Climate Change Adaptation and ICT (CHAI)

1. The role of ICT in tackling climate change issues in Africa Climate Change Adaptation and ICT (CHAI) Edith OfwonaAdera Senior Program Specialist Climate Change and Water Program, International Development Research Centre (IDRC) This work is carried out with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada.

2. Background and Problem

3. Climate Change Adaptation and ICT Project Objectives DEVELOPMENT To strengthen the adaptive capacity of “cattle corridor” communities in Uganda to climate induced water stress and hazards through the use of ICTs RESEARCH To determine the role and potential of ICTs in enhancing the adaptive capacity of communities in Uganda to cope with water challenges.

4. CHAI Pilot Districts

5. Research Design • Research Questions • What are the major water-related vulnerabilities in the cattle corridor? • What are the impacts of the water-related hazards in the cattle corridor? • … Research Questions • 3. What are the information and communication needs of communities? • 4. How accurate, timely and relevant are the existing mechanisms for sharing climate-related information at community and government levels?

6. Research Design: HouseholdBaseline Survey (640 HH)

7. Research Design: Focus Group Discussion (15 FGDs) and In-Depth Interview (34 KII)

8. Research Design: Geographic Information System – Vulnerability Mapping

9. Design and Operation of the Climate Information System Data Collection and Reporting

10. Design and Operation of the Climate Information System Information Dissemination Weather info Drought and flood coping Water harvesting Market info Prevention of Diseases, termites

11. Short messages for SMS broadcasting • IVR recordings • Regular radio broadcasts • In languages preferred by users

12. Research Results: Exposure to Hazards

13. Research Results: Standardized Precipitation Index

14. Research Results: Vulnerability Rating - Nakasongola

15. Research Results: Impacts

16. Research Results: Summary of Adaptation Information Needs

17. Current Use of the System

18. Entering Climate Data into Mobile Phone Next Steps • Refine temperature and rainfall projections based on Regional Circulation Models • Assess efficacy of information system and make improvements • Gather impact data (mid-line and end-line), analyze and report • Continue building the capacity of partners

19. Confirming receipt of weather data

20. Market data collection

21. Market data collection: sample screenshots

22. Informed decision: what and when to sell

23. Adaptive capacities strengthened: Examples • High quality seasonal forecasts help vulnerable farmers make informed choices about the management of their livestock and crops. • Information on coping with droughts such as advising farmers to plant early maturing crops, where to get support and other advise helps them cope with the impacts of climate change/variability. • In times of stress, such as prolonged droughts, one of the coping mechanisms of pastoralists is selling their livestock. Weekly market information disseminated by the project helps them make informed decisions about what and where to sell avoiding the possible loss of their assets to middlemen. • Information on prevention of climate-related diseases and termite infestation minimizes the loss of human and animals. • Information on low-cost water harvesting techniques helps communities cope with water stress

24. Challenges • Coordination of the activities of multiple partners • Lack of localized adaptation information/content • Units of measurement at market places not standardized and vary from one district to the other • High cost of radio broadcasts • Lack of high quality historical weather data

25. Implementing Partners

26. THANK YOU!