Vulnerability and risk analysis in the Onesi constituency, Omusati region, Namibia : towards improving livelihood adaptation to climate change

This work was carried out under the Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA), with financial support from the UK Government’s Department for International Development (DfID) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.The wellbeing and livelihoods of communities in areas such as the Omusati Region rely on rain-fed agriculture and livestock rearing; have limited employment opportunities; depend on activities that are sensitive to the impacts of climate change; face high levels of poverty; are exposed to high levels of HIV/AIDS; and are affected by limited institutional capacity and weak resource governance. The workshop created a visual representation of the consequences of individual climate hazards, allowing the Vulnerability Risk Assessment Knowledge Group (KG) to assess possible future impacts. Solutions and strategies that build resilience and help people to adapt to vulnerabilities were also proposed

Mapping out stakeholder influence on the implementation of climate change adaptation in Namibia Short report

This work was carried out under the Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA), with financial support from the UK Government’s Department for International Development (DfID) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.Strategies or plans aimed at supporting climate change adaptation can be improved with increased understanding of the influence of state and non-state actors across governance scales in enabling and preventing the implementation of adaptation measures

Local participation in decentralized water governance : insights from north-central Namibia

The 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

Vertical integration for climate change adaptation in the water sector:lessons from decentralisation in Africa and India

Vertical integration, which creates strategic linkages between national and sub-national levels, is being promoted as important for climate change adaptation. Decentralisation, which transfers authority and responsibility to lower levels of organisation, serves a similar purpose and has been in place for a number of decades. Based on four case studies in semi-arid regions in Africa and India, this paper argues that vertical integration for climate change adaptation should reflect on lessons from decentralisation related to governing natural resources, particularly in the water sector. The paper focuses on participation and flexibility, two central components of climate change adaptation, and considers how decentralisation has enhanced or undermined these. The findings suggest that vertical integration for adaptation will be strengthened if a number of lessons are considered, namely (i) actively seek equitable representation from marginal and diverse local groups drawing on both formal and informal participation structures, (ii) assess and address capacity deficits that undermine flexibility and adaptive responses, especially within lower levels of government, and (iii) use hybrid modes of governance that include government, intermediaries and diverse local actors through both formal and informal institutions to improve bottom-up engagement

Stakeholder and influence network mapping exercise with the government, development and research actors in Namibia

This report summarises the outcomes of the Stakeholder and Influence Network Mapping exercise were undertaken on the 23rd of July 2015 in Windhoek, Namibia. ASSAR southern African Team members: Margaret Angula, Nahas Angula, Nguza Siyambango (UNAM); Dian Spear, Salma Hegga (UCT); Hillary Masundire and Chandapiwa Molefe (UB) assisted and participated in the stakeholder mapping workshop facilitated by Daniel Morchain (Oxfam). This event brought together 11 national stakeholders from the government (Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and SME Development, Namibia Energy Institute), NGOs (NNF, IRDNC) and Researcher/ Academic institutions (SASSCAL, DRFN & UNAM) (see Annex 9.2for a list of participants). The Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid (ASSAR) a multi-institutional and multi-national study investigates the factors that restrict effective adaptation to climate change impacts in agriculture-dependent communities in north-central Namibia. A multi-method approach including literature review, household surveys and semi-structured interviews is used to: i) explore the drivers of vulnerabilities to floods and droughts; 2) identify adaptation strategies; and 3) identify the barriers that impede successful adaptation. This report contains five main sections. Section 2 introduces the aims and objectives of the mapping exercise to ASSAR research. The Third section describes the methodology and approaches used, while section 4 describes the framing and analysis procedures employed. Section 5 presents the findings of the Network Influence Mapping exercise from the three groups of stakeholders attending the workshop. The discussion of the results and implication of the results are presented in section 6 and 7, respectively

Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Semi - Arid Regions of Southern Africa

The main objectives of the RDS phase are to i) develop a systematic understanding of existing knowledge and perceptions of climate change trends, impacts, vulnerability, adaptation strategies, and barriers and enablers to effective adaptation in SARs; ii) provide a system scale perspective from which ASSAR researchers can undertake research in the Regional Research Programme (RRP); and iii) help inform the more detailed sets of specific research foci for the RRP

Vulnerability and Risk Assessment in Botswana's Bobirwa Sub - District: Fostering People - Centered Adaptation to Climate Change

In November 2015, ASSAR’s (Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions) Southern Africa researchers from the University of Botswana (UB), University of Cape Town (UCT), University of Namibia (UNAM) and Oxfam, conducted a two-day Vulnerability Risk Assessment (VRA) in order to bring stakeholder groups closer to ASSAR’s work. Based on the findings, the aim was to reassess ASSAR’s priorities. The workshop was attended by various government officials, Village Development Committee (VDC) members, local community members, and representatives from farmer committees

Stakeholder and influence network mapping exercise with the government, development and research actors in Namibia

This stakeholder and influence mapping exercise served to introduce the concept of power relations/dynamics and explore its use within the Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions (ASSAR) Research into Use Strategy (RiU). The aim was to identify key stakeholders that influence climate change adaptation in north central Namibia (for example main channels of information, technical services, flow of funds), explore the links between them and identify how influential these networks are. The outcome of this exercise can be used for RiU planning purpose to ensure effective use of ASSAR research.Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) through the Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA)

Vulnerability and risk assessment in Botswana's Bobirwa sub-district fostering people-centred adaptation to climate change

Synthesis and analysis reportThis report outlines the findings of a Vulnerability Risk Assessment (VRA) exercise carried out in Eastern Botswana in the village of Bobonong in Bobirwa sub–district in the context of the project Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions (ASSAR). The workshop provided participants with key aspects in understanding and determining adaptive capacity of communities. Limited awareness of climate change is a serious issue for those who depend on land and other natural resources for their livelihood. The stakeholders, or workshop “knowledge group” indicated that crop farmers and livestock keepers are most affected.International Development Research Centre, UK's Department for International Developmen

Avenues of understanding : mapping the intersecting barriers to adaptation in Namibia

This paper considers the barriers to climate change adaptation in Namibia through the lens of the ‘adaptation activity space’ – a framework that positions the adapting system in relation to its environment. For instance, although reasons for the slow adoption of novel farming practices are complex, the problem can be attributed to a policy framework for climate smart agriculture that is not matched with supportive resources needed on the ground. Thus, despite a relatively enabling national policy environment, adaptation efforts at the grassroots level have been incremental and reactive, comprising an array of short-term coping mechanisms and technological fixes.Great Britain. Dept for International Developmen