Climate change vulnerability and risk analysis in the Bobirwa sub-district, Botswana: towards Improving livelihood adaptation to climate

In November 2015, ASSAR ’s southern Africa researchers– from the University of Botswana, The University of Cape Town, University of Namibia and Oxfam GB– conducted a two-day Vulnerability Risk Assessment (VRA) workshop in Bobirwa, Botswana. The workshop was attended by various government officials, Village Development Committee members, local community members, and representatives from farmer committees, collectively known as the VRA Knowledge Group. The VRA process aims to develop a common understanding among various stakeholders (government officials, village committees and local communities) of the main hazards and issues affecting those living in a given social-ecological landscape. This is done so as to design measures that reduce risk, enhance wellbeing and promote resilience to hazards in the landscape

Climate change vulnerability and risk analysis in the Bobirwa sub-district, Botswana : towards improving livelihood adaptation to climate 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.In November 2015, ASSAR’s southern Africa researchers – from the University of Botswana, University of Cape Town, University of Namibia and Oxfam GB – conducted a two-day Vulnerability Risk Assessment (VRA) workshop in Bobirwa, Botswana. There are four steps that make up the VRA process, including: - an initial vulnerability assessment, - an impact chain exercise, - an adaptive capacity analysis, and - the alignment of findings with opportunities

Effects of droughts on vegetation condition and ecosystem service delivery in data-poor areas : a case of Bobirwa sub-district, Limpopo Basin and Botswana

Findings of this study indicate that the increased frequency and severity of droughts is diminishing natural vegetation, crop productivity and several provisioning ecosystem services (ES) through moisture stress and drought-induced agricultural expansions. There is an urgent need for smallholder irrigation development in Bobirwa sub-district (Botswana) to improve crop productivity and reduce the drought-induced conversion of woodlands to agriculture. The study examined drought dynamics and impacts on vegetation and ES in the semi-arid Limpopo Basin of Botswana. Weather station precipitation, remotely sensed normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and participatory mapping exercises provided data for the analyses.UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID

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 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

Perceptions of ecosystem services provision performance in the face of climate change among communities in Bobirwa sub-district, Botswana

This study provides recent knowledge and evidence of consequences of environmental change on semi-arid to arid landscapes and communities. Analyses were centred on changes in seasonal quantities, seasonality, condition of ecosystem service sites, distance to ecosystem service sites and total area providing these services in three study villages. Woodlands provided the greatest number of ecosystem services. Results show that adverse weather conditions, drought frequency, changes in land-use and/or land-cover have intensified in the past decade. The climate change burden interacts with other non-climatic drivers to further constrain the ecosystem-based livelihood options leaving those highly dependent on the natural environment even more vulnerable.UK Government’s Department for International Development (DfID

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

Building transformative capacity in southern Africa : surfacing knowledge and challenging structures through participatory vulnerability and risk assessments

Participatory assessments that recognise the social roots of vulnerability are critical in helping individuals and institutions rethink their understanding of, and responses to climate change impacts. This paper interrogates the contribution of Oxfam’s ‘Vulnerability and Risk Assessment’ methodology to enabling transformation at both personal and institutional levels. Capacity building should not be exclusively understood as, or aimed solely at building technical skills; leadership and process facilitation skills are key elements. The assessments take an initial step towards collaboratively identifying transformation pathways in development practices through adaptation responses

Seasonal water level fluctuations: Implications for reservoir limnology and management

With the purpose of finding out whether seasonal water level fluctuations could affect water quality in a reservoir subjected to those changes, trends in environmental variables and in phytoplankton and zooplankton assemblages were analysed. The reservoir’s hydrological cycle was characterized by three regimes. The maximum level phase lasted from January to the beginning of June, the emptying phase existed between mid-June to the beginning of September and the minimum level phase lasted from mid-September to the beginning of the first autumn/winter rain events. The highest values of total phosphorus, soluble reactive phosphorus, nitrate, water colour and chlorophyll a were found during the minimum level phase. The phytoplankton assemblage was dominated by taxa typical of meso-eutrophic environments during the emptying and minimum level phases. However, during the maximum level phase, taxa generally found in more oligotrophic systems were observed here also. Similar to other disturbed systems, the zooplankton assemblage was dominated by Rotifera, except in summer and autumn when the cladoceran Ceriodaphnia quadrangula and/or the copepod Tropocyclops prasinus became dominant. Although those shifts seem to be related to water level variations, further research is needed to evaluate to what extent they might also be induced by other seasonal factors acting independently of water fluctuations. Based upon the obtained data, suggestions for reservoir management are proposed