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Climate Change Adaptation and ICT (CHAI) Edith Ofwona Adera 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. The role of ICT in tackling climate change issues in Africa

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Africa most vulnerable continent to climate change & variability (IPCC, 2007) CC&V threatening Ugandas ecosystems and livelihood (NAPA 2007) CC&V increasing frequency and intensity of severe weather events Uganda ranks among the lowest 20 water- poor countries Imperative to adapt to climate related water impacts Background and Problem

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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. Objectives Climate Change Adaptation and ICT Project

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CHAI Pilot Districts

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Research Questions 1.What are the major water-related vulnerabilities in the cattle corridor? 2.What are the impacts of the water-related hazards in the cattle corridor? Research Design 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?

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Exposure to Hazards Hazards Physiographic properties Perceptions on exposure to climatic hazards Adaptive Capacity Access to water Livelihood and income diversity Perceived susceptibility Access and use of climate info Current Adaptation responses Support inst. Technology- Infrastructure Cellular network FM radio Electricity Technology- Access Radio Phones TV or other technology Research Design: Household Baseline Survey (640 HH)

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Exposure to Hazards Major hazards Temporal variation of hazards What is exposed? Who is most exposed? Adaptive Capacity Water sources Access to water Actions during water stress Access and use of climate info Support inst. Current responses Indigenous practices Coping and recovery mechanisms Factors affecting coping mechanism Adaptation info needs Info needs of communities and support orgs. Trusted sources of information Preferred communication options Research Design: Focus Group Discussion (15 FGDs) and In-Depth Interview (34 KII)

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Research Design: Geographic Information System Vulnerability Mapping

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Design and Operation of the Climate Information System Data Collection and Reporting Collected using mobile devices Transmitted to server over cellular network Automatically aggregated at sub-county level on a server Livestock and crop market info Collected using mobile devices on a daily basis Transmitted to server at Meteorology (daily) Used for generating and improving seasonal forecasts Weather data Satellite imagery, river flows, historical rainfall data, digital elevation model, etc. Generate exposure maps, rainfall and temperature projections, drought and flood scenarios (using GIS) Other spatial data sets

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Adaptation Info Mobile phones FM RadioEmail Interactive voice Print Weather info Drought and flood coping Water harvesting Market info Prevention of Diseases, termites Information Dissemination Design and Operation of the Climate Information System

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

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DroughtShift in seasons FloodsClimate related diseases Heavy rain Land slides Bush fire Research Results: Exposure to Hazards

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Research Results: Standardized Precipitation Index

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Research Results: Vulnerability Rating - Nakasongola

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Water shortage Loss of crop and livestock Diminished livelihood Migration Conflict Asset damage Diseases Distressed sale of assets Deforestation Termites Research Results: Impacts

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Climate awareness Water harvesting Localized weather info Drought Early Warning Flood Early Warning Livestock and crop market info Termite control Research Results: Summary of Adaptation Information Needs

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Current Use of the System Information disseminated to communities using multiple channels Climate awareness info generated by the Climate Change Unit, localized at districts Seasonal forecasts generated by meteorology Advisories to farmers based on seasonal forecast by districts (e.g. early maturing crops, where to get seeds, etc) Weekly market information at sub- county level Low cost water harvesting including where to get support, disease prevention, etc. generated and localized at districts

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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 Entering Climate Data into Mobile Phone

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Confirming receipt of weather data

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Market data collection

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Market data collection: sample screenshots

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Informed decision: what and when to sell

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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

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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

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Implementing Partners Uganda Ministry of Water and Environment: Climate Change Unit Meteorology Department Wetlands Management Water Resources Directorate FHI 360, TechLab Uganda Chartered HealthNet (UCH) Makerere University: College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Biological sciences Department College of Health Sciences

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THANK YOU!