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Begin New Search Topic Adaptation Political Geography Africa

1. The perception of climate change in Senegal coastal areas

Author:
Serigne Momar Sarr, Adama Faye, Dibor Sarr Faye, and Thierno Sarr
Publication Date:
04-2024
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:
The cognitive dimension of climate change is a subject that is rarely analysed. However, communities’ endogenous adaptation strategies are heavily dependent on their perception of the risks linked to climate change. An analysis of individuals’ representations and perceptions of climate change makes it possible to improve the ability to adapt of territories confronted by it. In this analysis, the relations of interdependence between perception, knowledge and adaptation strategies show how communities living in the coastal area of Senegal interpret climate change, in particular in the fields of agriculture, water resources and coastal areas. Considering these representations favours the co-construction and acceptability of the adaptation strategies. It enables state and non state actors to better understand the communities’ needs as regards public climate policies, whereas the media can identify levers they can use to devise effective public information campaigns on the climate, in order to reduce the vulnerability of communities that face climate hazards.
Topic:
Climate Change, Risk, Adaptation, and Perception
Political Geography:
Africa and Senegal

2. Climate Adaptation Finance: The Gap Between Needs and Resources Continues to Grow

Author:
Jamal Saghir and Ede Jorge Ijjasz-Vasquez
Publication Date:
01-2024
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Institute for the Study of International Development, McGill University (ISID)
Abstract:
Our recent research on the state and trends of climate adaptation finance needs, gaps, and trends globally and in Africa provides new insights that call for greater urgency in adaptation action and financing. The global adaptation funding gap continues to widen because the understanding of needs shows much higher levels of investment required, and the rate of increase of adaptation financing is insufficient. In this policy brief, we review global climate finance trends, the growing funding gap in climate adaptation finance globally and in Africa, financial instruments used for climate adaptation, and challenges and recommendations to improve the tracking of climate adaptation finance.
Topic:
Climate Change, Climate Finance, International Development, Funding, and Adaptation
Political Geography:
Africa and Global Focus

3. Climate Adaptation in Africa: Locally Led and Nature Based Solutions

Author:
Jamal Saghir and Ede Jorge Ijjasz-Vasquez
Publication Date:
01-2023
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Institute for the Study of International Development, McGill University (ISID)
Abstract:
Climate change continues to cause damage in Africa. It triggers food insecurity, poverty and displacement. The impacts of climate change are being exacerbated by rapid urbanization, geopolitical tensions, headwinds caused by the invasion of Ukraine and its impacts on agricultural exports and fertilizers. Equally important, inflationary pressures, risks of global and regional economic recession, and unsustainable debt levels for many countries are amplifying the impacts of climate shocks on African economies and communities. Our recent analysis by the Global Center for Adaptation (GCA)1 shows that Africa is ground zero for the climate emergency. The climate is changing, and Africa needs to adapt. It must adapt to rising temperatures, more extreme storms, and floods, rising sea levels, more intense heatwaves, and longer and more severe droughts. However, an enormous funding gap on adaptation is holding Africa back. This policy brief analyses climate adaptation financial flows to Africa and argues that the limited resources available to Africa for adaptation need to be used in the most efficient and productive manner to dampen the combined impacts of climate shocks and economic downturns. Nature-based solutions (NbS) and Locally Led Adaptation programs (LLA) are critical in this respect. Moreover, multilateralism and collaboration between governments, international organizations, international financial institutions, civil society, and the private sector are critical to ensure more support for adaptation in Africa.
Topic:
Climate Change, Development, Food Security, Nature, and Adaptation
Political Geography:
Africa

4. Technology needs for climate adaptation in agriculture: Evidence from Africa

Author:
African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)
Publication Date:
01-2023
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)
Abstract:
The adoption of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays a pivotal role in driving innovation to combat climate change in African agriculture. This policy brief underscores key factors influencing ICT adoption in agriculture, with a special emphasis on affordability, cost-effectiveness, and clear economic benefits. Access to digital farming solutions and ICT tools is rapidly spreading across the continent, particularly in providing farmers with essential weather information, market access, and improved agricultural practices. Despite these promising developments, significant challenges such as high data costs, limited digital literacy, and gender-based digital disparities must be addressed to ensure inclusivity in technological access. Furthermore, the knowledge product demonstrates the critical role of climate-resilient crop varieties and adaptable livestock breeds in agricultural technological innovation. This includes drought-tolerant, heat-resistant, and diseaseresistant crops, as well as livestock breeds suited for changing environmental conditions. Water management and irrigation technologies, such as precision agriculture and data analytics, are critical to optimizing resource use, increasing efficiency, and empowering women in agriculture. This document emphasizes the importance of ICT in closing technological gaps, improving weather monitoring, promoting resilient crops and livestock, and fostering sustainable practices across African agricultural systems. A gender-responsive approach to technological innovation is essential for ensuring equitable participation and closing existing gaps. Finally, the knowledge product emphasizes the importance of policy support, capacity development, and public-private partnerships in effectively integrating ICT into agriculture. By harnessing the potential of ICT while prioritizing gender-responsive solutions, Africa can successfully adapt to climate change, empower its farming communities, foster sustainable development, unlock economic opportunities, provide access to vital information, and scale up adaptation efforts. Ultimately, technological innovation through ICT is critical to building climate resilience and securing a prosperous and sustainable future for Africa.
Topic:
Agriculture, Climate Change, Science and Technology, Communications, Innovation, and Adaptation
Political Geography:
Africa

5. Coordination challenges and opportunities for climate adaptation in African agriculture

Author:
African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)
Publication Date:
01-2023
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)
Abstract:
Climate change poses a major global threat, particularly for agriculture, and this knowledge product delves into the context of climate adaptation in African agriculture. It emphasizes the critical role of climate adaptation in safeguarding the sustainability of food systems and rural communities. African agriculture, predominantly comprised of smallholder farmers, bears the brunt of climate change’s adverse impacts, including erratic rainfall, droughts, and heatwaves, which disrupt crop yields and food availability. Climate adaptation is indispensable to ensure food security and resilient livelihoods. Substantial investments are now being directed towards enhancing climate adaptation capacities across the continent. Collaborative efforts involving governments, NGOs, donors, and local communities aim to promote climate-smart agriculture, improve water management, and enhance access to climate information services. Nevertheless, coordination challenges persist, impeding the effectiveness of adaptation endeavors. Africa’s diverse geography, climates, and socioeconomic conditions make coordination of climate interventions and policy at the international, regional, national, and local levels a complex task. In the Sahel, climate adaptation coordination encounters challenges due to varying priorities and capacities among nations. Aligning international climate policies with regional and national strategies remains a daunting task. Conversely, the Southern African region grapples with the impacts of extreme weather events on agriculture, such as floods and cyclones, necessitating coordinated disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. Ethiopia’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) is a model of effective multi-stakeholder collaboration. Government agencies, civil society, research institutions, and local communities collaborate to increase adaptive capacity, focusing on locally tailored solutions derived from farmers’ specific needs and indigenous knowledge. Finally, this policy brief illuminates climate adaptation in African agriculture, recognizing the continent’s vulnerability and the need for coordinated action. It shares valuable insights from diverse regions and initiatives, providing insights into the challenges and opportunities of coordinating climate adaptation. Collaboration, knowledge sharing, and coordinated efforts hold the key to ensuring a resilient and sustainable future for African agriculture in a changing climate.
Topic:
Agriculture, Climate Change, Sustainability, Resilience, and Adaptation
Political Geography:
Africa

6. Gender and Social Equity in climate adaptation programming and capacity development in the agriculture sector in Africa

Author:
African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)
Publication Date:
01-2023
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)
Abstract:
This policy brief emphasizes the critical importance of incorporating gender and social equity considerations into climate adaptation programming within Africa’s agriculture sector. Climate change is already exerting a significant impact, but its effects are far from uniform. Marginalized communities, notably women and girls, bear a disproportionate burden due to pre-existing social, economic, and cultural disparities. The knowledge brief extensively explores the vulnerabilities and roles of women and marginalized groups, shedding light on the adverse effects of climate change on their lives. It underscores the importance of adopting gender-responsive and socially equitable approaches to effectively mitigate these effects. Furthermore, the analysis showcases a curated selection of case studies, each exemplifying initiatives that have made significant progress in addressing these complex challenges. These initiatives are notable for their dedication to gender mainstreaming, women’s empowerment, and the implementation of gender-sensitive climate adaptation interventions. These case studies offer invaluable insights for replication and scaling up across the continent. Key lessons include promoting gender-transformative adaptation, providing training and technical assistance, enhancing women’s participation in policy development, and improving data collection and analysis. In conclusion, this knowledge product serves issues a compelling call to incorporate gender and social equity considerations into climate adaptation policies and practices, particularly in Africa’s agriculture sector. It contributes to the development of a more resilient and equitable response to climate change in African agriculture, aligning with global sustainability goals. This approach ensures a more just and prosperous future by championing inclusivity and sustainability for all.
Topic:
Agriculture, Climate Change, Adaptation, Equity, and Gender
Political Geography:
Africa

7. Mapping climate adaptation finance in Kenya's devolved governance system: a case of Makueni County

Author:
Judith Mulwa and Marie Ladekjær Gravesen
Publication Date:
12-2022
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS)
Abstract:
These years, countries are coming up with policies, laws and regulations aimed at mobilising finances to fund response measures for climate change adaptation. It is, therefore, imperative that these finances, among others, are mapped out so that we can track the measures that are financed, the types of financing that are used, and ultimately look at whether the available funds are meeting their objectives in the ways that they are being spent. Kenya is among the first countries to develop policies, strategies and institutional frameworks for climate action, creating a policy and legal environment to advance an effective climate change response. And specifically, Kenya’s Makueni County has enacted county-level climate change regulation as part of the implementation of the national agenda on climate change. The Makueni county government and its partners have made significant efforts to build the capacity to integrate climate information into CIDPs and apply it to resilience planning and budgeting processes. Doing so, Makueni County has been able to attract climate finance in the recent past. The integration of climate financing in the budgetary processes and allocation is an important example that other counties and governance institutions could embrace to attract climate financing and to ensure that impact of the financing is felt at community level. This DIIS Working Paper is a first step at exploring these dynamics, looking at the main types of devolved public funds from the Kenyan ministries and at how Makueni has adapted local institutions and policies to meet local needs of financing for adaptation activities.
Topic:
Climate Change, Governance, Finance, and Adaptation
Political Geography:
Kenya and Africa

8. Devolution of donor funded climate change adaptation finance

Author:
Per Tidemand, Andrew Hattle, Esbern Friis-Hansen, Beatrice Sumari, Peter Rogers, Judith Mulwa, and Millicent Omala
Publication Date:
12-2022
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS)
Abstract:
From 2013-2019 Tanzania received USD 2.0 billion as adaptation-related development finance, whereas Kenya received USD 3.3 billion. Based on the OECD database, this DIIS Working Paper analysis projects based on their financial value, measured as ‘adaptation-related development finance’. This is combined with an analysis of the project documents to measure degree of devolution was developed with three main parameters: the extent to which finance was managed through local government accounts; the extent to which the projects in the respective national budgets were considered devolved; and the use of participatory planning arrangements for management of the funds. Given Kenya’s greater emphasis on devolution, its fiscal strengths, and the autonomy of its counties, when compared to Tanzanian local governments, it was assumed that adaptation-related development finance would be relatively more devolved in Kenya than Tanzania. However, preliminary analysis suggests otherwise. The analysis also suggests that projects classified by development partners as ‘adaptation-related development finance’ in several cases exaggerate levels of funding and only contribute marginally to improved local governance of climate adaption activities.
Topic:
Climate Change, Governance, Finance, and Adaptation
Political Geography:
Kenya, Africa, and Tanzania

9. What China Is Learning From West African Managerial Practices

Author:
Abdoulkadre Ado
Publication Date:
10-2022
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Abstract:
Joint ventures have enabled Chinese companies to cultivate a presence in three West African countries—Ghana, Niger, and Nigeria. Investing in joint ventures has enabled Chinese cultural adaptation by emphasizing training programs in languages commonly spoken in West Africa, embracing local management styles, and assimilating some local practices. This has been especially true in three key economic sectors: free trade zone promotion and related services, transportation and aviation, and oil and gas. Chinese firms are also complementing these growing business arrangements with the use of local languages, social media outreach, and other forms of local engagement with West Africans. In doing so, Chinese organizations have responded to some of the demands of their African partners in local, state, and central government posts. It would be beneficial for African governments, businesses, and corporate managers to explore further ways to incentivize Chinese government decisionmakers and Chinese businesses to use joint ventures more often as the vehicle for their investments in Africa. To deepen the impact of such efforts, they should also encourage Chinese organizations active in West Africa, and across the continent in general, to embrace the use of local languages, especially for conducting business, and to train more Chinese expatriates to use African managerial philosophies that have proven to respect local values while being effective in African markets. Research on China’s engagement abroad and Chinese firms’ business operations in foreign countries often argues that Chinese organizations are not keen to adapt to local contexts. As a result, some analysts of China-Africa relations argue, or at least imply, that China does things as it wishes in Africa and that African countries have little agency in shaping how Chinese governmental and commercial players operate in their countries. Some analysts have even characterized African countries’ relationships with Beijing as the “Chinisation of Africa.”1 This line of thinking tends to assume that local contexts have mattered little for Chinese economic activities in Africa so far. But Chinese commercial engagement in Africa is increasingly adaptative to local contexts, conditions, and complexities. In Ghana, Niger, and Nigeria, Chinese actors are adjusting their ways of doing business to consider local realities with respect to both formal and informal institutions. For one thing, the Chinese players who are active in these three countries are acknowledging and mobilizing African practices and cultural traditions to support their own business goals and sometimes those of their local partners. The level of Chinese economic engagement tends to differ from one African country to another, with some places being more welcoming of a Chinese commercial presence than others. The specific patterns of Chinese adaptation also tend to vary between different parts of Africa. For instance, these adaptations may look different in a Francophone country like Niger than they would in a country like Nigeria. Niger is a nation where China’s adaptation differs from its adaptation in Ghana or Nigeria since language and managerial practices partly are derived from various French and British cultural traditions and colonial imprints in those three African countries.
Topic:
Business, Engagement, Management, and Adaptation
Political Geography:
Africa, China, Asia, and West Africa

10. Dynamic gridlock: Adaptive humanitarian action in the DRC

Author:
Alice Obrecht
Publication Date:
02-2018
Content Type:
Case Study
Institution:
ALNAP: Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance
Abstract:
Humanitarian actors are increasingly responding to more complex situations, such as protracted conflict and high-risk cyclical natural disasters. They face continually changing, uncertain and long term crises, which is a stark contrast to the shorter term rapid-onset situations - such as flooding or earthquakes - that the humanitarian system was built around. How can they adapt the response they deliver in these changing environments? As part of an ALNAP research project addressing this increasingly important issue of adaptive and flexible humanitarian action, this country study focuses on how agencies in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are responding to a complex and protracted crisis. The country has been in a perpetual state of sporadic conflict for the last twenty years, with huge numbers of people displaced and a chronic absence of adequate infrastructure or government response to address its people’s needs. Humanitarians are working in an environment that is continually changing, as many small-to-mid-level, complicated crises arise in different parts of this vast country on a weekly basis. Through interviews with international and local agencies, ALNAP Senior Research Fellow Alice Obrecht maps how programmes and donors have tried to adapt in a setting of complex protracted conflict.
Topic:
Conflict, Adaptation, Humanitarian Response, and Flexibility
Political Geography:
Africa and Democratic Republic of the Congo