The CCAA Program is a collaboration between DFID and IDRC to fund climate change adaptation research and capacity building projects across Africa. It has funded 45 projects in 28 countries since 2006 related to agriculture, health, water resources, and coastal adaptation. In North Africa, 7 participatory action research projects have been funded in Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt to develop and test community-based adaptation strategies. These projects aim to strengthen local adaptive capacity and resilience through activities like improving water management, understanding health impacts, and participatory planning. The research found that successful adaptation depends on sharing knowledge between local, national and international actors and building adaptive institutions.

1. Overview of the Climate Change Adaptation in Africa Program and North African Research Guy Jobbins, Senior Program Officer Climate Change Adaptation in Africa International Development Research Centre Cairo

2. Content Introduction to CCAA Program Projects in North Africa Findings & Conclusions

3. The CCAA Program Collaboration between DFID (UK) and IDRC (Canada) for research and capacity development on adaptation to climate change in Africa. Program launched in 2006, to end in March 2012 65 million CAD programming funds, including 24 million sterling from DfID 45 research and capacity projects in 28 countries Agriculture & rural livelihoods, human health, coastal adaptation, water as main themes

5. Goal of CCAA To strengthen the capacity of African countries to adapt to climate change in ways that benefit the most vulnerable members of society

6. CCAA Objectives Researchers able to identify vulnerabilities and develop adaptation options Policy makers, vulnerable people and researchers share knowledge on overcoming climate vulnerability and poverty Policy makers, vulnerable people and researchers join their knowledge to implement effective adaptation strategies Policy is informed by good quality science-based work on vulnerability and adaptation, and the experiences of vulnerable people

7. CCAA Activities Education and Training Formal training and capacity strengthening for researchers, policy makers, and at risk groups Knowledge Sharing Facilitating communication between different perspectives, disseminating information, and supporting a community of practise Participatory Action Research Collaborative experiments testing adaptation strategies developed through research processes that include local and/or indigenous knowledge

8. CCAA in North Africa - PAR 7 Participatory Action Research projects in North Africa: Adaptation in mountains and plains communities, INRA-Settat, Maroc Adaptation to sea level rise, ENFI, Maroc Optimisation of small dams using EcoHealth approaches, INRA-Agadir, Maroc Water demand management in adapting to water scarcity, AUI, Maroc Management of Leishmaniasis outbreaks, NONED, Tunisia Settler communities west of Lake Nasser, CDS, Egypt Adaptation to sea level rise, NWRC, Egypt

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10. Project: Climate change adaptation mechanisms for rural communities in two contrasting ecosystems, Morocco INRA - Settat Sites in Chichoua and Azilal A focus on understanding risk behaviour and institutional dimensions of adaptation in vulnerable communities

11. Project: Enabling stakeholders in Moroccan coastal management to develop sustainable climate change adaptation policies and plans Ecole National Forestiere d’Ingenieurs, Sale Sites in Nador and Berkane A complex set of immediate development challenges and long term stresses imposed by sea level rise – planning today for tomorrow

12. Project: Integrated ecosystem approach for optimization of small dams in Morocco INRA – Agadir Sites around Ait Baha Improved human health, improved ecosystem management, improved capacity for adapting to change Feb 06 Feb 08

13. Project: Using demand side management to adapt to water scarcity and climate change in the Saiss Basin, Morocco Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane Sites near Ifrane and Fez Reaching consensus between farmers and regulatory agencies on technology and institutions for increasing water use efficiency

14. Project: Climate change and human health: Leishmaniasis in Tunisia National Observatory for New and Emerging Diseases. Sites in Sidi Bouzid Trying to understand the complex dynamics of interactions between climate, ecosystems, vector-borne diseases, and human vulnerabilities

15. New Lands - New Life: adaptation in resettled communities, Egypt Centre for Development Services Lake Nasser areas Understanding the vulnerabilities of resettled communities through a human health perspective, including nutrition and food security

16. Project: selection of adaptation options for the Nile Delta, Egypt National Water Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Centre for Development Services Eastern Nile Branch coast What are the tradeoffs for different stakeholders between different adaptation options?

17. Resilience So far, climate change mainly experienced as increased variability Droughts, floods, heat-waves, storms Can synergise with other global system shocks, such as food prices Resilience related to socio-economic development Health Income & access to markets Livelihood diversity Access to public services etc

18. Adaptations – Water as a key entry point Water scarcity & agriculture water use Better use of climate information in irrigation regimes Reduce quantities and costs of pumped water Water excess Flood risk management Improve aquifer recharge Soil erosion

19. Adaptations– Water as a key entry point Small dams Health impacts Inequalities of access to water Coastal change Soil salinisation Agri- to aquaculture

20. Adaptive capacity Importance of socio-political processes Enabling and empowerment of community level institutions Learning institutions needed at all levels Use and sharing of information Innovation means being prepared to be wrong

21. Conclusions Adaptation is local Depends on exchange of capacities held by a range of different actors Implies institutional development Anticipation of future vulnerabilities Key areas of research: Economics of adaptation – ‘return on investment options’ Management of uncertainty in decision making

22. http://www.idrc.ca/ccaa http://www.africa-adapt.org