Climate change Adaptation In The lowland

Ecosystem of Ethiopia.

Samere Wereda Climate Adaptive Community

Action Plan

Samere, Tigray, Ethiopia

 Table of Contents
Introduction.............................................................................................................................................4
Purpose of the Report..............................................................................................................................6
Project Intervention areas........................................................................................................................6
Community Adaptation Action Plan (CACAP) Development process....................................................7
Steps in the development of the CACAP.................................................................................................8
Step 1: inceptionworkshop......................................................................................................................8
Step 2: Key informant interview..............................................................................................................8
Step 3: Developing historical timeline, Seasonal calendar and Hazard mapping.....................................9
Step 4: Identification and prioritization of climate change impacts.........................................................9
Step 5: Stakeholder Mapping.................................................................................................................10
Step 6: Community Visioning...............................................................................................................10
Step 7: Identification and prioritization of climate change adaptation strategies...................................12
Step 8: Development of the CACAP.....................................................................................................13
Step 9: Adoption of the CACAP by community members....................................................................13
Study findings........................................................................................................................................14
Zuway Dugda Woreda...........................................................................................................................14
The Impact of Climate Change..............................................................................................................15
The Community coping Mechanism......................................................................................................16
Community Visioning...........................................................................................................................17
Identified climate Change Adaptation Strategies...................................................................................17
Prioritized climate change adaptation strategies....................................................................................18
Potential climate Change adaptation interventions from on-going projects...........................................18
Stakeholder Mapping.............................................................................................................................19
Climate change adaptation policy and institutional framework.............................................................19
Community Adaptation Action Plan......................................................................................................20
Community Adaptation Action Plan......................................................................................................21
Implementing the CACAP.....................................................................................................................24
Next steps..............................................................................................................................................24
Required Institutional set up and Coordination......................................................................................24
Conclusions and Recommendations......................................................................................................25
Appendix a: stakeholder participants’ lists............................................................................................26
Appendix B: Key Informant Guide Participants....................................................................................27
 1. Introduction
Ethiopia is among the most vulnerable countries on the African continent. Small-holder farmers,
agro-pastoralists and pastoralists in the Ethiopian lowland ecosystem are particularly and
increasingly vulnerable to climate change. Climate change has resulted in food insecurity and
dependence on food aid, and limited awareness of its long-term risks hinders efforts to promote
climate-smart solutions to build resilience and adaptive capacity. Ethiopia is faced with many
social and environmental challenges that exacerbate its vulnerability to climate change. These
issues jeopardize not only the achievement of its goal of becoming a middle-income country by
2025, but also, and most importantly, the well-being of its population. Communities dependent
on crop production and pastoralist for their livelihoods are particularly vulnerable. Pastoralists
rely on climate-sensitive resources such as pasture and water, while farmers are strongly affected
by climate risks, including direct impacts such as crop losses caused by drought, as well as
indirect impacts such as soil erosion.

The need to strengthen climate resilience is recognized in Ethiopia’s current and emerging
national development strategies, and the country is making strides toward increasing the adaptive
capacity of its citizens and communities through improvements in agricultural sector. However,
continued efforts are needed to address the underlying factors of multi-dimensional poverty,
population growth, gender inequality, and resource degradation that leave many Ethiopians
vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Positive indications that these challenges will be
addressed are the government’s demonstrated political will to respond to climate change as part
of a broader green growth strategy and green legacy progress to date in establishing a policy
framework for climate action at the national and sub national levels, and the country’s capacity
to attract international financial support. Besides this, Global Environment Facility (GEF), was
the first global source of funds for climate adaptation and continues to play a leading role in
strengthening the resilience of developing countries, including our country Ethiopia, as an
operating entity of the financial mechanism to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCC). It channels support for climate adaptation mainly through the Least
Developed Countries Fund (LDCF). The fund has an important role of serving the Paris
Agreement, which has established a global goal on adaptation to enhance adaptive capacity,
strengthen resilience, and reduce vulnerability to climate change. The GEF’s approach to
adaptation is based on the recognition that climate change affects all aspects of human, social,
and economic development. The GEF has supported the integration of adaptation measures into
development plans, policies, programs, and projects at the regional, national, sub-national, and
local levels. Innovation, partnership, and gender equality are also part of the GEF’s approach to
adaptation and resilience support.

Particularly, the following three sets of overarching barriers, which includes lowland
communities lack of knowledge on risks of climate change, the benefits of climate smart
solutions & adaptation practices, limited access to climate forecasts, decision-making tools &
climate advisory services for lowland communities, inability of land users to invest in climate
smart technologies and solutions required to diversify & sustain their livelihoods in the face of
climate change are the major barriers to withstand in the way of advancing towards the project
objective of building sustainable and climate-resilient economic growth among vulnerable
communities, targeting lowland areas in Ethiopia.

This project which is funded by GEF, LDCF, has been working to remove the barriers that have
hindered land users and government stakeholders from building their resilience and adaptive
capacity, particularly those vulnerable communities represented by women and youths in the
targeted lowland ecosystem of Ethiopia. The project also working to increase understanding of
key adaptation issues, including community-based adaptation techniques as a basis for
incorporating climate smart technologies and good practices through a practical learning-by-
doing approach; strengthen the ability of land users to adapt to the discernible impacts of climate
change through disseminating credible weather information & advisory services using locally
suitable communication channels to inform the preparation & implementation of actions meant
for building resilience & adaptive capacity. Furthermore, diversify livelihood options of
communities in twelve Woreda’s across the six regions in a way that leads to tangible and
replicable changes are the major intervention areas which the project has been striving for.

The lowland ecosystems of Ethiopia, including regions such as the Tigray Lowlands, are
particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. These areas are characterized by arid
and semi-arid climates, making them susceptible to increasing temperatures, erratic rainfall
patterns, and prolonged droughts. The communities living in these lowland areas have developed
various coping mechanisms and adaptation strategies to mitigate the challenges posed by climate
change and ensure their resilience in the face of environmental stressors.

Climate change adaptation in the lowland ecosystems of Ethiopia encompasses a range of

community-driven initiatives and practices aimed at enhancing the capacity of local populations
to withstand and respond to climate-related impacts. These adaptation efforts include water
harvesting and conservation, diversification of livelihoods, agro ecological farming practices,
sustainable rangeland management, early warning systems, community-based natural resource
management, utilization of indigenous knowledge and traditional practices, and the
establishment of social support networks.

Despite the resilience and adaptive capacity demonstrated by communities in the lowland
ecosystems of Ethiopia, there is a need for continued support and investment in climate-resilient
infrastructure, access to climate information and technology, capacity building, and sustainable
natural resource management initiatives. By recognizing and building upon the existing
adaptation strategies, it is possible to further strengthen the resilience of these communities and
ensure their ability to thrive in the face of ongoing climate change. Further, the development of
community action development plans is covered under Component 1 of the LL CCA project
which seeks to achieve improved resilience to climate change of pastoral and agro-pastoral
communities’ in Samere Werda.

2. Purpose of the Report

The purpose of preparing a Community Adaptation Action Plan document is to outline a
structured and comprehensive strategy for addressing the impacts of climate change on a specific
community. This document serves as a roadmap that guides community members, local
authorities, and other stakeholders in identifying, prioritizing, and implementing adaptation
measures to enhance resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate-related risks. Overall, the
purpose of a Climate Adaptive Community Action Plan is to enable communities to proactively
address the challenges of climate change, protect their livelihoods, and sustainably manage their
natural resources for future generations.
 3. Areas of Intervention and Implementation
Samre Woreda, the study area, is located in the southern zone of Tigray, 57 km west of Mekelle,
the capital of the region. Seharti-Samre is bordered by Degua Tembien in the north, Alaje in the
south, Tanqua-Abergele in the west and Hintalo-wajerat in the east. The elevation of Samre is
between 1490 and 2266 meter above sea level. Samre is topographically relatively flat compared
to neighboring woredas and dominated by lowlands. Samre is characterized by warm
temperature and lower annual rainfall. The temperature of Seharti-Samre ranges from 17-230c,
the average being 20oc and the annual rainfall 580-670 mm, and the average being 600 mm
Climate change has led to more frequent and severe droughts in the region, affecting agricultural
productivity, water availability, and food security. Droughts can result in crop failures, livestock
deaths, and water scarcity, leading to food insecurity and economic hardships for communities in
Samre wereda (REST, 2007)
Figure1: Location of Samere wereda and Project kebelles
The main source of livelihood in Zuway Dugda Community is agro pastoralism. Mobile
livestock herding offers the most appropriate production system to manage the harsh and
variable environmental conditions found in the woreda. In addition to this, the mountain ranges
support critical economic activities such as honey production, dry season grazing, wood
production, and charcoal production. Addressing food security, provision of safe and adequate
water, poverty, malnutrition, education, gender inequities and ecosystem degradation are critical
for Zuway Dugda Community in terms of its development ambitions and economic, social,
environmental and political potential.

Community Adaptation Action Plan (CACAP) Development process

The development process for a Community Adaptation Action Plan (CACAP) typically involves
several key steps, during the preparation time and some of the key process are; Engaging with a
wide range of stakeholders within the community, including residents, local government
officials, community organizations, businesses, and other relevant groups. This involves
conducting interviews, surveys, workshops, and public meetings to gather input and insights. The
second one is conducting a comprehensive assessment of the community's vulnerability to
climate change impacts. This includes evaluating potential risks such as, extreme drought prone
communities, water scarcity, and other relevant factors. The assessment also considers the
community's social, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities. The third one is identification
of Adaptation Strategies: Based on the vulnerability assessment, adaptation strategies are
identified and prioritized that mainly tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of the
community. This involve considering a range of measures such as improving infrastructure
resilience, enhancing natural resource management, promoting sustainable land use practices,
and fostering community capacity building.

Lastly, the Action Plan Development: a detailed action plan that outlines specific adaptation
actions, timelines, responsible parties, and required resources was adopted. The action plan
should be comprehensive and include short-term and long-term strategies to address the
identified vulnerabilities.

Throughout the development process, it is crucial to ensure that the CACAP is inclusive,
participatory, and responsive to the needs of the community. Collaboration with local
stakeholders and the integration of local knowledge are essential for developing effective
adaptation strategies that are grounded in the realities of the community's context..

This section provides the chronological order of the steps and processes undertaken to develop
CACAP for Samere Woreda. Limitations for the field undertaking and mitigation measures that
were applied are also presented.

A total of nine (9) steps were adopted for the development of the CACAP. The 9 steps were
conducted over a 3-day community participatory process in Zuway Dugda Woreda and was
generally structured under an inception workshop followed by key informant interviews and
completed by community consultations. The detailed activities carried out through the 9 steps is
presented below. Findings of the 9 steps have been provided in detail in chapter 3.

Step 1: inceptionworkshop
The inception workshop targeted Woreda level stakeholders (Woreda Administration Office of
agriculture, Environment Protection, water & energy, Women youth and children etc.), other
government line offices, civil society organizations, development partners, non-governmental
organizations amongst others, who are actively engaged in climate change and agriculture
activities in the project areas. A detailed list of workshop participants is provided in Appendix 3.
The inception workshop had multiple purposes including; introducing stakeholders to activities
of the LL CCA project under Component 1, providing an update of other on-going activities
under the project and collecting information from stakeholders to inform the development of the
CACAP.

Step 2: Key informant interview

After the inception workshop, a series of key informant interviews (KIIs) was conducted. The
objective of the KIIs was to gather additional information on various initiatives being
implemented by other players in the project areas. Specifically, information on successful
climate change adaptation interventions in the project areas was sought. Additionally, any
challenges faced e.g. approaches or technologies that haven’t worked well in the project areas
were also recorded. A detailed list of persons and institutions interviewed is provided in
Appendix. The KIIs were conducted through in-person interviews.
After the KIIs, the team proceeded to the project site to undertake community consultations.
Various community participatory approaches tailored to community climate change adaptation
planning were adopted. Day 1 was spent working on community historical timelines, season
calendar, and hazard mapping. Day 2 was spent on exploring the climate change impacts and
generating a prioritized list of impacts of both floods and droughts, which emerged as the two
main climate change related, in addition to mapping potential partners and stakeholders through
“Venn Diagramming”. Day 3 was spent developing a vision of the community, identifying
climate change adaptation strategies and sub-strategies to realize the community vision,
prioritizing the strategies and developing and adopting the CACAP.

Step 3: Developing historical timeline, Seasonal calendar and Hazard mapping

The consultant provided guidelines on how to develop the historical timelines in Kiswahili,
which was broadly accepted by the community members. Translation of these guidelines was
provided by community members in their local dialect for older community members to ensure
that everyone was brought up to speed on the process that was being undertaken. With
facilitation from the consultant, the community provided details of key climate related events i.e.
drought and floods. The events were then arranged in chronological order starting from the
earliest recorded events. Thereafter, the historical timeline was developed for Zuway Dugda
Woreda.

Similar to the historical timelines, the consultant provided guidance to the community on how to
develop the seasonal calendar. The focus of this activity was to document bio-physical changes
and livelihood activities, and community coping mechanisms during different seasons of the
year. With facilitation from the consultant, the community recorded and validated the different
seasonal changes in a year. Thereafter, the community listed the various bio-physical changes
(changes in temperature, rainfall patterns and intensity, wind speed and direction etc.) witnessed
during the respective seasons and also listed the coping mechanisms adopted by the community
for the respective seasons.

The community hazard mapping exercise was preceded by the community drawing a map of
their community on paper and highlighting key features such as rivers, hills, roads, schools,
churches, community centers, markets etc. With facilitation from the consultant, the community
thereafter identified key climate related hazards that affect the community during drought and
flood events.

Step 4: Identification and prioritization of climate change impacts

On day 2 of the community consultations, the objective was to reflect on and document climate
change impacts witnessed by the community and thereafter generating a prioritized list of
impacts of both floods and droughts on the livelihoods of the local farmers. With facilitation
from the consultant, the community recorded climate change impacts for drought and flood
episodes. Thereafter, the community identified priority of the impacts based on severity i.e.
“between floods and droughts, which is more severe compared to the other?”.

Stakeholder Mapping
Stakeholder mapping at the community level was done based on their level of influence, and
their level of interest in low land climate change. Using a matrix or diagram that categorizes
stakeholders based on their influence and interest. Depending on the scale of the
projects/programmes being implemented, the community allocated different sizes of circles to
the respective organizations to illustrate scale of interventions and degree of closeness to the
community. The community recorded the respective stakeholders in there, gave indication on
focus areas of the stakeholders e.g. Agricultural development, Academic Institutions,
Environmental NGOs, education, health, security, local administration, infrastructure (roads,
dams, schools) etc.

Step6: Community Visioning

Community visioning in lowland climate change involve a participatory process to gather input
and ideas from a diverse range of community members. Here are some steps that could be taken
to facilitate this visioning process: Organize community meetings in different villages within the
Wereda to discuss the impacts of climate change on the lowland areas. Encourage open dialogue
and information sharing about how climate change is affecting the community. Facilitate
workshops where community members can collectively envision their desired future in the face
of climate change. This could involve brainstorming sessions, group discussions, and creative
activities to visualize a resilient and sustainable community.. This enabled them to think beyond
immediate needs and concerns. Reflecting on the identified climate change impacts and
challenges during drought and flood episodes, the community members were asked to dream of a
time in the future when their community will be rid of the challenges listed above; a vision of a
better tomorrow. Thereafter, the community provided feedback on the community members’
dreams and aspirations for their community. An example of the recorded community feedback is
provided as follows.

“I see…

 Increased peace and security

 Increased Household income
 Better support for people with disabilities
 Training, capacity building and exposure tours to places that have managed
similar situations successfully
 Greater community awareness about climate change and development in general
 Improved health facilities
 Value addition in our produce
 Polytechnics for youths and reduced drunkenness
 Bee keeping (new value chains)
 Climate Change policies and strategies to address challenges
 Plenty of water
 A lot of trees
 Better livestock breeds and quality fetching higher prices in the markets
 Increased pasture and storage of feeds
 Reduced soil erosion
 Better Sanitation
 Fenced Farms
 Improved access and feeder-roads
 Increased investment in horticulture – mangoes, oranges, avocado, lemons,
bananas, vegetables
 Food and livelihoods security and sustainability
 Sustainable groups
 Regulated prices and marketing
  Alternative livelihoods

Community members’ vision/dream statements were then used as a basis for discussing potential
climate change adaptation interventions, how climate change impacts could affect their assets,
and what can be done to minimize the negative effects. This framed the adaptation discussion in
a positive and empowering way, rather than focusing only on problems and how to solve them.

Based on the received feedback, the consultant identified key words “buzz words” from the
collective feedback and developed a draft vision statement for the community. The draft vision
statement was presented to the community members for approval and improvement. After some
discussion, the final community vision statement was agreed on and adopted by the community.

Step 7: Identification and prioritization of climate change adaptation strategies

Following the community visioning exercise, the community identified climate change
adaptation strategies required to achieve the community vision. The identified strategies were
recorded randomly until all options were exhausted. After that, the community prioritized the
strategies starting with the most urgently needed strategies. The order of importance was
identified and agreed on between the community members with the consultant only recording the
consensus reached amongst the community members. An example of recorded climate change
adaptation strategies which were later prioritized is presented in Figure 2.
 Figure2:Sample recorded and prioritizedclimatechangeadaptationstrategies list

Step 8: Development of the CACAP

After identification and prioritization of climate change adaptation strategies by community
members, the consultant provided an outline of the CACAP (Development of Community
Adaptation Action Plans (CACAPs). Detailed results are provided in Chapter 3.
 Figure3:Sample recorded CACAPfor Zuway Dugda Woreda

Step 9: Adoption of the CACAP by community members

After completion of the CACAP, the community members validated the recorded plan and made
final iterations as needed. The community members, through their local leaders present e.g. the
Chairperson, Secretary, or community leaders confirmed that the details captured in the CACAP
were accurate, realistic and acceptable. The adoption of the CACAP was done through a
community leaders where the community presented the approved plans to their local leaders.
 Figure4:Adoption of the CACAPfor Zuway Dugda Woreda

Study findings
This section provides details of the study findings which is informed by all activities carried out
during the field mission i.e. inception workshop, key informant interviews, historical timelines,
seasonal calendar, hazard mapping, venn diagramming, identification and prioritization of
climate change adaptation strategies and development of the CACAP.

Zuway Dugda Woreda historical timeline & seasonal Calendar

This section provides details of the study findings which is informed by all activities carried out
during the field mission i.e. inception workshop, key informant interviews, historical timelines,
seasonal calendar, hazard mapping, venn diagramming, identification and prioritization of
climate change adaptation strategies and development of the CACAP.
 Table2:SeasonalcalendarforZuway Dugda Woreda

season
Kiremt (Summer/Wet
Season):
Bega (Autumn/Dry Season):
Belg (Spring/Short Rains):
Description
Runs from June to September
- Characterized by heavy rainfall, particularly in July and August
- Main planting season for crops such as maize, teff, sorghum, and barley
- High humidity and cooler temperatures compared to the dry season
Runs from October to January
- Generally dry and cool weather with occasional light showers
- Harvesting season for crops planted during the Kiremt season
- Ideal time for land preparation and soil conservation activities
Runs from February to May
- Short rainy season with sporadic showers
- Secondary planting season for short-cycle crops such as lentils, chickpeas,
and vegetables
- Preparation for the upcoming Kiremt season

Throughout the year, there may also be variations in weather patterns and temperature levels,
influenced by factors such as altitude and proximity to the highlands. It is important for farmers
and communities in Samere Wereda to closely monitor weather forecasts and adapt their
agricultural practices to the seasonal changes to ensure successful crop production and
sustainable livelihoods. Additionally, climate change impacts may alter traditional seasonal
patterns, emphasizing the need for adaptive strategies and resilience-building measures in the
region.

The Impact of Climate Change

The impact of climate change in Samere Wereda, Tigray region, can have significant and wide-
ranging effects on the local environment, economy, and community. Some of the key impacts of
climate change in this area may include:

During Drought Time: During Flooding Time

 Reduced agricultural productivity: This lead to water  Infrastructure damage: Flooding can cause
scarcity, impacting crop yields and livestock production. damage to roads, bridges, homes, and other
Farmers faced food insecurity and economic hardships infrastructure in the Wereda, disrupting
due to failed harvests. transportation and communication networks.
 Water scarcity: Droughts can deplete water sources,  Agricultural losses: Excessive rainfall and
affecting access to clean drinking water for both humans flooding can destroy crops, livestock, and farm
and livestock. This can lead to health risks and conflicts infrastructure, leading to economic losses for
over water resources. farmers.
 Soil degradation: Prolonged droughts can exacerbate  Health risks: Flooding can increase the risk of
soil erosion and degradation, reducing soil fertility and waterborne diseases, such as cholera and
productivity. This can further impact agricultural malaria, due to contaminated water sources and
livelihoods in the Wereda. poor sanitation conditions.
 Migration and displacement: During severe droughts,  Displacement: Flooding can force
communities may be forced to migrate in search of communities to evacuate their homes and
water and food, leading to social disruptions and seek temporary shelter, leading to
potential conflicts over resources. displacement and disruptions in livelihoods.

In both droughts and flooding scenarios, the impacts of climate change can exacerbate existing
vulnerabilities in Samere Wereda and pose challenges to sustainable development. It is crucial
for local authorities, communities, and stakeholders to implement adaptation strategies, such as
improved water management practices, early warning systems, resilient agriculture techniques,
and disaster preparedness measures, to mitigate the impacts of climate change during droughts
and flooding events. Collaboration at the local, regional, and national levels is essential to build
resilience and ensure the well-being of the community in the face of these climate-related
challenges.

The Community coping Mechanism

The community has adopted various mechanisms to cope with extreme climate conditions i.e.
floods and droughts. Some of these coping mechanisms include.
  Out-migration of herders to other locations in search of pasture and water for livestock.
For instance, men and youth can stay away from their families for 6 – 12 months
depending on how far they have to move in search of pasture
 Community opts for charcoal making as an alternative source of income especially if
some livestock have died from disease or have been stolen
 De-stocking to reduce livestock herds and to reduce impact in case affected by floods or
drought
 Mixing livestock breeds i.e. investing in indigenous and improved livestock breeds for
cows, goats and chicken
 Consumption of certain tree fruits that are available during extreme dry seasons, for both
animal and human consumption
 Engaging in alternative livelihood activities such as charcoal burning, horticulture (e.g.
sorghum)
 Use of indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) for forecasting of climate change and
community conflicts. The ITK is done through various methods such as reading the small
intestines of animals, migration pattern of certain birds, presence of certain insects (red in
colour), blooming of certain flowers in trees etc.
 Engaging through community leaders for conflict resolution e.g. when livestock herds are
stolen by neighboring communities
 Community/family social contributions i.e. if a family/community member has lost
livestock due to cattle rustling, the family/community contributes livestock to the person
as starting stock.

n the lowland areas of Samere Wereda, Tigray, Ethiopia, where climate change impacts are
increasingly being felt, communities have developed various coping mechanisms to adapt to the
changing environmental conditions. Some of the community coping mechanisms in response to
climate change in the lowland areas of Samere Wereda may include:

1. Diversification of Livelihoods: Communities have diversified their sources of income and

livelihood activities to reduce their dependence on rain-fed agriculture. This may include
engaging in off-farm activities such as small-scale businesses, livestock rearing, and non-
agricultural employment.

2. Water Harvesting and Management: Given the erratic nature of rainfall and increasing water
scarcity, communities have adopted water harvesting techniques such as building small-scale
reservoirs, ponds, and check dams to capture and store rainwater for agricultural and domestic
use.

3. Sustainable Agricultural Practices: Farmers are implementing conservation agriculture

techniques such as minimum tillage, mulching, and intercropping to improve soil fertility, water
retention, and crop resilience to climate variability.

4. Agroforestry and Soil Conservation: Planting trees and shrubs in agroforestry systems can
help improve soil structure, prevent erosion, and provide additional sources of income through
the sale of fruits, timber, and other forest products.

5. Early Warning Systems: Communities have established early warning systems to monitor
weather patterns, receive timely information on potential hazards such as droughts or floods, and
take proactive measures to mitigate risks and protect livelihoods.

6. Community-Based Natural Resource Management: Collaborative efforts among community

members to manage natural resources sustainably, including grazing lands, forests, and water
sources, can help build resilience to climate change impacts and ensure equitable access to
resources.
7. Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing: Training programs, workshops, and knowledge-
sharing initiatives on climate-smart agriculture practices, disaster risk reduction, and adaptive
strategies can empower community members to better cope with climate change challenges.

By combining traditional knowledge with innovative approaches and leveraging local resources
and expertise, communities in the lowland areas of Samere Wereda are working towards building
resilience to climate change and securing sustainable livelihoods for future generations.

Community Visioning
The community members were engaged in the community visioning exercise. The facilitators
explained the aim of the visioning exercise i.e. to imagine the community in future, a community
that is free of current challenges brought about by climatic changes e.g. drought, floods,
increased wind speed and rising temperatures. The members were given time to close their eyes
and envision their community and every one shared their feedback as illustrated below.

Joint community vision Statement for Zuway Dugda

Woredawasdevelopedtocapturetheaboveasfollows

Tobeapeaceful,God-fearing,well-educated,andclimateresilientcommunitywithhealthy
people and animals and abundant resources, through joint community planning

The long-term community visioning statement for the lowland areas of Samere Wereda, Tigray,
Ethiopia, in response to climate change could be:

"Our community envisions a resilient and sustainable future where we thrive in harmony with
our environment, adapting to the challenges of climate change while preserving our cultural
heritage and improving the well-being of all community members. We strive to achieve this
vision through collaborative efforts, innovative solutions, and inclusive decision-making
processes that empower individuals and groups to build a more prosperous and equitable society.
By nurturing our natural resources, embracing climate-smart practices, and fostering strong
social networks, we aim to create a thriving community that is prepared to face the uncertainties
of a changing climate while ensuring a bright future for generations to come."

This vision statement reflects the aspirations of the community in Samere Wereda to build a
resilient and sustainable future that prioritizes environmental stewardship, social cohesion, and
economic development in the face of climate change challenges. It emphasizes the importance of
collective action, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning to achieve long-term sustainability
and well-being for all community members.

Identified climate Change Adaptation Strategies

The community identified the following as the required climate change adaptation strategies for
Zuway Dugda Woreda.

 Joint community planning for issues relating to resources (pasture, water, education,
nutrition, governance, health etc.)
 Community water supply and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) including
building toilets in each of the three villages
 Small scale irrigation for farmers who have land that is not adjacent to the river
(including providing water pumps to small farmer groups)
 Provision of solar powered boreholes and water storage tanks
 Training, capacity building, experience sharing visits
 Alternative livelihoods for crops and livestock including high value crops (bee
keeping, mango, spinach, sugarcane, terere, ground nuts, beans, potatoes, chicken,
fisheries)
 Provision of farm inputs including seeds, insecticides, veterinary services, storage for
supplies, supplementary feeds for livestock and chicken, large scale grass planting
Prioritized climate change adaptation strategies
Through joint discussions and informed by the climate change adaptation strategies identified as
listed above, the community prioritized six climate change adaptation strategies which are listed
in order of priority as follows;

 Investments in irrigated farming

 Provision of farm inputs
 Promotion of alternative livelihoods
 Promotion of community water supply and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
 Training, capacity building, and exposure tours
 Improved governance and joint community planning

Potential climate Change adaptation interventions from on-going projects

The key informant interviews were useful in gathering feedback from other key players in the
project area. The interviews sought to identify, from other stakeholders, on-going or past climate
change adaptation interventions that are suitable for the project area. Potential climate change
adaptation interventions which are informed by interventions that have been tried and tested by
other stakeholders in Zuway Dugda Woreda and the larger Community include;

 Dissemination of climate information to the community through existing institutional

structures i.e. Woreda, Kebele and Sub kebele level offices. Dissemination of climate
information is done through bulletins, radio and community leaders. However, some
of the challenges faced include limited FM radio signal coverage in remote areas,
some families don’t have radio appliances, and low literacy levels to understand and
use the bulletins. Transmission of climate information through bulk SMS has been
piloted and the programme was a success. However, such an approach would require
provision and supply of mobile phones to the beneficiaries.
 Alternative livelihood activities such as bee keeping, fisheries, insurance schemes for
livestock, mango and pawpaw farming, sorghum etc.
 Investment in agro-pastoral value chains and provision of accompanying services e.g.
training and capacity building, exposure tours, branding and marketing, intellectual
property rights etc.
  Community water supply through drilling boreholes
 Some boreholes go as deep as 250 for increased probability of striking stable aquifers
 Mainstreaming conflict resolution for all programmes and projects. This includes
involving community leaders, religious leaders, and local administration in conflict
resolution.

Stakeholder Mapping
Thefollowingstakeholderswereidentifiedthroughthevenndiagrammingexercisefor Zuway Dugda Woreda.

Table4:Identifiedstakeholdersin Zuway Dugda Woredawithrespectivefocusareas

Organization Focusarea
1. Woreda Administration Administrative support
1. Woreda Environment protection
2. LL CCA
3. Woreda Water Energy
4. Woreda Agriculture

Climate change adaptation policy and institutional framework

CRGE strategy and NAPA program designed and implementing in Ethiopia in 2005 and 2007
respectively are providing framework for addressing climate change issues in the country.

It recognizes that climate change is directly affecting the social, economic and human development of
countries. The Policy focuses on the interlinkages between sustainable development and climate change
for critical sectors that are important to the Woreda’s economy and society namely: Environment, Water
and Forestry; Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries; Trade; Extractive Industries; Energy; Physical
Infrastructure; Tourism; and Health. This policy, therefore, elaborates intervention measures that can help
to achieve the goal of low carbon climate-resilient development. The policy focuses on the three key
climate change outcomes: Adaptation, mitigation and financial mechanism for implementation of the
climate change actions.

The Policy has been developed to facilitate a coordinated, coherent and effective response to the local,
national and global challenges and opportunities presented by climate change in Zuway Dugda Woreda
Community. An overarching mainstreaming approach has been adopted to ensure the integration of
climate change considerations into development planning, budgeting and implementation in all sectors
and at all levels of the country.
Community Adaptation Action Plan
This section presents the CACAP for Zuway Dugda Woreda. All information contained in the plans was
obtained from the steps and activities provided in detail in chapters 2 and 3.
Community Adaptation Action Plan
STRATEGIES ACTIVITIES TIMEFRAME LEAD COLLABORATORS REQUIRED ESTIMATED
IMPLEMENTER RESOURCES BUDGET(KES)

1.Investments in - Small-scale 6 months - EPA(LL - Ministry of Water Land,construction 100millionyearly

irrigated irrigationfor small continuous CCA) and Energy materials, capital,
farming farmer groups - MoA labor, farminputs
- Community - Ministry of
including small
- Preparationand Agriculture
maintenance of generators
the scheme - Environmental
Protection Authority
2.Provisionof - Procurement of 6 months - EPA(LL - UNDP Drugs, feeds, 2.5millionyearly
farm inputs farm inputs continuous CCA) Technical staff,
- Ministry of
(insecticides, transport, capital,
- MoA Agriculture
veterinary services, veterinaryofficers,
storage for - Community store, seeds
supplies,
supplementary
feedsforlivestock
and chicken)

- Transportationof
farminputstothe
community
STRATEGIES ACTIVITIES TIMEFRAME LEAD COLLABORATORS REQUIRED ESTIMATED
IMPLEMENTER RESOURCES BUDGET(KES)

- Storage and
distributionoffarm
inputs
3.Promotionof - Chickenfarming 1 year - Community - Ministry of Land, seedlings, 7millionper year
alternative continuous Environment labour, capital,
livelihoods - Bee-keeping - EPA(LL technical staff,
CCA) - UNDP seeds, chickens,
- High value crops
(mango, spinach, - MoA bee hives,
sugarcane,terere, plantingmaterials
ground nuts, beans,
potatoes)

- Agro-forestry
(orchards,tree
planting)

- Pasture
improvement
4.Promotion of - Solar powered 1 year - Community - EPA(LL Land, capital, 5millionyearly
community boreholesineach of continuous CCA) labour, technical
water supply - Ministry of staff,construction
the 3 villages
and water, Water and - MoA material, water
sanitationand - Waterstorage Energy storage tanks
tanks - UNICEF
hygiene
(WASH) - Waterkiosks

- Toilets(4cubicles
each) in each of the
3 villages
STRATEGIES ACTIVITIES TIMEFRA LEAD PLEMENTER COLLABORA REQUIRED ESTIMATED
ME TORS RESOURCES BUDGET (KES)
5. Training, - Training farmers 6 months - Community - WFP Technical staff, 5 million yearly
capacity building, - Establish continuous - EPA (LL - Research transport,
and exposure demonstration CCA ) institutions conference
tours farms - MoA facilities, trainings
- Organize
exposure tours

6. Improved - Community 1 year - Community - WFP Capital, technical 6 million yearly

governance and awareness continuous staff, training
- EPA (LL - Ministry of
joint creation material,
CCA ) Agriculture
community conference
- Training on
planning - MoA facilities
governance and
joint community
planning

- Re-organization of
the Irrigation, Water
Users Association
(IWUA)
TOTAL 125.5million
Implementing the CACAP
Next steps
Thissectionprovidesconclusionsandrecommendationsforconsiderationonactivitiesthatneedtobe undertaken
after adoption of the CACAP plans by community members during the community meetings.

After successful development and adoption of the CACAP, there is need to formalize the action plans
(this report) and circulate the report to Woreda government. The community CACAP should be submitted
through the appropriate government channels and finally to the Woreda Assembly for debate and for
inclusionintheWoredaIntegratedDevelopmentPlans(CIDPs).

In addition to the above, the finalized CACAP should be distributed to the communities through local
administrationchannels e.g.Chair person,Secretary,sothat thecommunitieshavea reference pointfortheir
climate
changeadaptationstrategies.Thiswillenablethecommunitytobeorganizedinimplementingclimatechange
adaptationinterventions.Thecommunitymaysharetheplanswithotherpotentialpartnersforimplementation of
specific interventions based on available support and focus area.

Lastly, the budget estimates provided in the CACAP needs to be re-worked by professionals of the
respective
disciplines(e.g.roadengineers,damengineersetc.)todetermineasnearactualbudgetestimatesaspossible.

Required Institutional set up and Coordination

As indicated in the project document for the LL CCA project, the following is the institutional framework
for implementationofthe CACAP.Forinstanceswherethe
completeinstitutionalframeworkhasnotbeenfullyset up, modifications should be adopted, and in alignment
with existing Government frameworks to implement the project.

In addition to the above institutional framework, there is opportunity to bring other stakeholders on board for
specific activities for targeted partnerships and collaborations as will be needed for each project site.

There is a vibrant community of stakeholders from CBOs, NGOs, private sector amongst others for which
partnerships should be sought and formalized for purposes of effectively implementing the CACAP.
Section3.3providesdetailedinformationonspecificstakeholdersthatareactiveintherespectiveprojectsites with
indication ontheir focus areas e.g. WASH,health, education,conflictresolution,foodsecurity etc.There is an
opportunity to leverage this network of stakeholders for implementation of the CACAP.

KeythematicareasfortheprioritizedCACAPforZuway Dugda Woreda include;

 - Communitywatersupply,sanitationandhygiene
- Skillstraining,exposuretour,capacitybuilding,andcommunityawareness
- Treeplantingandsoilconservation
- Promotionofalternativelivelihoodoptions
- Promotionofdroughtresistantvarieties(cropsandanimals)
- Irrigatedfarmingandprovisionoffarminputs
- ICTandIndigenousTechnicalKnowledge(ITK)climateinformationknowledge
- Improvedgovernanceandjointcommunityplanning

Therefore,therequiredinstitutionalarrangementsandpartnershipscouldbebasedonorganizationsthathave a focus on
the above listed climate change adaptation intervention areas.

Bringing these stakeholders on board will require close liaison and planning with these entities to ensure that the
climate change adaptation plans are incorporated in their respective planning and implementation plans.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Thedevelopment of the CACAP was a huge success and was developed through participatory community
approaches that enriched the outcomes of the plans.Implementation of the plans should therefore be according to
the prioritized activity and resource availability.The required budget estimates need to be re-worked, with the
help of professionalfor each strategy to quantify the budget estimates using systematic approaches and tools. This
is because the estimates provided were based on the community’s experience from other projects and
theirpersonal experiences.

Appendix a: stakeholder participants’ lists

No. ParticipantsList Zuway Dugda Woreda IDNumber

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
 8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

Appendix B: Key Informant Guide Participants

Name Position Organization