Browse by Theme: Resilience

This case study analyzes the results, lessons learned and recommendations emerging from the application of the Climate Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (CVCA) methodology in the context of the PRAA project. First, it presents an overview of the project, the areas of intervention by country, the results of the analysis itself, and lastly, the main lessons learned and recommendations that arose from the application of the tools contained in the CVCA Handbook in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

The CVCA methodology is a tool developed by CARE to delineate the socio-‐economic aspects of vulnerability to climate change, particularly those factors that make women and other marginalized groups especially vulnerable. The results of the analysis provide a solid foundation for identifying practical strategies to enable community-‐based adaptation to climate change.

This research is a result of considerable input and support from various individuals across ACCRA’s consortium of members: Oxfam GB in Uganda, the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), CARE International in Uganda, World Vision Uganda, and Save the Children in Uganda.

Special thanks go to all our colleagues in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Water and Environment, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, the Department of Water, the Ministry of Health and the Department of Meteorology for their continued support and inputs to ACCRA’s work.

Thanks are also due to the country researchers and the ACCRA coordinator who led the data-collection process and contributed greatly towards analysis of the research findings: Doreen Ruta and Fredrick Ayorekire (Gender Development |Initiatives), Margaret Barihaihi and Anthony Kagoro (World Vision Uganda). Special thanks also go to Josephine Lofthouse and Catherine Pettengell.

This document is an output from a project funded by the UK Department for International Development (DfID) for the benefit of developing countries. However, the views expressed and information contained in it are not  necessarily those of, nor endorsed by, DfID or the members of the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), which can accept no responsibility or liability for such views, the completeness or accuracy of the information, or for the reliance placed on them.

This paper was written by Eva Ludi and Simon Levine based on three site reports (see references) which were produced by a team of researchers from Haramaya University comprising Million Getnet, Kindie Tesfaye, Beneberu Shimelis, Hiluf Gebrekidan, and Belay Kassa and from contributions by Million Getnet and Kirsty Wilson provided during a working session in Addis Ababa in July 2011.

The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of the communities in Ander Kello, Kase-hija and Wokin  kebeles as well as staff from Chifra, Gemechis and Dabat wereda bureaus and Care, Oxfam, ORDA and Save the Children UK.

This brief summarises research conducted by the Africa Climate Change Resilience Alliance (ACCRA) in three sites in Uganda in 2010-11. Climate Change, Adaptation and Adaptive Capacity – what are they, and why do they matter in Uganda? While Uganda has made significant gains with regards to economic growth and poverty reduction in recent years, development pressures still exist and act as significant barriers to progress.

Uganda’s population growth rate is 3.4%, higher than average for sub-Saharan Africa, and the population is expected to double by 2025, compared to 2002. The backbone of the economy is rain-fed agriculture, with over 80% of the country’s labour force employed in this activity. The country now faces the challenge of responding to a rapidly changing climate, that greatly magnifies existing development pressures. Since most Ugandan communities have a low capacity to adapt to these changes, the challenge is compounded.

The Local Adaptive Capacity framework (LAC) was developed by the Africa Climate Change Resilience Alliance (ACCRA). The paper draws on extensive consultations with academics, policy-makers and practitioners and is an attempt to incorporate the intangible and dynamic dimensions of adaptive capacity, as well as capital and resource-based components, into an analysis of adaptive capacity at local level.

The framework forms a conceptual basis for ACCRA’s country level research, which seeks to understand how development or social protection interventions undertaken by ACCRA members (Oxfam, Save the Children, World Vision and CARE) contribute to adaptive capacity in 11 communities in three African countries (Uganda, Mozambique and Ethiopia).

Mozambique faces both rapidly changing climate and development pressures. At the local level, many communities do not have the necessary tools, resources or capacity to adapt, and will require support from government and other development actors.

"To reduce people’s vulnerability to climate change, CARE focuses on building adaptive capacity and, in some cases, reducing exposure or sensitivity to its impacts. We are also taking steps to ensure our development programs and projects contribute, whenever possible, to strengthening resilience and that they don’t inadvertently worsen vulnerabilities. These processes are often called “adaptation to climate change.
Adaptation is defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as: Adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities."