Environment and Climate Change Action in Partner Countries

In each of our partner countries we support communities and governments to take action to tackle the effects of climate change and environmental degradation.‌

Climate change is impacting differently on communities in each of our partner countries. The following  examples show how we support communities and governments to take action according to the needs of the local context :

• Mozambique: Helping mitigate against drought and floods
• Malawi: Improving crop diversity
• Uganda: Supporting pastoralist communities to adapt
• Lesotho: Keyhole gardens are making a difference
• Tanzania: Support for drought resistant crops
• Zambia: Better access to safe drinking water
• Ethiopia: Promoting land conservation
• Vietnam: Disaster risk reduction initiatives
• South Africa: Improving water and sanitation services
• Sierra Leone: Combating deforestation 

Mozambique: Helping mitigate against droughts and floods

Mozambique is one of most vulnerable countries in the world to the effects of natural disasters and climate change. In the last 10 years, Mozambique has experienced a noticeable increase in severe weather conditions.

As a result of climate change, the country’s exposure to natural disasters will continue to increase over the next 20 years, and the effects are likely to include rising sea-levels, droughts, cyclones and floods. 

We provide support to the Government of Mozambique’s Agriculture Support Programme for initiatives to adapt to the changing environmental conditions brought about by climate change.

We also work in the province of Inhambane in southern Mozambique, which is prone to cyclical floods and drought that are becoming more frequent and intense. A high percentage of the population is dependent on subsistence agriculture and natural resource extraction. We work to help people adapt to these conditions by supporting:

• Mozambique’s Department of Water to improve rural water supply and sanitation. We are supporting the construction of cisterns for rain water harvesting in communities, schools and hospitals in low rainfall and drought prone areas
• The construction of boreholes to improve access to safe drinking. These are built with solar panel pumps to increase the lifetime of water sources
• The promotion of drought resistant crops
• The replanting fruit trees in schools and hospitals
• An Integrated Water Management study in Inhambane Province

Read more about climate change and mozambique in our Mozambique Climate Finance Report 2013

Malawi: Improving crop diversity

Our programme in Malawi has a very strong climate change focus. We aim to ensure that households and smallholder farmers benefit from improved crop productivity and diversification of crops so that vulnerable communities can adapt to the changing conditions caused by climate change. Examples of our work include:

• Supplying improved drought-resistant seed varieties to farmers
• Researching crops that are adaptable to changing environmental conditions
• Promoting conservation agriculture (agricultural practices that conserve the environment)
• Encouraging agro-forestry, which is the combined use of trees and shrubs in the same area as crops and/or livestock to create a more diverse, sustainable and profitable use of land

 

We are also supporting households in disaster-prone areas in Malawi so that they are better equipped to respond to sudden or long-term environmental disasters linked to climate change. 

We support disaster risk reduction plans in certain districts and we are strengthening the ability of the Government to identify risks with the aim of reducing the impact of disasters on the poorest communities.

We also support the development of fuel-efficient clean cook stoves in Malawi.

Read more about climate change and Malawi in our Malawi Climate Finance Report 2013

Uganda: Supporting pastoralist communities to adapt

In the northeast of Uganda, we provide support to the large pastoralist population there who have become increasingly threatened by climate change and other environmental issues.

In response to this issue, we support Oxfam International in the implementation of the Karamoja Livelihoods Support Programme.

Also in Northern Uganda, we address climate change challenges through our Peace and Recovery and Development Plan. Through this plan we support a local aid agency, which is actively involved in advocating for stronger responses to climate change and other environmental issues. 

Read more about climate change and Uganda in our Uganda Climate Finance Report 2013

Lesotho: Keyhole gardens are making a difference

Lesotho is extremely vulnerable to the impact of climate change. We support a number of programmes in Lesotho, which aim to counter its impact.

We work to improve rural water supply and sanitation facilities in remote areas, increasing the ability of poor communities to cope with the effects of climate change. We support the installation of solar energy systems to improve electricity access and reduce the running costs in health clinics.

We also support the construction of keyhole gardens, which help communities to grow vegetables in areas where good soil is scarce. The introduction of keyhole gardens has dramatically increased the growing season for vegetables, providing poorer communities with a continuous and nutritious food supply in the face of declining environmental conditions.

Read more about climate change and Lesotho in our Lesotho Climate Finance Report 2013

Tanzania: Support for drought-resistant crops

Recognising the growing impact of climate change in Tanzania, we support the Government’s effort to promote conservation agriculture, drought-resistant crops, and improve irrigation across the country.

We have initiated, and continue to support, a fund for aid organisations who advocate on behalf of farmers involved in the raising and herding of livestock. This fund has been used to raise concerns of pastoralist farmers who are affected by climate change. 

Read more about climate change and Tanzania in our Tanzania Climate Finance Report 2013

Zambia: Better access to safe drinking water

In Zambia, we support four rural districts in Northern Province in developing and implementing plans which, amongst other issues, focus on improving access to safe drinking water and improving sanitation.

They have also looked at improving access to improved seed varieties, conservation farming, enhanced irrigation systems and afforestation activities.

In addition, four water schemes will be completed, increasing access for 32,600 people to improved water facilities. 

We also support social cash transfers and other safety net programmes, which have been identified as a key way to increase poor people’s resilience to climate change.

Read more about climate change and Zambia in our Zambia Climate Finance Report 2013

Ethiopia: Promoting land conservation

We have supported environmental action in the region of Tigray in Ethiopia, which has helped to protect 7.5 million people from hunger.

This work has supported the building of thousands of terraces and small dams, which conserve water and soil and improve the productivity of the land, ensuring that farmers’ yields are improved. The project was awarded an Equator Prize at the Rio +20 Conference on Sustainable Development in June 2012.

Read more about climate change and Ethiopia in ourEthiopia Climate Finance Report 2013

Vietnam: Disaster risk reduction initiatives

Vietnam is the fifth most susceptible country to climate change in the world. Climate change vulnerability and disaster risk management are high on its policy agenda.

We support community-based disaster risk reduction initiatives such as our support to the United Nations in their co-ordination of policy with many affected parts of society and the Government.

In Pu Luong Nature Reserve, we support community tourism and sustainable management of natural resources. The grant includes the provision of training on environment and climate change issues for local authorities and communities as well as a fuel-efficient stoves pilot project.

In the capital city, we support the ‘Neighbourhood Empowerment in Hanoi’ project, which works with urban residents in low-income parts of the city.

Its aim is to improve their living conditions and the condition of the neighbourhood. These actions include saving energy, saving water, reducing waste, becoming conscious consumers and creating safe homes.

Read more about climate change and Vietnam in our Vietnam Climate Finance Report 2013

South Africa: Improving water and sanitation services

In recent years, the Government of South Africa has stepped up its response to climate change. The issue featured heavily on the political agenda in late 2011 when South Africa hosted the 17th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP 17) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Durban. 

In Limpopo Province, we have supported the establishment of LINGO, a consortium of six water and sanitation NGOs, working together to address and improve water and sanitation services.

These services include establishing food gardens, promoting rain water harvesting, using sustainable technology, village water supply, sanitation delivery and health and report hygiene promotion.

Sierra Leone: Combating deforestation

Through the EU Global Climate Change Alliance, we are contributing to the United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD) in Sierra Leone.

Read more about climate change and Sierra Leone in ourSierra Leone Climate Finance Report 2013