A dynamic assessment of adaptive capacity to climate change: A case study of water

management in Makondo, Uganda

by

Mavuto D. TemboPresented at

Suas/TIDI Research for Change Trinity College Dublin9th November 2010

My background

• I am a Malawian • My qualifications: Bachelor of science degree in

Agriculture and MSc. GI Science (NRM)• I am employed by Mzuzu University in Malawi • I applied for a PhD position in July 2009• I was enrolled for PhD in January 2010

My research focus

• Size is 2.2 square kilometres• Population is over 8000• Main livelihood means is subsistence agriculture

Makondo Parish

My research focus

• Adaptive capacity to climate change for rural communities in developing countries who are more vulnerable to climate change impact

• In recent years Makondo Parish has experienced several droughts

• Climate change models predict future water scarcity in quality and quantity, thus impacting on people’s livelihoods

• A critical question is how individuals will adapt their livelihoods to water scarcity?

My research focus

• Currently there is no proper approach to facilitate the fusion of knowledge related to climate change adaptation between communities and policy makers.

• The way Participatory rural appraisal methods are commonly used is static, while GIS application is at its embryonic stage in adaptation research

• There is a need for a dynamic assessment that views water as the nexus of livelihoods activities; and uses participatory geographical information system (PGIS) as new way to assess AC

My research questions

• My research questions are:i. Do communities living in drought- and flood-prone

areas have water-related knowledge that can help them adapt to climate change?

ii. How can PGIS help to make local knowledge relevant and usable to other actors for water management and decision-making amidst climate change?

My research strategy

• My research strategy will occur in four stages:

i. Stage One: February 2011 – the exploratory stage

• Settling down and selecting my two study villages

ii. Stage two: March to June 2011 – fieldwork

• Intensive qualitative research using PGIS to

understand AC in the two villages

My research strategy

• My research strategy will occur in four stages:

iii. Stage three: July to August 2011 – fusion stage

• Explore possible integration between local and

external knowledge using GIS by:

iv. Stage four: September 2011 – wrapping-up stage

Expected outputs

• At the end of my study I expect to achieve the following:

i. Reveal how adaptation is perceived, experienced and managed by individuals, households, and communities at rural scale in Africa

ii. Using participatory GIS, my work will help to create a discussion space that includes: information space; argumentation space ; and analysis space for communities , local government, and NGOs which will act as a fusion space for AC

My contribution to the community

• I will run workshops in each of my study villages on what climate change is, how it might affect them, and why it is important that their AC is understood

• I will enable communities to understand local water management within the broader context of adaptation

• I will facilitate communities’ AC enhancement by integrating ‘local knowledge’ for water management with other water sector actors’ knowledge

Some impression of Makondo

• People switch from one source of drink water to another within a year because of:i. Drying of water sourcesii. Breakdown of the improved-water source pumpiii. Change in distance to water source within the yeariv. Internal conflict

• The external actors in water supply are Mary Medical Missionaries and the Local Government

Water sources in Makondo

• One protected spring in Makondo Village

Water sources in Makondo

• Shallow wells

Water sources in Makondo

• Rainwater harvesting from roof tops intoi. Cement tanksii. Clay potsiii. 20 litres containersiv. Underground pits

Water sources in Makondo

• Water ponds

Challenges facing water

• Degradation• Erratic rains • Droughts• Lowering of water

table • Governance • Technology

Thank you all