The changing climate and human vulnerability in north-central Namibia

North-central Namibia is more vulnerable to effects of climate change and variability. Combined effects of environmental degradation, social vulnerability to poverty and a changing climate will compromise subsistence farming in north-central Namibia (NCN). This will make subsistence and small-scale farmers in the region more vulnerable to projected changes in the climate system. Thus, the aim of this article was to examine factors contributing to subsistence farmers’ vulnerability to impacts of climate change. The article further discusses different aspects of human vulnerability and existing adaptation strategies in response to impacts of climate related disasters experienced over the past three to four decades in NCN. Qualitative and quantitative research approaches and methodology were employed to obtain information from subsistence farmers in north-central Namibia. The sociodemographic characteristics of Ohangwena, Oshana and Omusati Region reveals high levels of unemployment, high adult and elderly population and high dependency on agricultural livelihood system. These indicators help understand levels of household vulnerability. The study concludes that households interviewed revealed low levels of adaptive capacity due to exposure to climate risks and combined effects of social, political and cultural factors. This article provided an understanding that is required to inform the adaptation pathways relevant for NCN.https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v8i2.20

The changing climate and human vulnerability in north-central Namibia

North-central Namibia is more vulnerable to effects of climate change and variability. Combined effects of environmental degradation, social vulnerability to poverty and a changing climate will compromise subsistence farming in north-central Namibia (NCN). This will make subsistence and small-scale farmers in the region more vulnerable to projected changes in the climate system. Thus, the aim of this article was to examine factors contributing to subsistence farmers’ vulnerability to impacts of climate change. The article further discusses different aspects of human vulnerability and existing adaptation strategies in response to impacts of climate related disasters experienced over the past three to four decades in NCN. Qualitative and quantitative research approaches and methodology were employed to obtain information from subsistence farmers in north-central Namibia. The sociodemographic characteristics of Ohangwena, Oshana and Omusati Region reveals high levels of unemployment, high adult and elderly population and high dependency on agricultural livelihood system. These indicators help understand levels of household vulnerability. The study concludes that households interviewed revealed low levels of adaptive capacity due to exposure to climate risks and combined effects of social, political and cultural factors. This article provided an understanding that is required to inform the adaptation pathways relevant for NCN

Strengthening gender responsiveness of the Green Climate Fund ecosystem-based adaptation programme in Namibia

This research was funded by the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia through GCF (project number EDA FP024) and UK Research and Innovation’s Global Challenges Research Fund (UKRI GCRF) through the Development Corridors Partnership project (project number: ES/P011500/1).Scholars of gender and climate change argue that gender-blind climate change actions could exacerbate existing inequalities and undermine sustained climate change adaptation actions. For this reason, since 2017, the Green Climate Fund placed gender among its key programming prerequisites, making it the first multilateral climate fund to do so worldwide. However, to date, no lessons to inform planned gender-responsive ecosystem-based interventions in Namibia have been drawn from community-based natural resource management. Thus, this paper aims to share key lessons regarding the way in which gender assessment is useful in enhancing equity in an ecosystem-based adaptation programme for the Green Climate Fund. To this end, we conducted in-depth interviews and group discussions in the 14 rural regions of Namibia with 151 participants from 107 community-based natural resource management organisations (73.5:26.5; male:female ratio). The results identified gender imbalances in leadership and decision-making due to intersecting historic inequalities, ethnicity and geography, as well as other socio-cultural factors in local community-based natural resource management institutions. We also identified income disparities and unequal opportunities to diversify livelihoods, gendered differentiated impacts of climate change and meaningful participation in public forums. Overall, the assessment indicates that considering gender analysis at the initiation of a community-based climate change adaptation project is crucial for achieving resilience to climate change, closing the gender gap, building capacity to increase equity and empowering women in resource-dependent environments in Namibia and Sub-Saharan Africa more broadly.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Dietary mycotoxin exposure of children under 5 years: A scoping review protocol.

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites that are produced by fungi under different environmental conditions. Exposure of human to mycotoxin is mostly through consumption of contaminated food. Children are more vulnerable to mycotoxin exposure due to their weakened immune system and frequent consumption of potential contaminated cereals with mycotoxin. The existing knowledge around the concept of mycotoxin exposure will be consolidated to pave way for informed decision-making by policy makers and future research concerning dietary mycotoxin exposure among children under 5 years of age globally

Dietary mycotoxin exposure of children under 5 years: A scoping review.

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites that are produced by fungi under different environmental conditions. Exposure of human to mycotoxin is mostly through consumption of contaminated food. Children are more vulnerable to mycotoxin exposure due to their weakened immune system and frequent consumption of potential contaminated cereals with mycotoxin. Hence, mycotoxin exposure to human especially children is a public health concern

Dietary mycotoxin exposure of children under 5 years: A scoping review.

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites that are produced by fungi under different environmental conditions. Exposure of human to mycotoxin is mostly through consumption of contaminated food. Children are more vulnerable to mycotoxin exposure due to their weakened immune system and frequent consumption of potential contaminated cereals with mycotoxin. Hence, mycotoxin exposure to human especially children is a public health concern

Identification and characterization of beneficial microbiota in beef biltong from Namibia Central regions

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Science (Food Microbiology)Microbiota associated with beef biltong has not been assessed in Namibia and there is limited data in the literature describing the presence and role of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in biltong products which is involved in the transformation of many aroma and flavour compounds and therefore, the quality of the final product. The aims of this study were to document the steps involved in beef biltong production, determine the physicochemical parameters that may influence microbial growth, characterize and identify LAB, yeast and moulds associated with beef biltong and, profiling LAB isolates for enzymatic and bacteriocin activities. Beef biltong is produced by a dry curing process. Its average pH ranged from 5.1±0.15 to 5.98±0.16, average sodium chloride content ranged from 3.16±0.62 to 3.98±0.86 g/100g, the average moisture content ranged from 7.56±7.56% to 18.86±8.96% and average water activity (aw) ranged from 0.79±0.05 to 0.84±0.06. Beef biltong samples from Otjozondjupa, Omaheke and Khomas regions were characterized with an average total plate count ranging from 5.4±0.36 to 6.46±0.36 log CFU/g, average total LAB ranging from 5.66±0.41 to 7.02±0.35 log CFU/g while average total yeast and moulds ranged from 5.25±0.78 to 6.14±0.14 log CFU/g. Yeasts associated with beef biltong were identified as Candida zeylanoides, C. guilliermondii, C. famata, C. krusei, C. tropicalis, Meyerozyma guiliermondii and Yarrowia lipolytica using API 20 C AUX and sequencing of the 26S rRNA and ITS genes. The LAB were identified using API 50CHL and sequencing of the 16S rRNA as: Lactobacillus brevis, L. graminis, L. plantarum, L. pentosus, L. paraplantarum, Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp. mesenteroides, Pediococcus acidilactici, P. pentosaceus, Weisella cibaria, and W. confusa, The cell free supernatant (CFS) of LAB was found to exhibit a variable degree of antimicrobial activity by agar well diffusion method against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Clostridium perfringens, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. After pH neutralization of the CFS, the antimicrobial activity due to bacteriocin or bacteriocin-like substances was detected in L. plantarum against B. subtilis, C. albicans and A. niger. Enzymatic activities detected in LAB using API ZYM included esterase, lipase, valine arylamidase, cysteine arylamidase, acid phosphatase, leucine arylamidase and β galactosidase. Beef biltong samples were associated with beneficial yeast with applications in food industries, as well as LAB with biotechnological properties such as enzymatic activity and bacteriocin production. Therefore, these strains may be important to be used as starter cultures to improve the quality and safety of meat products

The changing climate and human vulnerability in north-central Namibia

North-central Namibia is more vulnerable to effects of climate change and variability. Combined effects of environmental degradation, social vulnerability to poverty and a changing climate will compromise subsistence farming in north-central Namibia (NCN). This will make subsistence and small-scale farmers in the region more vulnerable to projected changes in the climate system. Thus, the aim of this article was to examine factors contributing to subsistence farmers’ vulnerability to impacts of climate change. The article further discusses different aspects of human vulnerability and existing adaptation strategies in response to impacts of climate related disasters experienced over the past three to four decades in NCN. Qualitative and quantitative research approaches and methodology were employed to obtain information from subsistence farmers in north-central Namibia. The sociodemographic characteristics of Ohangwena, Oshana and Omusati Region reveals high levels of unemployment, high adult and elderly population and high dependency on agricultural livelihood system. These indicators help understand levels of household vulnerability. The study concludes that households interviewed revealed low levels of adaptive capacity due to exposure to climate risks and combined effects of social, political and cultural factors. This article provided an understanding that is required to inform the adaptation pathways relevant for NCN

Community perceptions of climate change and vanability impacts in Oshana and Ohangwena Regions

The links between climate change, social and economic development, health, and environmental sustainability have become a dominant and urgent global concern. Understanding community perceptions leads to successful adaptation to climate change. This paper analyses community perceptions of climate change in selected Namibian regions. The study applied the qualitative research approach using the focus group discussion method. The data collection was conducted within a Socio-economic and Gender Analysis framework. The study has revealed that the communities are aware that the climate is changing due to changes observed in the past three to four decades. However, the study concluded that the communities do not have an adaptive capacity to respond to catastrophic natural disaster events such as the recurrent floods of 2009, ww & 2011. The study recommends a programme on community awareness regarding climate variability and change and its implications. The government in collaboration with communities and other relevant stakeholders should set up a long-term adaptation strategy for Namibia

Strengthening gender responsiveness of the Green Climate Fund ecosystem-based adaptation programme in Namibia

Scholars of gender and climate change argue that gender-blind climate change actions could exacerbate existing inequalities and undermine sustained climate change adaptation actions. For this reason, since 2017, the Green Climate Fund placed gender among its key programming prerequisites, making it the first multilateral climate fund to do so worldwide. However, to date, no lessons to inform planned gender-responsive ecosystem-based interventions in Namibia have been drawn from community-based natural resource management. Thus, this paper aims to share key lessons regarding the way in which gender assessment is useful in enhancing equity in an ecosystem-based adaptation programme for the Green Climate Fund. To this end, we conducted in-depth interviews and group discussions in the 14 rural regions of Namibia with 151 participants from 107 community-based natural resource management organisations (73.5:26.5; male:female ratio). The results identified gender imbalances in leadership and decision-making due to intersecting historic inequalities, ethnicity and geography, as well as other socio-cultural factors in local community-based natural resource management institutions. We also identified income disparities and unequal opportunities to diversify livelihoods, gendered differentiated impacts of climate change and meaningful participation in public forums. Overall, the assessment indicates that considering gender analysis at the initiation of a community-based climate change adaptation project is crucial for achieving resilience to climate change, closing the gender gap, building capacity to increase equity and empowering women in resource-dependent environments in Namibia and Sub-Saharan Africa more broadly