Excellent Development Approaches to Climate Change Adaptation

1. Excellent Development Approaches to Climate Change Adaptation Bongani Ncube (PhD) International Parliamentary Conference on Climate Change 15 July 2010

2. Key Problems • Threats • deforestation, over-grazing, high run-off, soil erosion • evidence of reduced rainfall, increased temperatures, more extreme weather • Risks • drought, floods, migration, food and water scarcity, conflict • Lack of conservation measures

3. Lack of conservation in semi-arid regions means: • 70% of water lost • 250t/ha soil loss no soil conservation no dams no trees • Trees - 95% of energy use in rural Africa • 1-2 hours collecting firewood • 4-8 hours to collect water in dry season • 8-12 hours during droughts

4. Our work in semi-arid Kenya We have so far worked with 67 self-help groups across an area of 12,000 km2.

5. The Excellent Development Approach terraces maintain water and soil in the farms retain more water and soil in the terraces provide water for tree nurseries trees sand dams

6. What is a sand dam? Sand sinks until the dam is completely full of sand. Water is stored within and it remains saturated with water, which is protected from evaporation and from parasites. About 2-10 million litres of water made available. 262 sand dams built so far

8. Sand dams enable trees to grow Community tree nurseries established near the dams Reforestation, creating environmental and economic benefits. Tree survival rate is over 70%. Over 700,000 trees planted so far

9. Sand dams transform the environment 2002 1985 3 dams and 6 small barrages built in the valley

10. Water for Agriculture Year round water supply enables growth of vegetables and fruit trees Sale of vegetables generates extra income for fees

11. terraces sand dams trees How does development improve? • 95% of water saved • 97% lower soil loss • Self-sufficient in fuel • Fruit & Medicines • Fodder & Compost • Increased Soil & Water Conservation • 2-10M litres of water • 0.5-1 hour to collect water in dry season • 1-2 hours during droughts

12. Improve Water Supplies Improve Incomes & Health terraces sand dams trees Improve Food Production & Security Community-Led Priorities Appropriate Technology Solutions Community Self-Help Approach sustainable development model

13. What makes our model sustainable? • People do • Community-led through registered self help groups • Share knowledge and skills • Builds social capital • Empowers most marginalised and disadvantaged • Appropriate to local needs and context

14. Our Impacts • Contribute to climate change mitigation: carbon sinks, micro-climates, sustainable forests • Mitigate the impacts of climate change: food security, water security, sustainable livelihoods, micro-climates • Builds resilience and preparedness to crises: community cohesion and capacity, seed and food banks, reduces flood and drought risks, ecological diversity and livelihoods • Suited to difficult environments: Minimal maintenance, low cost, community cohesion and skills

15. Scaling up our work • Growing reputation and opportunities to expand • Retain tight focus on sand dams, trees and terracing • Build internal capacity in training, mentoring and support • 2020 vision is to enable 3 million people per year to gain access to clean water and have ability to grow enough food and sell • Advocate and support wider adoption of Excellent Development model by others (NGOs and state), work has commenced • Other regions in Kenya, Mozambique, Swaziland, Sudan and Zimbabwe

16. Our challenges • Weak capacity, performance and monitoring & evaluation of agricultural extension and water services in rural communities • Funding bias in water towards urban communities • Perceived bias in agriculture policy and extension services in favour of commercial farming for export; fails to meet needs of poor subsistence farmers • Lack of civil society engagement in planning, monitoring & evaluation • Lack of transparency and accountability in budgets • Disconnection between rural communities and urban civil servants and policy makers • Decades of neglect and under-funding of rural water programmes

17. What policy can do More and better support for rural communities in arid and semi-arid regions through • Better agricultural extension services, M&E by users • Better water services, M&E by users • Integrated approaches, strengthening rural livelihoods • Community led approaches • What is the cheapest, most appropriate way of providing 15 l/p/d of water? • What is the economic value of trees? • How much private / community / NGO resources are leveraged by state programmes?

18. Conclusiosn • Identify limits to wider policy adoption of sand dams as a development and climate change adaptation strategy and how we can address these • Assist in facilitating research into sand dams and their socio-environmental impacts • Advocate among NGOs and policy makers, presenting verified proof of effects of sand dams