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fOOD sECURITY
Climate change has a direct bearing on all four dimensions of food security: food availability, food accessibility, food utilization and food systems stability. As economies of the Horn of Africa countries are largely agricultural based (livestock included), much of people’s livelihood systems are susceptible to the threats of climate change. There is immediate risk of increased crop failure, loss of livestock, lack of appropriate seeds and new patterns of pests and diseases. CLIMATE CHANGE WATCH food security programmes include:
WASH (Water Sanitation and Hygiene)
CLIMATE CHANGE WATCH believes accessibility to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and proper hygiene sensitization can greatly reduce illness and death especially among most vulnerable section of communities which includes pregnant women, children and the old. CLIMATE CHANGE WATCH undertakes the following activities to address problems of Water and Sanitation:
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Climate change leads to increasing frequency of extreme weather events around the globe. At times we have prolonged droughts and others erratic rains. Scarcity of water and pasture during drought seasons creates conflicts between farming communities and pastoralists and also among pastoralists themselves.This is due to competition for access and control of the available resources during these periods of shortages. Peace and human security are pre-requisites for investment, development and facilitation of pastoral livelihoods, including mobility for trade and access to resources. Climate change Watch lives to see a peaceful coexistence of all communities and sustainable utilization of the available resources. We aim to Support Government/Partners initiatives targeted at resolving climate change triggered conflicts among neighboring communities. Programme Action includes:
EMERGENCY RELIEF
ASALS (Arid and Semi-Arid Lands) are known to experience droughts and less rainfall. However, climate change has further exacerbated the situation. This is evident in the loss of vegetation cover, land degradation through soil erosion, fragmentation and degradation of existing water catchments. This eventually leads to loss of existing livelihood systems making communities vulnerable and in urgent need of emergency relief from government and (NGOs) Non-Governmental organizations. Climate Change Watch emergency relief programme aims at addressing agent needs of vulnerable communities as a result of floods, drought, conflicts and fires. Support actions include:
CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
Climate Change Watch acknowledges the existence of gaps in addressing the threats of climate change both at local and National level in the Horn of Africa. Therefore, it aims to undertake trainings for local communities, County Government officials and other development partners implementing programs which are susceptible to climate change. We offer training and workshop sessions to ensure climate change is mainstreamed into local and national development plans. WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
In the face of climate change, women including young girls spend significant amount of time trekking long distances gathering biomass such as fuel wood and water. Climate change intersects with societal barriers such as gender which means women are more susceptible in comparison to their male counterparts. This is further compounded by entrenched cultural restrictions prevalent among many communities in Sub-Saharan Africa where women are denied critical resources including land ownership, access to education, credit, climate information and technology yet are responsible for producing 60 to 80 percent of the food. The lack of women participation in planning and decision making on choices of adaptation options even though they are in position to provide invaluable lessons/knowledge to disasters contributes to ineffective community based adaptation strategies leading to food insecurity . According to Africa Human Development Report (2016), lack of gender parity in Sub-Saharan Africa contributes to a loss of $US95 billion a year (nearly 6% of region’s GDP) – thus becoming a stumbling block to prosperity of the continent in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). CLIMATE CHANGE WATCH undertakes the following programme action:
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RENEWABLE ENERGY
As majority of energy demand in the horn of Africa is met by biomass, particularly wood fuel, there is no better time to protect the remaining forest covers and carbon sinks by switching to renewable energy sources. This will not only reduce burden on poor and vulnerable communities, but also empower them through championing for environmental conservation and provision of ecosystem services. As part of the low carbon development pathway, CLIMATE CHANGE WATCH undertakes a renewable energy initiative that includes:
AFFORESTATION AND REFORESTATION
ASALS (Arid and Semi-Arid Lands) are known to be fragile ecosystems receiving little rainfall and experiencing long droughts. The main threats to ASALS include expanding agriculture, charcoal burning and wood fuel, expanding human settlements, increased fire frequencies, deforestation, overgrazing, land degradation and invasive species. However, climate change has further exacerbated the impacts on the existing forest cover. The loss of communities livelihood systems exerts further pressure on the available natural resources especially forests to meet local’s needs. Therefore, CLIMATE CHANGE WATCH believes it’s prudent to undertake massive afforestation and reforestation programmes to increase forest cover hence, ability to fulfill global responsibility of reducing carbon emissions in line with United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change requirements. Key activities include:
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ABOUT US
Climate Change Watch is a non-profit and non-political organization established in January 2016. It aims to serve people in the Horn of Africa by addressing climate change related environmental and Socio-economic problems. |
CLIMATE CHANGE WATCH OFFICE
Hughes Building, 4th Floor Muindi Mbingu St, Nairobi, Kenya
Info@climatechangewatch.org
+254722541164
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