Adapting to climate change in the water sector in Ethiopia

A study by RIPPLE (Resource-Inspired Policy and Practice Learning in Ethiopia and the Nile Region) looked into the effectiveness of planned climate-change adaptation interventions in highland, midland and lowland sites in Oromia and Somali Regions of Ethiopia, including pastoral and agropastoral areas. Water resources are likely to be particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and inappropriate interventions could undermine poverty-reduction efforts and increase inequity in access to water. The study suggests that range management could enhance the coping capacity of pastoral communities. Initiatives aimed at promoting local management practices should build on available social and human capital in order to address conflict situations that are exacerbated by climate-induced impacts. Range-management interventions should focus on identifying suitable fodder species that are responsive to changes in herd composition. Water availability plays a key role in facilitating adaptation among pastoral communities. Interventions will be needed to enhance pastoralist access to water resources. The report “Adapting to climate change in the water sector: assessing the effectiveness of planned adaptation interventions in reducing local level vulnerability” can be found here and a summary paper here.

Posted on 27 August 2012 in Pastoralism & Climate Change, Pastoralism & Natural Resources