Projects for Theme 'Crosscutting Issues'

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  AfriCAN Climate, AfricaAdapt Hold Workshop on Agriculture, Climate Change and CSR (25-27 April 013), Dakar

  Created by: admin | 2013-05-11 23:44

  Associated Organization: ENDA

  Summary:

  The debate on Climate Change and Agriculture is crucial with regards to Africa's development and to the prosperity of its people. In fact, the continent is particularly vulnerable to Climate Change given the levels of poverty that characterize it.

  Climate Change in Africa materializes itself particularly through prolonged periods of drought, which seriously affect the agricultural sector. Consequently, this results in the degradation of soil quality, higher temperatures, desert encroachment, frequent sandstorms, declining water resources, falling yields in agricultural productivity, proliferation of insects, threats to food security and increased poverty on the continent.

  
  
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  Scenario planning to assess the implications of climate change on land and water use within the agricultural sector

  Created by: adaptingccc | 2013-05-08 20:31

  Associated Organization: Eden district municipality, Wildlife & Environment Society of South Africa

  Summary:

  The overarching aim of the project is to identify and promote logical, financially feasible alternatives that will encourage wise, and sustainable use of land and water resources within the agricultural sector of the Garden Route. A significant portion of the agricultural sector within the Garden Route is currently financially unstable and environmentally unsustainable. In these areas inappropriate cultivation and irrigation, overstocking, and illegal activities are causing significant damage to natural resources.

   

  
  

• Bangladesh leading the way on Loss and Damage

  Created by: admin | 2013-03-20 17:26

  Associated Organization: ICCCAD, IUB

  Summary:

  Loss and Damage in the UNFCCC process
  The least developed countries (LDCs) are both the least responsible for and the most vulnerable to climate change impacts." A lack of institutional, economic and financial capacity renders these countries less able to cope with climate change impacts# and more likely to suffer loss and damage as a result. The need for an international mechanism to address this inequity has long been acknowledged. In 1992, Principle 13 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
  proclaimed that, “States shall also cooperate in an expeditious and more determined manner to develop further international law regarding liability and compensation for adverse effects of environmental damage caused by activities within their jurisdiction or control to areas beyond their jurisdiction.”

  
  
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  CARIAA/IRCAAA: Call for Concept Notes/Appel à notes conceptuelles

  Created by: admin | 2013-02-20 17:24

  Associated Organization: IDRC, DFID

  Summary:

  (Le français suit.)

   

  CARIAA is a seven-year research program launched in 2012 and jointly funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

   

  CARIAA supports collaborative, interdisciplinary research in three climate change hot spots in Africa and Asia: deltas, river basins affected by glacial and snowpack melt, and semi-arid regions. Visit our website for more about our approach.

  
  
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  Zimbabwe's climate change policies need an urban focus

  Created by: admin | 2013-02-05 11:52

  Associated Organization: IRIN

  Summary:

  In spite of the political and financial turmoil that Zimbabwe faces, the country seems to be on the right track in adopting strategies to address the effects of climate change. But these strategies tend to have a strong rural bias, overlooking the fact that almost half of the country now lives in urban areas, according to a joint review of the country's climate change response by a think tank and leading NGO. 

Zimbabwe, like many other African countries, has begun to develop a national framework to respond to climate change, including efforts to identify authorities to process donor funds for mitigating and adapting to climate change, said one of the authors of the review, Shepard Zvigadza of ZERO Regional Environment Organization. [ http://www.climatenetwork.org/profile/member/zero-regional-environment-organization ] 

However, as in most other African countries, policymakers and researchers "ignore longstanding urbanization trends and continue to overstate the proportion of Zimbabwe's population living in rural areas." 

The ruling ZANU-PF party, which has dominated politics in Zimbabwe for decades, has been accused of appeasing their voters, who are largely rural, by developing policies that cater to them while disregarding urban residents. 

Taking into account UN statistics, the authors suggested that almost 38 percent of Zimbabwe's population lives in urban areas, but the number could be as high as 50 percent if national assessments are considered. 

Climate change adds to woes 

Zimbabwe's urban transition is a lot more advanced than most countries in Southern Africa, and urban problems such as water scarcity - prompted by sparse rains and a dropping water table - are not getting the attention they deserve, Zvigadza told IRIN in an email. 

"Research shows that the water table for boreholes used to be around 30m in the 1990s, but now water can be found around 60m or more below ground. This is true for cities like Bulawayo, whose water sources are various rivers. Such a situation has created long-term water and sanitation challenges, leading to health problems in cities like Chitungwiza and Kadoma," he added. 

Following severe water shortages in Chitungwiza and Kadoma in 2012, outbreaks of typhoid and cholera were recorded. In 2008, the country experienced one of the worst cholera outbreaks recorded anywhere in recent times; the outbreak killed at least 4,000 people and infected 100,000 others. 

The country's socioeconomic problems, combined with the effects of climate change, are likely to aggravate the situation in the coming years.

  It has become obvious that climate change has not been politicized, thus civil society has been working and continues to work with communities without intimidation

  Zvigadza explained that, "obviously, there are some other socioeconomic factors like poor waste management and service delivery that are most likely to be at play, but climate change is going to worsen this situation. For example, in [the] water and sanitation situation, nearby flowing sewer water is more likely to contaminate fresh piped water if there is a broken pipe. Water reticulation infrastructure has now aged and cannot cope with the rising population. This means they can break at any time where there is too much water in the system as a result of flooding." 

Evidence from climate change impact studies shows that Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, is going to experience heavy, frequent and prolonged rainfall leading to flash floods, said Zvigadza. 

A broken health infrastructure that cannot cope with the rising urban population is yet another driver of a potential crisis. "The health facilities may fail to cope with this demand, and climate change as an added stressor is most likely to increase this urban population’s vulnerability," he added. 

Adapting to climate change 

The government should invest in the health, water and energy sectors to develop infrastructure that can adapt to climate variability, said Zvigadza. 

Zimbabwe's development policies should be related to adaptation, such as promoting water harvesting techniques at the household level. Education on climate change should be initiated at primary schools to create awareness at an early age and help people prepare. 

Zvigadza noted that the country "is obviously struggling financially", but there are "donors who are interested" in supporting the country, which "has advanced in its readiness to receive and use climate funds." 

A number of NGOs and research organizations have begun to emphasize adaptation to climate change in their development projects, particularly in drought-prone rural areas, noted the review. A community-based adaptation project was piloted by the UN Development Programme in Zimbabwe, for example. A growing number of NGOs has also becoming involved in Zimbabwe's Climate Change Working Group, a leading civil society network. 

While civil society has increasingly come under attack in the country for political reasons, Zvigadza said, "it has become obvious that climate change has not been politicized, thus civil society has been working and continues to work with communities without intimidation... Overall, what is only required is the sense of national belonging that is speaking with one non-partisan voice, and this has begun to happen. Read more http://bit.ly/VOPhpy

  
  
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  Climate Change Implications on indigenous adaptation strategies; Case of Small Scale Farmers’ livelihoods and food security strategies in Uganda

  Created by: admin | 2013-01-14 14:51

  Associated Organization: Ben Twinomugisha

  Summary:

  In Uganda, small scale farmers’ adaptation to climate change is mostly based on local coping knowledge and understanding of seasonality. A typical Ugandan small scale farmer depends on the mercy of nature for agricultural production. Small scale farmers' accessibility to agricultural innovations is often limited by socio-economic institutional deficiencies. In a study that documented climate change impacts on small scale farmers, it was confirmed that indigenous adaptation is small scale farmers’ option towards ensuring food security and income improvement approaches. Indigenous knowledge is an integral part of small scale farmers’ lives. Local coping strategies provide the foundation for small scale farmers’ own ideas on how to survive during harsh times. Adaptation to climate change that is occurring is based on past experiences, which are passed on from one generation to another. Read more http://twinoben.blogspot.com/

   

  
  
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  Senegal secures its sealine: AAP initiative finds solutions for key areas at risk of coastal erosion

  Created by: admin | 2012-10-24 16:25

  Associated Organization: UNDP/AAP

  Summary:

  Located 80 kilometres south of Dakar, the Saly seaside resort area is perhaps Senegal’s most popular and profitable tourist attraction. Hundreds of thousands of tourists, mostly European, visit the country to holiday there, drawn by the year-round sunny weather and beaches of fine white sand. But in the last few years, the ocean that had been an accomplice in leisure became destructive; its waves began to swallow up sand from the beach and damage the hotels. In May, management of the Filaos Hotel, one of the largest in the area, had to evacuate guests from rooms closest to the sea when waves threatened to flood them.It soon transpired that the beach in front of 10 major hotels, beach the national beach soccer team trained on just three years ago, had widely eroded and even disappeared in some places. Read more http://bit.ly/P2jcd9

  
  
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  Rwanda on track to introduce early warning system: AAP Rwanda recently hosted a one-month training programme to build national capacity in meteorological forecasting and disaster preparedness.

  Created by: admin | 2012-10-24 16:16

  Associated Organization: UNDP/AAP

  Summary:

  AAP Rwanda recently hosted a one-month training programme to build national capacity in meteorological forecasting and disaster preparedness. The training was the third part of a four-step plan by AAP and the LCDF to establish an early warning and disaster preparedness system in Rwanda. It saw staff from the Rwanda Meteorological Centre tackle a huge number of meteorological science and forecasting topics ranging from receiving, processing and validating data to climate modelling, and seasonal rainfall and temperature predictions. A key part of the training focused on the use of early warning system information for disaster prevention. Read more http://bit.ly/PQnWE1

  
  
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  Overcoming local vulnerability: AAP pilot projects in Niger chart a path to resilience

  Created by: admin | 2012-10-24 16:04

  Associated Organization: UNDP/AAP

  Summary:

  Niger ranks among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. People here have already noticed a shortening of the rainy season and higher average temperatures. These changes are resulting in smaller yields in the most widely cultivated and consumed crops. Read more http://bit.ly/TzrxaH

  
  

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  Created by: abebetadege | 2012-08-07 19:18

  Associated Organization: -

  Summary:

  
  
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  Cities and Climate Adaptation in Africa

  Created by: admin | 2012-07-13 14:38

  Associated Organization: ICLEI

  Summary:

  The African Secretariat of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability has recently launched a Climate Change adaptation project entitled “Sub-Saharan Cities: A five City Network to Pioneer Climate Adaptation through Participation Research and Local Action”. It is supported mainly by the Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (CCAA) research and capacity development program, which is a joint program of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, and the Department for International Development (DFID), U.K. In consultation with these development partners, ICLEI Africa has selected the following five cities in Southern Africa as key project beneficiaries:

   

  •                Cape Town – South Africa

  •                Walvis Bay - Namibia

  •                Maputo - Mozambique

  •                Dar es Salaam – Tanzania

  •                Port Louis - Mauritius

   

  Project Background 

  The project will address knowledge, resource capacity and networking gaps in the five selected sub-Saharan African cities over a three-year period, commencing in September 2009. The main aim of the project is to assist, equip and strengthen local authorities and cities in their ability to plan for, and adapt to, the threats and impacts associated with different variables related directly to climate change. We anticipate that this initiative will lead to a number of immediate and tangible results for each of the five participating cities during the initial phase.

   

  Climate change is expected to have significant impacts on the physical, social, environmental and economic environments of cities in Africa. The threats posed by climate change include sea-level rise, variations in precipitation and rainfall patterns (which are projected to manifest themselves in the form of localised flooding and drought), increased wind speeds and incidences of cyclones, and increased temperature.

   

  This project will focus on particularly vulnerable communities in each of the five cities and their livelihoods in different geographical, climatic and ecosystem zones. It will establish and/or add to Local Climate Adaptation Frameworks (LCAFs), taking into account relevant localised climate change impacts. Therefore each participating local government will take unique action during this process in order to assist with assessing and addressing their specific vulnerabilities to climate change.

   

  For more information on the project download the summary report.

   

  Should you require a brief overview of the project, download the following brochure in English and French.

  
For the Five-City Risk Assessment, download the following brochure in English and French.
ICLEI Adaptation Network Adaptation Solutions Brochure.

   

  
  
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  Integrated Coastal Management and Climate Adaptation in Morocco

  Created by: admin | 2012-07-12 11:21

  Associated Organization: World Bank

  Summary:

  The World Bank has approved a US$5.2 million pilot project to apply integrated coastal zone management in the coasts of Morocco through a Global Environment Facility (GEF) grant.

  The project will test good practices for long-term maintenance and sustainability, providing tools to various sectors, such as agriculture, fisheries, environment, tourism, forestry. It will also assist the local government in participating meaningfully in local resource use planning, and integrating climate change and biodiversity preservation in the economic development processes in the project sites.

  The integrated coastal zone management project will utilize a three-pronged approach to improve coastal zone management: an integrated approach to management in which all relevant government sectors work together in a transparent and decentralized way and in close cooperation with coastal residents and stakeholders; inclusive co-management focusing on women, youth and private sector by encouraging entrepreneurship of micro, small, and medium sized enterprises through capacity building and piloting public and private partnerships; and sustainability through strengthening the ability of local communities to adapt to the impacts of climate change and climate variability. [World Bank Press Release]

  
  
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  Supporting Adaptation of Productive Practices among Pastoral and Agropastoral Communities in the Rombou Rural Commune (Dakoro Department)

  Created by: admin | 2012-07-06 11:57

  Associated Organization: UNDP

  Summary:

  ONG Action pour la Gestion Intégrée des Ressources (AGIR)

  The Rombou Rural Commune, the project site located in central Niger, is faced with frequent droughts as rainfall levels have steadily declined since the late 1960s, resulting in an extended dry season that now lasts for nine months. Recently, permanent and semi-permanent ponds have dried up and the water table has decreased. The village of Rombou is impacted by the degradation of the nearby Tarka Valley ecosystem, which has forced some residents into unsustainable and destructive practices, such as cutting firewood for sale, which exacerbate problems further. These maladaptive practices combined with future climate variabilities accelerate deforestation and desertification, and threaten the livelihoods of those who depend on the land.  

  The CBA project aims to foster sustainable water management, agricultural, and pastoral practices that help local residents better deal with current and future environmental challenges. With project partners on the ground such as AGIR, a local NGO specializing in sustainable resource management, the project supports the climate resiliency of the village of Rombou thru alternative crop production, increasing the communities' awareness of soil fertilization and regeneration techniques, and implementation of adaptive practices.

  Read more http://bit.ly/Pj0EVx

   

  
  
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  Local development solutions for people, nature and resilient communities - Morocco

  Created by: admin | 2012-07-05 15:01

  Associated Organization: UNDP

  Summary:

  The Community-Based Adaptation project in Morocco “Land and Water protection, conservation farming and climate risk management to increase the resilience of the El Mouddaa High Altitude mountain ecosystem and reinforcement of the adaptive capacities of the local community, in the face of increasingly erratic and violent rainstorms and more and more frequent droughts” has been chosen as one of the winners of the 2012 Equator Prize (UNDP). The project was selected among 800 candidates for its remarkable demonstration of local development solutions for people, nature, and resilient communities. Press Release (French)   UNDP article (English)

  This project is one of the UNDP’s local level adaptation work spearheaded through the UNDP Community-Based Adaptation (CBA) global project. The El Mouddaa initiative was prepared and implemented through a comprehensive participatory and inclusive approach, with the objective of strengthening the resiliency of the El Mouddaa community to address the impacts of climate change. The project fosters sustainable land and water management, resilient farming practices, and community early warning techniques, which help the local community better deal with current and future climate challenges.  The project is implemented by AMSING, the community-based organization (CBO) partner.  Read more on the CBO partner.

  
  
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  Education, children and climate change

  Created by: admin | 2012-05-11 15:15

  Associated Organization: UNICEF

  Summary:

  Mauritania is one of the poorest countries in the world and its population face a severe lack of health coverage, safe drinking water, sanitation and education. Widespread poverty and underfunded schools have dealt a blow to the educational attainment of poor children, restricting Mauritania's chances for development and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

  UNICEF's Education for All initiative works with the Government to improve the number of the most deprived children, particularly girls, completing basic education. UNICEF is helping improve the school environment by providing and installing solar systems for rural schools. Solar systems provide light and electricity for schools from a clean and cheap source of energy. This especially helps girls education because they can have longer hours in school.

  UNICEF aims to have solar systems in all 429 UNICEF schools projects and works in partnership with the local communities so they are empowered to lead and sustain the projects. http://bit.ly/JiX0JW

  
  
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  Climate change, children and education

  Created by: admin | 2012-05-11 15:08

  Associated Organization: UNICEF

  Summary:

  Most schools are not equipped with water or sanitation facilities, leading to further dropouts particularly among girls.

  Climate change is exacerbating these problems in education. Due to its location in the middle of two different climatic zones, Madagascar is hit by three or four cyclones in an average year, which damage or destroy thousands of schools and threatens children’s safety. Climate change is making Madagascar more susceptible to cyclones by increasing their frequency and intensity in the region.

  UNICEF is working in Madagascar to rehabilitate and replace schools affected by cyclones with cyclone-resistant structures, while installing child-friendly and gender-friendly sanitation facilities. By equipping these schools with a safe structure, gender-sensitive amenities and safety programmes and bringing schools close to home, more children, and especially girls, will be able to attend school and complete their primary education. Cyclone-proofing schools will ensure the building stays standing and education continues despite the growing impact of climate change.

  Find out how you can help children adapt to climate change.

  
  

• Meet and Greet meeting in Beta

  Created by: admin | 2012-05-10 13:31

  Associated Organization: AfricaAdapt

  Summary:

  On December 05, 2011 in Burkina Faso a Meet and Greet was conducted alongside with the seminar organized by  Terre et Humanisme, on the theme "Seed autonomy and the preservation of traditional varieties," and aims to:

  1. Introduce AfricaAdapt to the 45 participants from 22 NGOs and associations of 5 countries, and the benefits to join the network.

  2. Have the understanding of participants on GMOs and local seeds, etc.

  The Meet and Greet have finally allowed the network to:

  - Get in touch with the actors that are difficult to access, and get their opinion and stance on the critical issue of GMOs

  - Capitalize the experiences of the seminar by launching a broad consultation, through a forum of discussion on the issue of GMOs.

  - Strengthen the capacity of these target actors, through training workshops organized by themselves.

  Photos from the event are available here http://bit.ly/KMbq5L

   

   

  
  

• Review of Adaptation Action

  Created by: AdaptationPartnership | 2012-03-20 19:58

  Associated Organization: Adaptation Partnership / IISD

  Summary:

  As part of our effort to catalyze effective adaptation action, the Adaptation Partnership commissioned a review of planned and existing adaptation activities in 12 sub-regions across Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean. These reviews provide an inventory of regional and country-level adaptation activities and a summary of key adaptation priorities, based on documents like the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change's National Adaptation Programs of Action and National Communications.  They also identify gaps and opportunities for scaling up and enhancing collaboration.

  
  
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  The BUVAD Climate Change Issues Awareness Enhancement And Remedial Initiatives Project

  Created by: buvad | 2012-02-28 21:29

  Associated Organization: Butakoola Village Association for Development (BUVAD)

  Summary:

  BUVAD under the above project intends to construct 20 water harvesting tanks for 20 primary schools using waste plastic PET bottles as bricks. This is intended to enhance community awareness on climate change issues in Kayunga District while at the same time promoting a remedy initiative of clearing away the waste plastic PET bottles that have posed an agricultural hazard a backbone of the Ugandan economy. Also the community will learn to save water for future use whenever the rains come.
  
  We are looking for partner agencies to support us with US$2,500 per each workshop that would result into a water tank. Hence a total of US$50,000 is needed to conduct 20 workshops and also construct twenty 4000ltr water harvesting tanks simulataneously.

  
  
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  Ecosystem Livelihood Adaptation Network (ELAN) case studies: good practices in Niger, Sudan & Madagascar

  Created by: admin | 2012-02-06 19:27

  Associated Organization: ELAN

  Summary:

  ELAN collects, selects, and disseminates peer-reviewed case studies on good practices in integrating ecosystem and rights-based principles into people-centered adaptation policies, plans and programmes. Unsuccessful projects or “bad” practices are also of interest if they provide good lessons for future applications. Case studies are used for learning, knowledge exchange, and training purposes. Case studies are collected through different channels. http://elanadapt.net/good-practices

  
  
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  UNESCO West African Coastal Adaptation Project

  Created by: admin | 2012-02-02 09:11

  Associated Organization: UNESCO

  Summary:

  The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has reported on the implementation of a project titled Adaptation to Climate Change in Coastal zones of West Africa (ACCC), which involves Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde.

  The project involves the development of pilot activities in one selected sites per country targeted at reducing the threat of coastal erosion, while increasing biodiversity and strengthening the adaptive capacities of local communities and ecosystems. The project also aims to mainstream climate change considerations into development plans, such as tourism strategies and coastal urban planning.

  
  

• zambezi irrigation system

  Created by: imutggo | 2012-01-09 09:44

  Associated Organization: a

  Summary:

  a

  
  
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  Flood and Land Degradation Risk Management in Togo

  Created by: admin | 2011-12-23 12:54

  Associated Organization: World Bank

  Summary:

  20 December 2011: The World Bank has approved a $16.9 million grant to assist with implementation of the Integrated Disaster and Land Management Project in Togo. The project is funded by several trust funds, including the Least Developed Countries Fund for Adaptation to Climate Change, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, and TerrAfrica.

  
  
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  GEF-SCCF Project Increases Resilience to Drought and Climate Change in Zimbabwe

  Created by: admin | 2011-12-23 12:42

  Associated Organization: GEF

  Summary:

  December 2011: In Zimbabwe’s rural District of Chiredzi, the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) of the Global Environment facility (GEF) has supported a project to enhance the capacity of farmers to adapt to climate variability and change through the adoption of gender-sensitive approaches.

  The project, which is implemented by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), focuses on improving climate change knowledge base of local populations to facilitate adaptation choices; piloting demonstration of policy oriented adaptation practices; and promoting the use of climate early warning systems.

  
  
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  Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Change by Establishing Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support for Integrated Watershed Management in Flood Prone Areas

  Created by: admin | 2011-12-23 12:31

  Associated Organization: GEF

  Summary:

  December 2011: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has reported on a project in Rwanda titled “Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Change by Establishing Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support for Integrated Watershed Management in Flood Prone Areas,” which is financed through its Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF).  

  Focused on the Gishwati ecosystem in Western Rwanda and the associated Nile-Congo crest watersheds, the project aims to decrease the vulnerability of the people living and deriving their livelihoods from these areas.