Climate Change: Community Based Adaptation.

Adaptation

According to UNFCCC, “Adaptation refers to adjustments in ecological, social, or economic systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli and their effects or impacts. It refers to changes in processes, practices, and structures to moderate potential damages or to benefit from opportunities associated with climate change. In simple terms, countries and communities need to develop adaptation solution and implement action to respond to the impacts of climate change that are already happening, as well as prepare for future impacts.”

SASOL acknowledges the importance of both mitigation and adaptation and strategically selects to focus on adaptation due to her experience and existence at the grassroots level. This is in line with UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement where grassroots organizations and communities are encouraged to take lead in climate change response.

The Parties to UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement acknowledge that adaptation action should follow a country-driven, gender-responsive, participatory and fully transparent approach, considering vulnerable groups, communities and ecosystems, and should be based on and guided by the best available science and, as appropriate, traditional knowledge, knowledge of indigenous peoples and local knowledge systems, with a view to integrating adaptation into relevant socioeconomic and environmental policies and actions.

The ASALs in Sub-Saharan Africa, Kitui County included, are recognized as having climates that are among the most variable in the world on seasonal and decadal time scales. Floods and droughts can occur in the same area within months of each other. These events can lead to famine and widespread disruption of socio-economic well-being.

Many factors contribute and compound the vulnerability like over-exploitation of land resources and forests, increases in  population, desertification and land degradation (UNDP 2006).

Community Based Adaptation

Community-based adaptation to climate change is a generally accepted concept which means community-led process based on communities’ priorities, needs, knowledge, and capacities, which should empower people to plan for and cope with the impacts of climate change.

SASOL CBA Strategy

Awareness Creation

  1. Making local communities understand what is happening to the climate.
  2. Localization of climate change concepts and terminologies.
  3. Making local communities identify the noticeable changes (Socio-economic, environmental, and political) in the locality.

Implementation

  1. Identify local coping strategies to climate change.
  2. Research and Design best practices.
  3. Implement and evaluate best practices.

Advocacy

  1. Participation in multi-stakeholder climate change forums.
  2. Lobby County governments for funding of climate resilient initiatives.
  3. Documentation and sharing.

Key CBA Solutions Implemented by SASOL

  1. Rainwater Harvesting: 3R Approaches (Retention, Recharge, Reuse).
    1. Sand dams and subsurface dams across seasonal streams.
    2. Roof water harvesting at household and institutional level.
    3. Earth pans and ponds.
    4. Road water harvesting into ponds, retention ditches and terraces.
  2. Re-greening:
    1. Reseeding of grasses especially Vetiver systems.
    2. Tree nurseries and planting of trees.
  3. Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA):
    1. Conservation Agriculture
    2. Ecological farming
    3. Drought resilient varieties like green grams, pigeon pea, cow pea and sorghum.
  4. Household Nutrition:
    1. Kitchen gardens for vegatables utilizing waste water
    2. Short duration fruit trees like passion fruits, papaya and berries.

The Micro-enterprises SASOL is focused on are:

Tomatoes growing in an MPC greenhouse

Tomatoes growing in an MPC greenhouse

1. Vegetable production through greenhouse technology (i.e. tomatoes)

2. Conservation Agriculture technology such as mulching and permanent planting holes. Currently SASOL is applying CA principles using onions and sorghum intercropped with dolicos-mucuna.

3. Commercialization of indigenous goat rearing

4. Drought tolerant crop production (i.e. green grams, sorghum, and millet).

5. Indigenous poultry production under semi-intensive implementation.

6. Farmer Managed Natural Resource (FMNR) practice, this involves paddocking and vegetation management resulting in improved livestock nourishment.

MPC South Location, South of the Main SASOL Office in Kitui Town


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Multi-Purpose Centre (MPC-South)

Posted by on Feb 17, 2015 in Current Projects, Enterprise Developement Projects | Comments Off on Multi-Purpose Centre (MPC-South)

Multi-Purpose Centre (MPC-South)

Phase 1 focuses on developing a Farmer’s Resource Centre at MPC South, whereby modern farming technologies, conservation agriculture, and promotion of indigenous breeds of livestock suitable for arid and semi-arid regions are practiced.The main function of the Centre is to provide access to appropriate knowledge and skills as a contribution to the development and improved well-being of individuals in Kitui County.

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