West Africa / Afrique de l'Ouest

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    Differential household vulnerability to climatic and non-climatic stressors in semi-arid areas of Mali, West Africa
    (Taylor & Francis Group, 2020-12-10) Segnon, Alcade C.; Totin, Edmond; Zougmoré, Robert B.; Lokossou, Jourdain C.; Thompson-Hall, Mary; Ofori, Benjamin O.; Achigan-Dako, Enoch G.; Gordon, Christopher
    This study adopted a ‘vulnerability patterns’ framework that included both climatic and non-climatic stressors to analyze differential household vulnerability in semi-arid regions (SARs) of Mali. Findings showed that while drought was the most mentioned climate-related stressor, households were also exposed to a diversity of environmental and socio-economic stressors, including food scarcity, livestock disease, labour unavailability, crop damage, and erratic rainfall patterns. Availability of productive household members, household resource endowments, livelihood diversification and social networks were the main discriminant factors of household adaptive capacity, while challenges relating to food and water security make households more sensitive to stressors.
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    Role of farmers and organizational networks in climate information communication : the case of Ghana
    (Emerald Publishing Limited, 2020-10-27) Ofoegbu, Chidiebere; New, Mark
    Communication of climate information to farmers is influenced by collaborations between governmental organizations and nongovernmental organizations. However, information flow and exchange through organizational collaboration networks has limited effect on improving farmers’ knowledge about climate risks, impacts and available risk response options. This is largely because the feedback flow of information from farmers to national level organizations has not been effective in addressing localized climate and agriculture challenges. Using network analysis as an analytical framework, the paper estimated networks’ core-periphery, density, reciprocity and degree centrality. There is insufficient engagement of national organizations in funding projects on climate information generation and dissemination.
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    Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction : district-level collaboration for flood mitigation in Accra, Ghana
    (Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), 2020-06) Gordon, Chris; Kwawu, Millicent
    The ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) approach is a means to finding solutions to recurring flooding problems in Accra. The increase in flooding events can partly be attributed to poor drainage caused by the lack of, or inadequate infrastructure. Municipal and district assemblies, as well as other relevant stakeholders, must collaborate in devising a roadmap for finding solutions to flooding. This Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) policy brief reviews a peer-to-peer EbA learning event on flood management. Local technical capacity to implement EbA needs to be developed to enhance the adoption of nature-based solutions.
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    How can we better understand and manage the impacts of droughts?
    (Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA), 2016-08) Ziervogel, Gina; Few, Roger; Kunamwene, Irene; Omari, Kulthoum; Kunamwene, Irene
    The impact of drought on the lives of subsistence crop and livestock farmers in semi-arid northern Namibia extends beyond hunger and exacerbated poverty levels. Current development interventions often fail to address the underlying causes of people’s vulnerability and make it difficult for adaptation to be successful due to their narrow view around addressing vulnerability. A wellbeing approach has the potential to offer a different, people-centred way of informing climate change adaptation because it explicitly integrates people’s aspirations (e.g. achieving food security) and values (e.g. freedom or a good quality of life).
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    How can climate change adaptation in the semi-arid regions of West Africa be more effective and widespread? Evidence from Ghana and Mali
    (Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions, 2015-11)
    This briefing note summarizes the key findings from the Regional Diagnostic Study (RDS) recently conducted in Ghana and Mali, as part of the ASSAR project.
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    Characteristics of snail farmers and constraints to increased production in West and Central Africa
    (Academic Journals, 2010) Ngenwi, A.A.; Mafeni, J.M.; Etchu, K.A.; Oben, F.T.
    Snail gathering/rearing is an important source of livelihood for rural dwellers in the humid forest and derived savanna zones of West and Central Africa. Recently, declining populations of Archachatina archachatina and Archachatina marginata species is being observed, with climatic conditions and changes in land use implicated as causal factors. However, these claims are still to be ascertained. A study was carried out to characterize snail farmers, identify constraints to increased snail production and suggest strategies required to conserve edible snail species and sustain livelihoods. Structured questionnaires and focus group discussions were used for data collection in selected locations in Cameroon and Ghana. Descriptive statistics (means and percentages) was used to summarize the data obtained. The results indicate that snail farmers are predominantly women with basic school level of education. Between 42 and 62% of rural income is derived from sale of snails. Causes of declining snail populations were attributed to habitat loss through deforestation, overexploitation, indiscriminate harvesting, climate change - indicated by extremely high temperatures and low rainfall, high dependence on agricultural chemicals (herbicides and pesticides) and lack of training on improved snail husbandry. A holistic approach to biodiversity conservation and capacity building of current and wouldbe snail farmers is suggested to increase snail supply in markets.
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    Climate forecasting to serve communities in West Africa
    (Elsevier, 2010) Tall, Arame
    The recent Red Cross experience acting on forecasts in west Africa provides examples of how climate information can be linked to decisions and serve development in low-income regions, and how climate and weather forecasts may become useful to communities at risk from climatic events, provided that the obstacles thwarting these communities’ access to and use of forecasts are clearly identified and overcome.
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    Local climate forcing and eco-climatic complexes in the wooded savannah of Western Nigeria
    (Scientific Research Publishing, 2011) Fasona, Mayowa; Tadross, Mark; Abiodun, Babatunde; Omojola, Ademola
    Local perturbations such as terrain, land cover, and land-water boundary often exert a strong influence on the local climate and create eco-climatic structures or complexes that can support the natural resource capita on which livelihoods depend. This research focuses on the eco-climatic complexes that produce the natural resource capita which supports livelihood systems across the wooded savannah of western Nigeria. Downscaled climate data can be integrated and analyzed with the drivers of the local climate system, enabling their spatial pattern of influence and impact on the local climate system to be deciphered and quantified so that it becomes useful.
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    Farmers’ perceptions of climate change and variability and existing opportunities for adaptation in Wenchi Area of Ghana
    (Common Ground Publishing, Champaign, IL, US, 2010) Adjei-Nsiah, Samuel; Issaka, R.N.; Fening, J.O.; Mapfumo, P.; Anchirina, V.; Giller, K. E.
    This in-depth article for the Journal of Climate Change features a participatory research study initiated in 2007 in Wenchi, Ghana where farmers consider poor rainfall distribution and frequent droughts as the most commonly observed indicators of climatic variability. The study investigated farmers’ perceptions and current adaptation measures to climate change and variability in the forest-savannah transitional agro-ecological zone of Ghana. Adaptation needs of farmers suggest redesigning support services for crop production systems in the smallholder sector, and in some cases revisiting previously neglected crop types and varieties, such as cassava-based cropping systems.
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    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, Florence
    The 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.
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    Cadre de partage de connaissances d'ACCA
    (CRDI, Ottawa, ON, CA, 2007) O'Neill, Mary
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    CCAA knowledge sharing framework
    (IDRC, Ottawa, ON, CA, 2007) O'Neill, Mary
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    Formulation et rédaction d'une proposition de recherche : manuel de formation
    (OSSREA, Addis Abeba, ET, 2007) Mmuya, Maximilian
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    Developing and writing a research proposal : instruction manual
    (OSSREA, Addis Ababa, ET, 2007) Mmuya, Maximilian
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    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)
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    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)
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    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.
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    Institutional framework in relation to climate change in West and Central Africa : final report
    (Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, SN, 2007) Niang, Isabelle