Excellent Development Approaches to Climate Change Adaptation

Bongani Ncube (PhD)

International Parliamentary Conference on Climate Change15 July 2010

Key Problems•T

hreats– deforestation, over-grazing, high run-off, soil erosion– evidence of reduced rainfall, increased temperatures,

more extreme weather

•Risks

– drought, floods, migration, food and water scarcity, conflict

•Lack of conservation measures

no soil conservation

nodamsno trees

•70% of water lost

•250t/ha soil loss

•4-8 hours to collect water in dry season

•8-12 hours during droughts

• Trees - 95% of energy use in rural Africa

•1-2 hours collecting firewood

Lack of conservation in semi-arid regions means:

Our work in semi-arid Kenya

We have so far worked with 67 self-help groups across an area of 12,000 km2.

terraces

sand damstrees

maintain water and soil in the farms

providewater for

tree nurseries

retain more water and soil in

the terraces

The Excellent Development Approach

What is a sand dam?

Sand sinks until the dam is completely full of sand. Water is stored within and it remains saturated with water, which is protected from evaporation and from parasites. About 2-10 million litres of water made available. 262 sand dams built so far

Sand dams enable trees to grow

Community tree nurseries established near the damsReforestation, creating environmental and economic benefits. Tree survival rate is over 70%.Over 700,000 trees planted so far

Sand dams transform the environment

1985 2002

3 dams and 6 small barrages built in the valley

Water for Agriculture

Year round water supply enables growth of vegetables and fruit trees Sale of vegetables generates extra income for fees

terraces

sanddamstrees

•95% of water saved

•97% lower soil loss

•2-10M litres of water

•0.5-1 hour to collect water in dry season

•1-2 hours during droughts

•Self-sufficient in fuel

•Fruit & Medicines•Fodder & Compost•Increased Soil &

Water Conservation

How does development improve?

Improve

WaterSupplies

Improve

FoodProduction& Security

Improve

Incomes&

Health

terraces

sanddamstrees

Community Self-Help Approach

Appropriate Technology Solutions

Community-Led Priorities

sustainable development model

What makes our model sustainable?

People doCommunity-led through registered self help groupsShare knowledge and skillsBuilds social capitalEmpowers most marginalised and disadvantagedAppropriate to local needs and context

1.Contribute to climate change mitigation: carbon sinks, micro-climates, sustainable forests

2.Mitigate the impacts of climate change: food security, water security, sustainable livelihoods, micro-climates

3.Builds resilience and preparedness to crises: community cohesion and capacity, seed and food banks, reduces flood and drought risks, ecological diversity and livelihoods

4.Suited to difficult environments: Minimal maintenance, low cost, community cohesion and skills

Our Impacts

•Growing reputation and opportunities to expand

•Retain tight focus on sand dams, trees and terracing

•Build internal capacity in training, mentoring and support

•2020 vision is to enable 3 million people per year to gain access to clean water and have ability to grow enough food and sell

•Advocate and support wider adoption of Excellent Development model by others (NGOs and state), work has commenced

•Other regions in Kenya, Mozambique, Swaziland, Sudan and Zimbabwe

Scaling up our work

1.Weak capacity, performance and monitoring & evaluation of agricultural extension and water services in rural communities

2.Funding bias in water towards urban communities

3.Perceived bias in agriculture policy and extension services in favour of commercial farming for export; fails to meet needs of poor subsistence farmers

4.Lack of civil society engagement in planning, monitoring & evaluation

5.Lack of transparency and accountability in budgets

6.Disconnection between rural communities and urban civil servants and policy makers

7.Decades of neglect and under-funding of rural water programmes

Our challenges

More and better support for rural communities in arid and semi-arid regions through

1.Better agricultural extension services, M&E by users

2.Better water services, M&E by users

3.Integrated approaches, strengthening rural livelihoods

4.Community led approaches

5.What is the cheapest, most appropriate way of providing 15 l/p/d of water?

6.What is the economic value of trees?

7.How much private / community / NGO resources are leveraged by state programmes?

What policy can do

•Identify limits to wider policy adoption of sand dams as a development and climate change adaptation strategy and how we can address these

•Assist in facilitating research into sand dams and their socio-environmental impacts

•Advocate among NGOs and policy makers, presenting verified proof of effects of sand dams

Conclusiosn