of market value chains, institutional support like extension services, and improvement of rural road and communication infrastructure.Item Building transformative capacity in southern Africa : surfacing knowledge and challenging structures through participatory vulnerability and risk assessments(SAGE Publications, 2019) Morchain, Daniel; Spear, Dian; Ziervogel, Gina; Masundire, Hillary; Angula, Margaret N.; Davies, Julia; Molefe, Chandapiwa; Hegga, SalmaParticipatory assessments that recognise the social roots of vulnerability are critical in helping individuals and institutions rethink their understanding of, and responses to climate change impacts. This paper interrogates the contribution of Oxfam’s ‘Vulnerability and Risk Assessment’ methodology to enabling transformation at both personal and institutional levels. Capacity building should not be exclusively understood as, or aimed solely at building technical skills; leadership and process facilitation skills are key elements. The assessments take an initial step towards collaboratively identifying transformation pathways in development practices through adaptation responses.Item Planning for climate change in the semi-arid regions of Southern Africa - June 2015(Adaptation at Scale in semi-arid Regions (ASSAR), 2015-06)Semi-arid areas in Southern Africa are characterised by high rainfall variability, frequent droughts, low soil moisture and extreme events such as flash floods. These conditions provide the foundation of vulnerability of communities in these areas. It is therefore essential to understand how to enhance the ability of communities, local organisations and governments in Southern Africa to adapt to climate change in a way that minimises vulnerability and promotes long-term resilience.Item Participatory Action Adaptation: Tools for increasing climate change capacity and preparedness at the local government level(2011) Fairhurst, Lucinda; Roswell, Priscilla; Chihumbiri, FaithThis paper describes some tools developed by the ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives-Local Governments for Sustainability)- Africa team, that are being used in Southern Africa to develop and increase capacity around the complexities pertaining to climate change. Extreme climatic events and variability impact local governments and the day-to-day activities and services they provide to their communities. Tools include training about climate change impacts, both direct and indirect, and prioritization of vulnerability along with adaptive response, helping to identify local climatic risks with locally appropriate adaptation options to increase the resilience of African local governments and communities.Item Review of phytoplankton dynamics in tropical African lakes(AOSIS OpenJournals, 2010) Ndebele-Murisa, Mzime R.; Musil, Charles F.; Raitt, LincolnThis paper provides a synthesis of current knowledge on phytoplankton production, seasonality, and stratification in tropical African lakes and considers the effects of nutrient enrichment and the potential impacts of climate warming on phytoplankton production and composition. Tropical African lakes are especially sensitive to climate warming as they experience wide fluctuations in the thermocline over a narrow range of high water temperatures. Recent climate warming has reduced phytoplankton biomass and production in the lakes. A decline in the production of palatable chlorophytes and an increase in cyanobacteria has led to reduced zooplankton production and a consequent decline in fish stocks, all of which can be associated with the elevated water temperatures. This indicates that even moderate climate warming may destabilise phytoplankton dynamics in tropical African lakes, thereby reducing water quality and food resources for planktivorous fish, with consequent negative impacts on human livelihoods.Item Decline of Kapenta fish stocks in Lake Kariba : a case of climate changing?(Taylor & Francis, 2011) Ndebele-Murisa, Mzime Regina; Mashonjowa, Emmanuel; Hill, TrevorThis paper analyzes a 44-year data set of climate and lake water levels and a 29-year record of Kapenta fish stocks in Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe, in order to examine the relationships between environmental factors and determine whether they exert any influence on the Kapenta fish stocks. Changes in lake thermal properties have negatively affected plankton production and nutrient levels. The study brings a wealth of new knowledge to the understanding of the ecosystem from an ecological perspective, which can be used as part of an integrated water resources management framework.Item Competing use of organic resources, village-level interactions between farm types and climate variability in a communal area of NE Zimbabwe(Elsevier, 2011) Rufino, M.C.; Dury, J.; P. Tittonell; Wijk, M.T. van; Herrero, M.Addition of crop residues or animal manure is needed to sustain agricultural production on inherently poor soils. This study assesses the effect of village-level interactions on carbon and nutrient flows, exploring their impact on long-term productivity of different farm types under climate variability. Increasing mineral fertiliser-use concurrently with keeping crop residues in fertile fields and allocating manure to poor fields, may boost crop and cattle productivity at village level. In communal areas of NE Zimbabwe, feed resources are collectively managed, with herds grazing on grasslands during the rainy season and on crop residues during the dry season.Item Building adaptive capacity to cope with increasing vulnerability due to climate change : final technical report - Zimbabwe (30 September 2010)(Midlands State University, Gweru, ZW, 2010) Mugabe, F.T.; Munodawafa, A.; Dimes, J.; Nanja, D.H.; Carberry, P.Baseline data to describe cropping system and management under current climate variability and farmer perceptions about climate change across 4 districts of Zimbabwe and Zambia was collected and analyzed. Indigenous knowledge of climate and indicators to seasonal conditions were also documented and compared with scientific forecasts. Prediction of seasonal climate was consistent with that from the meteorological department. Seven workshops were held to educate farmers and extension agents on interpretation of the Seasonal Climate Forecast (SCF) and explore together its application in making cropping decisions. Management options in response to the SCF were then tested in participatory on-farm trials.Item Lack of resilience in African smallholder farming : exploring measures to enhance the adaptive capacity of local communities to pressure climate change : final technical report - Zimbabwe (October 2010)(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, University of Zimbabwe, Harare ZW, 2010) Mapfumo, Paul; Chikowo, Regis; Mtambanengwe, FlorenceThe project worked with smallholder farming communities to identify opportunities for enhancing the capacity of different households to meet their staple food requirements and livelihood options in the wake of climate change and variability. The project supported smallholder farmers in identifying and using appropriate integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) innovations and other improved farming technologies to enhance the capacity of participating institutions and individual researchers to conduct and manage research and development at various levels. Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) and livelihoods were used as entry points. Detailed accounts of project activities in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Mali, and Ghana are provided.Item Building adaptive capacity to cope with increasing vulnerability due to climatic change in Africa : a new approach(Elsevier ScienceDirect, Amsterdam, NL, 2008) Twomlowa, Steve; Mugabeb, Francis T.; Mwalec, Moses; Delve, Robert; Nanja, Durton; Carberry, Peter; Howden, MarkThe world community faces many risks from climate change, with most scenarios indicating higher temperatures and more erratic rainfall in Africa. Predictions for southern Africa suggest a general decrease in total seasonal rainfall, accompanied by more frequent in-season dry spells that will significantly impact crop and livestock production, and hence economic growth in the region. The hardest hit will be the rural poor in the drier areas, where crop failure due to drought is already common and chronic food emergencies afflict the region in most years. Lessons can be learnt on how the rural poor currently cope with the vagaries of climate and be used to help them adapt their current production systems to the future threats of further climate change. But this assumes the institutions that work towards the economic empowerment of the rural poor have the requisite skills to understand their current coping strategies and how adaptation can be facilitated. This new initiative led by Midlands State University and the Zambian Meteorological Office proposes that improving the ability of institutions that train the ‘Future Change Agents’, who will subsequently support smallholder communities in adapting their agricultural practices to current climate variability, is the first step in building adaptive capacity to cope with future climate change. The capacity of African scientists, regional organizations and decision makers in dealing with the issues of climate change and adaptation will be enhanced on a continuing basis, and the impacts of their agricultural development programs improved.Item Benefits and costs of measures for coping with water and climate change : Berg River Basin, South Africa(Earthscan, London, GB, 2009) Callaway, John M.; Louw, Daniël B.; Hellmuth, MollyItem Climate change challenge : implications for development in Southern and Eastern Africa(IPCC, Nairobi, KE, 2008) Odingo, RichardThe presentation provides an outline of climate change effects in African countries, the background to these effects (sea level rise, desertification, extreme weather) and changes to ecosystems resulting in crop losses, food insecurity and rising conflict.Item Climate change challenge : implications in development of Southern and Eastern Africa(ICPAC, Nairobi, KE, 2007) Ogallo, Laban A.Africa is the most climate vulnerable continent on the globe. The presentation outlines challenges of climate change in sustainable development in terms of natural hazards, such as cyclones, windstorms, and extreme temperatures. Graphics show distribution of natural disaster fatalities by country and type of phenomenon. The presentation points to future calamities and the need for mitigation strategies.Item Formulation et rédaction d'une proposition de recherche : manuel de formation(OSSREA, Addis Abeba, ET, 2007) Mmuya, MaximilianItem Developing and writing a research proposal : instruction manual(OSSREA, Addis Ababa, ET, 2007) Mmuya, MaximilianItem Rapport de synthèse de sessions plenières de l'atelier de développement des capacités CRDI/ACCA en evaluation integrée des risques climatiques(AGRHYMET, Niamey, NE, 2007) Badiane, DaoudaItem IDRC/CCAA Capacity Building Workshop on "Integrated Climate Risk Assessment" : workshop report(ICPAC, Nairobi, KE, 2007) IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC); University of Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD)Item Manuel de formation aux changements climatiques(AGRHYMET, Niamey, NE, 2007) AGRHYMET (Centre Regional de Formation et d'Application en Agrométéorologie et Hydrologie Opérationnelle); University of Cheikh Anta Dio (UCAD)Item IDRC/CCAA Capacity Building Workshop on "Integrated Climate Risk Assessment" : workshop training manual(ICPAC, Nairobi, KE, 2007) Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC); University of Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD)The Integrated Climate Risk Assessment workshop was held in Nairobi (2007). This manual is a compilation of materials that were used at the workshop. Topics covered in the Modules include: General Concepts of Climate Risk Management; Methods and Tools for Integrated Climate Risk Management; Adaptation strategies; Mainstreaming Climate Risk Management in development policies; Capacity and benefits of CCAA funded projects. The Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (CCAA) programme aims to significantly improve the capacity of African countries to adapt to climate change in ways that benefit the most vulnerable.