Rockefeller convening presentation by Uni of Dar's Dr. Lyimo

1. CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND
AFRICAN AGRICULTURE GRANTEE CONVENING
24-25 February 2011
Strengthening Capacity of Agriculture Sector to Adapt to
Climate Change Impacts in Africa
Grantee: Institute of Resource Assessment, University of Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania
Presenter : Dr. James G. Lyimo
Other researchers: Dr Amos Majule-PI, Prof P.Z Yanda
Prof J.Ngana
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2. Brief Background of the Institution
• Institute of Resource Assessment (IRA) of the UDSM, Tanzania is
multidisciplinary in nature
• The IRA established in 1967 focused more on issues related to
planning and management of different land resources including
forests and other related sectors.
• Over the last 20 years, IRA has expanded it is activities to cover
research, training and community services in five main areas namely;
i) Natural resource and environment; ii) Agriculture food security and
poverty alleviation; iii) Social policy analysis; iv) Population and
human settlements and v) Remote sensing and GIS
• IRA is currently involved in undertaking research, training on climate
change related issues including vulnerability assessment, adaptation
and mitigation
• This area of climate change is in need of capacity building first within
the IRA and also to various stakeholders
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3. Other projects/programs on climate change
adaptation
1. Strengthening local agricultural innovation systems in less favoured
and more favoured areas of Tanzania and Malawi to adapt to the
challenges and opportunities arising from climate change and
variability IDRC
2. Building African capacity for conserving biodiversity in a changing
climate in the Albertine Rift Region (Funded by Macarthur
3. A study on strategies for addressing negative effects of climate
change in food insecure areas in Tanzania - to identify and enhance
adaptive strategies
4. The African Climate Change Fellowship Program is jointly
administered by the global change System for Analysis, Research
and Training (START), IRA-UDSM and the African Academy of
Sciences (AAS). The program is funded by IDRC of Canada and
DFID (UK).
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4. Other projects/programs on climate change
adaptation
5. Participatory Learning for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience
This study is conducted in collaboration with Pennsylvania State University
and University of Ghana. The study attempts to address the current
gaps in research on climate change adaptation.
6. Climate Change and Variability in Tanzania: Assessment of Impacts,
Vulnerability and Adaptive Capacity of Natural and Social Systems. The
study is funded by UDSM-PITRO-Norway programme
7. Rural-Urban linkages in response to climate change impacts on
agriculture IDRC
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5. Objectives of the Rockefeller Foundation Grant
The overall objective of the proposed project is to strengthen the
capacity of communities and organizations/institutions within the
agricultural sector in Tanzania based on agricultural zones adapt to
the challenges and opportunities arising from CC & V.
Specific objectives
1.To To implement country wide short course training capacity to
researchers in the Seven Zonal Agricultural Research Institutions on
climate change and adaptation impacts in Tanzania
2, to build capacity among climate change trainers on how to develop
and use appropriate methodology for downscaling climate change
regional model to be applicable at local levels. Training will involve
trainers from higher learning institutions from Tanzania including
IRA, and from identified Universities in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda,
Burundi and Rwanda- Grantee of Rockfeller
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6. Key Activities Related to the Grant
a) Preparation of Work plan for the entire project
-discussion with key stakeholders (Min. Agric) including introduction of
the project
b) Training plan development
-Assessment of participants training needs
-Development of training modules
-Reporting
c) Training
- Training on different climate change issues including impacts and
adaptation based on zonal agricultural station requirements
- In collaboration with climate modeling experts/partners the project will
offer knowledge to IRA and trainers from the selected institutions
involved in climate change through short courses in downscaling
climate change models,–mobilization of consultants, conduct
evaluation for the training with the participants
d) Final reporting
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7. Highlight on the Progress to date
• Developed a detailed 2 year work plan
• Consultations with key stakeholder such as ministry of agriculture for
introduction and discussion of the inception of the project
• Assessment of participants training needs -including reconnaissance
visit and consultations with zonal agricultural research centres and
ministry of agric.
• Development of draft training modules for regional and in country
zones
• Developed Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
• Shortlist candidates for training on short courses in 7 zones in
Tanzania
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8. Highlight on the Progress to date cont.
• Have initiated contact with sub regional countries
• Consultations with climate change experts from the Foundation in
Dar es Salaam at IRA
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9. Early Findings
Stakeholders in the 7 agricultural research stations have very limited
knowledge in climate change related issues
Needs assessment
-Climate change impacts and adaptations on crops grown in the zones
-Participatory Action Research in addressing climate change adaptation
-Climate change and local knowledge in relation to agriculture
• High demand of training within agricultural sector at national and zonal
levels
• Climate change already affecting agriculturel in different zones
• Limited knowledge to plan action research on adaptation
• Lack of capacity to analyse climate data at zonal level
• Relevance of engaging Tanzania Meteorological Agency from the
beginning of the project
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10. Key Challenges
• High demand of training within agricultural sector at national and
zonal level
• mobilisation of resources
• sustainability
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11. Lessons Learnt
• Very few researchers have accessed climate change training
• Ministry of Agriculture in Tanzania would like to promote such
initiative; thus requested a full participation of staff from the
Environmental department
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12. Emerging Opportunities for Collaboration
• There is opportunity for collaboration including sharing of experience
among the institutions involved in training both from inside and
outside.
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13. Next steps
• Identify members from participating countries
• Share training topics with zones and subregional identified
institutions
• Develop full training courses and materials including power point
presentations
• Submit progress report to the foundation
• Implement trainings for year 1 in Tanzania zones and for subregional
stakeholders
• Monitor and evaluate the program
• Submit report to the foundation
• Continue with preparation for year 2 activities
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