How do African SMEs respond to climate risks? : evidence from Kenya and Senegal

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2017-11

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Abstract

This paper provides survey results regarding adaptation behaviour of small and medium enterprises (SME) in semi-arid Kenya and Senegal. While some measures aim to maintain business continuity or “sustainable adaptation,” others are mere coping strategies to ward off the worst impacts of disaster. The more frequent the occurrence of extreme events, the more the balance shifts towards such reactive coping. This suggests there are limits to the effectiveness of sustainable adaptation. Financial barriers and insufficient market access increase the probability of reactive coping practices. Access to information, general government support and specific adaptation assistance all increase the probability of sustainable adaptation.

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ADAPTIVE CAPACITY, CLIMATE CHANGE RISK MANAGEMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES, SURVEYS, DATA ANALYSIS, KENYA, SENEGAL, SEMI-ARID REGIONS, SOUTH OF SAHARA

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