Download 39_219_130990670009423533-Submission to UNFCCC Feb 03

UGANDA SUBMISSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARA 133 OF THE PARIS GREEMENT BY CHEBET
MAIKUT, UNFCCC NFP, 3 Feb, 2016.
Proactive policy action availing opportunities for strengthening resilience,
reducing vulnerabilities and increasing the understanding and implementation of
adaptation actions in Uganda.
Part A- Policy Context
The Convention on Climate Change, in its Principles (Article three) committees Parties to
take “precautionary measures to anticipate, prevent or minimize the causes of climate
change and mitigate its adverse effects”.
Uganda has proactively instituted measures to avail opportunities for engaging in a
wide range of climate change adaptation actions in fulfillment of various articles of the
Convention.
Uganda has developed the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) and its “Costed
Implementation Strategy” which among others aspects identifies climate change
resilience interventions at strategic level to be implemented by different climate change
actors both in government and non-government organization. The NCCP provides
opportunity to direct investment by sectors for strengthening resilience.
A climate change mainstreaming guideline for sectors (i.e., national) local (i.e., subnational) levels of government is now fully in place and widely distributed. Every sector
(i.e., ministry) has now a climate change desk officer to provide support for climate
change action opportunities.
To further anchor the infusion of climate change thinking into society, climate change
integration into various development agendas continues steadily, and these include the
National Development Plan (NDP 1 and 2), and the country’s Vision (Uganda’s Vision
2040); as well as the education curricular from the primary to the tertiary (University)
levels.
Implementation of article 6 (education, training, and public awareness) as well as article
12 (communication of information related to implementation) is well grounded through
the climate change learning strategy launched a few years ago. Thus opportunities are
availed for climate change-related educational activities. In response to this the
curriculum development centre is rewriting the educational guides at various levels to
include climate change. From the gender perspective, short courses have been designed
and training manuals for the courses published.
Work is at an advanced stage operationalized a National Climate Change Resource
Centre, an information hub for all climate change-related information in Uganda. This
will enhance opportunity to increase sharing of knowledge on research and innovation
for not only climate change adaptation but also other areas such as mitigation and
financing.
In order to provide an overarching policy framework, Uganda is developing a National
Climate Change Law. This will act as an instrument of authority to strengthen
implementation and coordination of climate change adaptation actions, support
monitoring and implementation enforcement by various actors.
To demonstrate the impact of climate change from an economic perspective, data has
been generated to compare the cost of action and that of inaction, in a few sectors, thus
providing a stepping-stone into farther work on the economics of climate change.
Part B.
Background.
Understanding Uganda’s Climate and the Impacts of Climate Change.
Uganda experiences a tropical climate moderated by altitude (ranging from 600 to 5100 metres above sea
level), with moderate temperatures and humid conditions throughout the year. Its location across the
equator gives it an annual bimodal rainfall regime, and the two rain seasons merge into one long rainy
season as you move northwards from the equator. The first rainy season ranges from March to June, while
the second one ranges from August to November. The rainfall level ranges from 400 to 2200 mm per
year.
Uganda’s bimodal rainfall is driven by the oscillation over the equator of the inter-tropical convergence
zone (ITCZ) (the area where winds originating in the northern and southern hemispheres come together)
with the changing of the seasons. The pattern of the ITCZ’s oscillation is in turn sensitive to the El Niño
Southern Oscillation (ENSO); El Niño brings about a wet phase in Uganda between October and
December, which can cause flooding, while El Niña (the converse) brings about a dry phase, which can
lead to drought. However, the effects of the ENSO on rainfall patterns can vary due to the influence of the
Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), an irregular oscillation of sea surface temperatures in which the western
Indian Ocean becomes alternately warmer and then colder than the eastern part of the ocean. Lake
Victoria also affects rainfall patterns due to differential heating and vapour transport.
Uganda’s climate can be broadly subdivided into:
Highland climate which has cool temperatures and moderate rainfall (mean annual rainfall of over 900
mm). In the Rwenzori Mountains, which have a permanent ice cap, temperatures of below 00C are
experienced. According to NEMA (2008),
Savannah tropical climate: including the lake basin has moderate average temperatures of 28oC and
high mean annual rainfall of over 1200 mm. The tropical rainforest is found in this climate.
The semi-arid climate has relatively high average temperatures, ranging from 26.3 to 29.0oC in Mbarara
and Moroto respectively. However, extreme temperatures of between 33.3 to 35.6oC have been recorded
in these areas. The mean annual rainfall is relatively low, ranging from 887 mm in Moroto to 905 mm in
Mbarara.
Despite the above-mentioned, most analyses conducted about climate in Ugnada shows that the seasons
are changing and becoming more unreliable – the wetter areas are tending to become wetter, and the
droughts more frequent (NEMA 2008). Whereas the main concern of this change is not with the total
amount of rain but its distribution, seasonality and intensity; it is reported that the rains are increasingly
erratic, heavier and more violent.
The wettest districts are located within the Lake Victoria basin, eastern and the north-western parts of
Uganda. These areas include Kalangala, Kampala, Mpigi, Mukono, Jinja, part of Masaka and Bugiri (Lake
Basin area), Mbale and Kapchorwa (eastern) and Arua (north-western). It has also been observed that rain
in these areas are heavier and more violent. The western, northern and north-eastern districts are
experiencing long droughts, which are becoming more frequent. The eastern region including Pallisa,
Kumi, Soroti, Tororo, Busia and Bugiri receive moderate rainfall. The average long-term annual rainfall for
Uganda is about 1,318 mm.
It is universally accepted that climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity this
century. Climate change causes global warming, an increase in the earth’s temperature due to an increase
in heat-trapping gases, referred to as greenhouse gases (GHG) (IPCC, 2001).
These effects of climatic change occur at all levels (global, regional and local). Nationally, climate change
is already adversely affect the ability of physical and biological systems to sustain human development
including socio-economic development, affecting different ecological systems and reduces benefits
derived from ecosystem goods and services with serious negative consequences already observed on
agricultural production, forestry, water supply, health systems and overall human development.
Climate change is adversely constraining the ability of the vulnerable poor communities in many
developing countries Ugnada inclusive to cope with adverse impacts of climate change because of the
low adaptive capacities to respond.
Therefore, this report is a submission of Uganda’s response to UNFCCC Paris agreement call: Para
133 (Page 19) invites Parties and observer organizations to submit information on the
opportunities referred to in paragraph 126 by 3 February 2016 “ to identify concrete
opportunities for strengthening resilience, reducing vulnerabilities and increasing the
understanding and implementation of adaptation actions”
Question1
Approaches to the identification of opportunities for: (i) strengthening resilience, (ii) reducing
vulnerabilities, (iii) increasing the understanding and implementation of adaptation action
1) Stocktaking of key relevant stakeholders whose area of working jurisdiction is affected by weather
and climate variability.
2) Identification and establishment of key pilot sites to demonstrate climate smart innovations
across a number of sectors and actors for instance in water, agriculture, energy and ecosystem
climate change based practices.
3) Engagement with Government officials and local community groups. This approach has helped to
strengthen planning for resilience and aided implementation of good adaptation practices. The
community involvement in planning helps to understand community needs and priorities, the use
of indigenous knowledge and inform government on which policy action to be scale up for
adaptation.
4) Collection of biophysical data, weather and climate data, conduct districts and sampled
household baseline surveys and participatory workshop. The approach bridges gap for data
availability to understand the degree of vulnerability a community/ecosystem is and the existing
adaptive capacity among others.
5) Synthesis and analysis of scientific data and field investigations are performed to guide the
development of the toolkit.
6) Awareness creation at all levels involving multidisciplinary key stakeholders.
7) Improved capacity and representation of local people and institutions to influence climate change
adaptation both Community Based Adaptation and Ecosystems Adaptation (CBA& EbA).
8) Community empowerment in the implementation of climate change adaptation
projects/programs through leadership of local governments (Districts) and non- governmental
organization. Has help improve their adaptive capacities through learning by doing.
9) Undertaking scientific research to inform decision making processes and bridging gap in
implementation from Grassroots to national level support by partners institutions like IITAUganda. Several learning platforms have been formulated to share scientific evidence based
adaptation researches from district with community involvement to national learning alliance.
This has helped in increasing the understanding the adaptation action from scientific point, policy
and smoothens implementation.
10) Formulation of National Climate Change Policy committees to discuss matters related to climate
adaptation and mitigation. The committee is multi-sectoral in nature. This committee is mostly
among other things discusses how to close implementation challenges for climate change
adaptation interventions.
11) Developed National Climate Change Actor’s Landscape. A tool to guide among other things
experience sharing on climate change innovations for increasing the understanding and
implementation of adaptation action from variety of actors.
12) A National Climate Change Projects Development Coordination Committee has been
formulated/put in place comprising different key government and non-government institutions.
The committee is expected among other things to identify possible sources of funding for climate
change for vulnerable sectors, guide the development of climate change bankable project
proposals up to the approval process by the National steering committee. This approach would
help to increase investments for climate change adaptation which will help in promoting
resilience.
13) The country has also embraced the concept of mainstreaming climate change into sector
plans/strategies, workplans
and budgets. This has helped to climate proof development in
others sectors specially the most sensitive one to the adverse impacts of climate change like
water, agriculture, Forestry, transport and other infrastructures.
14) Using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is one of the approaches/ tools Uganda
has embraced to bridge the gap for weather information for climate change adaptation to build
resilience communities. The Climate Change Adaptation and ICT (CHAI) project provides
adaptation information in local languages in three intervention districts of the cattle corridor of;
Sembabule, Rakai and Soroti including. Among the information disseminated is the seasonal
weather forecasts and agricultural information localized to sub-county level, weekly livestock and
crop market information to help community decide what, when, where and how much to sell and
guidance on low cost rainwater harvesting techniques, drought and flood coping mechanisms
and termite control measures.
Question 2 “Opportunities for strengthening resilience, reducing vulnerabilities and increasing the
understanding and implementation of adaptation actions”
The opportunities for Uganda to respond to climate change can be broadly categories into two which
includes policy framework level and intervention opportunities
Policy Framework Level Opportunities.
1) Uganda has developed the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) and its Costed
Implementation Strategy which among others things identifies climate change resilience
interventions at strategic level to be implemented by different climate change actors both in
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
12)
13)
14)
15)
16)
17)
government and non-government organization. The NCCP provides opportunity to direct
investment by sectors for strengthening resilience.
Integrated of Climate change the National Development Plan and country’s vision (NDP1, 2 and
Uganda’s Vision 2040)
Mainstreaming guidelines for sectors and Local government developed and disseminated
Integration of climate change content into the education curricular at different levels of education
such as upper primary education curriculum, universities.
National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) were developed. Some interventions are under
implementation and others were piloted by different actors.
Create climate change awareness raising and sensitization at various levels targeting key
stakeholders including awareness at Political, Technical and the community level. The local
/districts technocrat, media, Inter- Institutional Climate Change Technical Committee (IICCTC) ,
Climate Change Policy Community (CCPC), the Parliamentary Forum On Climate Change (PFCC)
among others.
Constantly support the development of National Communications, channel were countries
vulnerabilities are shares for appropriate actions both nationally and internationally.
Support and encourage the development of the national climate change projects/programs data
bases commonly known as in Uganda “Dynamic Climate Change Actors Landscape”. This helps to
boost information sharing for climate change adaptation, avoidance of duplication of activities,
creates regional balance in allocation of climate change related projects among others.
Undertake studies to access the Economic impacts of climate change on major sectors of the
economy such as Agriculture, water, Infrastructure and Energy.
Establishment of the National Climate Change Resource Centre. An information hub for all
climate change related information in Uganda. This will help to increase sharing of research and
innovation for not only climate change adaptation but also others areas such as mitigation and
financing.
Development of the National Climate Change Law. This will act as an instrument of authority to
strengthen implementation and coordination of climate change adaptation actions, support
monitoring and implementation enforcement by various actors.
Continue to support the development of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) framework and
sector specific NAPs that will feed into the national ones and also support their implementation.
Support the implementation of the recently Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).
Train and support the establishment of the National Climate Change Performance Measurement
Frameworks and indicators for tracking the implementation of climate change adaptation
intervention responses.
Support exchange visits for both community and technical staff to open up opportunities
learning, replication of knowledge and innovations as a way of promoting resilience, reducing
vulnerability and increasing the understanding for adaptation to weather and climate variability.
Strengthening the functioning and the use of meteorological services for early warning informs
physical investment like establishment of weather station at sub national and national level, ,
translation and dissemination weather information will all help to promote decision making not
only at policy level but also at household level Create climate change awareness at Political,
Technical and the community level to reduce community livelihood risks that can be associated
with weather and climate variability.
Explore opportunities and create linkages with other national and international conventions for
synergies in implementation of common intervention, share knowledge such as CBD, UNCCD.
This will help to promote efficiency and effectiveness in promoting options for reducing
vulnerability to increase or strengthening resilience to adverse impacts of climate change.
At intervention level.
A number of demonstration sites for strengthening community’s and ecosystem’s resilience to adverse
impact of climate change need to be tried out in various sectors such as in Uganda;
Agricultural and Food Security Sector
a) Soil and water conservation
b) Micro irrigation such as drip irrigation
c) Drought tolerant improved and earlier maturing crops varieties such as Irish potatoes, beans,
Cassava etc
d) Growing and management of animal feeder such as Nipper, desmodia, calliandra
e) Diversification of livelihood
f) Promotion of agroforestry
g) Promotion of climate smart agricultural trials.
h) Promotion of kitchen gardening
i) Post-harvest handling of domestic food for human and livestock
j) The use of farmer field schools(FFS) for demonstration (Animal and plant genetic multiplication)
etc
Energy sector.
a)
b)
c)
d)
Establishment of community bio-energy plantations and woodlots
Promotion of the use of energy efficient cook stoves
Biogas promotion for home lightening and cooking.
Use of solar energy as an alternative source for substitution of firewood and other biomass
energy.
Water.
a) Water harvesting using different technologies for instance roof water harvest, run off and down
water catchment harvest among others
b) Digging shallow water wells.
Infrastructure.
a) Re- installation and installation of weather station
b) Use of ICT material under CHAI project (to disseminate weather, crop, market and livestock
information to local farmers)
Biodiversity.
Ecosystem based adaptation projects are implemented in Highland/mountainous regions of mountain
Rwenzori and Elgon
Contact details for further information
No.
1
Name
Chebet Maikut,
2
John B. Kaddu
3
Semambo
Muhammad
Institution
Ministry of Water
and Environment,
Climate Change
Department (CCD)
Makerere
University-Uganda.
Ministry of Water
and Environment,
Climate Change
Department (CCD)
Designation
Head CCD /UNFCCC
NFP-Uganda
Contact
[email protected]
Uganda Lead Climate
Change
Adaptation
Negotiator
Senior Climate Change
Officer - Adaptation
[email protected]
[email protected]
Part C-Case.
ICT Use to Improve Climate Change Adaptation and Livelihood Resilience
1.
Background
The ecosystems and livelihoods of the Ugandan population are threatened by climate change
and variability, which is manifested in escalating droughts, floods, and variability in the seasons.
During the 80-year period from 1911 to 1990, eight droughts occurred, while in the 10 years
between 1991 and 2000 Uganda experienced seven droughts.
During 1980 – 2010, 15 major flooding hazards occurred primarily in the lowland ecosystems of
the country (UNISDR, 2014 and NAPA, 2007). Situated in a semi-arid ecosystem and covering
40% of Uganda’s land, the cattle-corridor (Fig. 1) is characterized by scanty and unreliable
rainfall, recurrent droughts, and sparse vegetation. Communities living in the cattle corridor face
food insecurity due to reduction in the production of major crops caused by the increased
occurrence of droughts. Other major impacts of climate change include reduced availability of
safe and adequate water supply for domestic and livestock consumption; displacement and
migration of people and livestock in search of scarce water and food; destruction of
infrastructure due to flooding; and breeding of conflict among communities over limited water
resources and pasture. Farmers receive little or no relevant information to help them cope with
droughts and other climatic stresses.
Using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools in local languages, the Climate
Change Adaptation and ICT (CHAI) project provided adaptation information in three intervention
districts of the cattle corridor of; Sembabule, Rakai and Soroti including:

Seasonal weather forecasts and agricultural information localized to sub-county level;

Weekly livestock and crop market information to help them decide what, when, where
and how much to sell;

Guidance on low cost rainwater harvesting techniques; drought and flood coping
mechanisms; and termite control measures.
The project aimed to assess how improved access to weather and climate information enabled
farmers to take appropriate actions such as planting early maturing crops to minimize the
impacts of climate change.
2.
Title of the Case Study
ICT Use to Improve Climate Change Adaptation and Livelihood Resilience
3.
Scope of Case Study
This particular case study focuses on the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
for improving the adaptive capacity of agro-pastoral communities to the impacts of climate
variability and change. It starts with analysis of the climate-related hazards affecting the
communities in the cattle-corridor of Uganda, and outlining the information and communication
needs of communities to help them minimize the impacts of the hazards. Next, the description of
a climate information system comprising a set of ICT tools for the collection, analysis and
dissemination of different types of adaptation information is provided. Finally, the outcomes of
the use of the ICT based climate information system in improving access to adaption information,
effectiveness of the adaptation actions employed by households, and its impact in reducing crop
loss and damage are provided.
4.
Brief Description of the Activities
The project conducted a baseline study involving 637 households in August 2012 to assess the
hazards affecting the households in the pilot districts, impacts of the hazards, adaptation
information and communication needs of the households and local institutions to help them
minimize the impacts of the hazards, and how the hazards are projected to change over time. The
study showed that the major hazards in the pilot districts include drought, prolonged dry spells,
unpredictability of rainfall seasons and flooding. The major impacts induced by the hazards
include acute shortage of water for agriculture and domestic use, loss of crop and livestock,
migration in search of water and pasture, conflict, changes in farming calendar, asset damage
and/or destruction, termite infestation, distressed sale of assets, increased human/animal/plant
diseases, deforestation and violence and abuse against women. The study showed that the
adaptation information needs of communities include climate change and variability awareness,
guidance on low-cost rainwater harvesting techniques, localized weather information, agricultural
advisories, drought and flood coping mechanisms, livestock and crop market information, and
termite control measures.
Based on the findings of the baseline study, the project developed and deployed a climate
information system comprising a set of ICT tools for the collection, analysis and dissemination of
adaptation information through:

Mobile phone-based tools for gathering weekly crop and livestock market information
from 46 local market outlets,

Daily weather data from 22 weather stations located at sub-counties of the intervention
districts, and

Information dissemination mechanism via interactive radio, mobile phones and
community meetings with local authorities.
To support the process of generation, dissemination and use of adaptation information, the
project engaged various stakeholders/institutions at national, district and village levels. The
households that received adaptation information were linked to community support organizations
who could provide resources to apply acquired information into action.
The products from these project have had a significant impact on the communities, through the
Seasonal (3 months duration) and 10-day localized weather forecasts; weekly livestock and crop
market information; guidance on low cost rainwater harvesting techniques; drought and flood
coping mechanisms and agricultural advisories; and termite control measures, the project is able
able to reach to over one hundred thousand100,000 farmers in the different local languages
(Luganda, Ateso, Runyankole and Rululi).
5.
Partners







Climate Change Department, Ministry of Water and Environment
FHI 360
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University
Department of Zoology, Makerere University
Uganda Chartered HealthNet
Uganda National Meteorological Authority, Ministry of Water and Environment
Wetlands Management Department, Ministry of Water and Environment
6.
Geophysical characteristics of activity location(s)
The cattle corridor covers about 84,000 square kilometers (40% of Uganda’s land area),
stretching from Kotido in the northeast, through Katakwi in the east, to Sembabule in the
central region and Rakai in the southwest. Situated in a semi-arid ecosystem, the cattle
corridor experiences prolonged and severe droughts that lead to low water flows in rivers
and low levels in water tables and reservoirs, affecting the hydrology, biodiversity, and
water supply to the population. The CHAI project was implemented in three cattle-corridor
intervention districts (Sembabule, Soroti and Sembabule) and one control district (Rakai).
6.
Key Climate Impacts
Drought, extreme heat, floods, shift of seasons, and change in precipitation patterns.
8.
Status of implementation
The implementation of the initiative is still ongoing. Over 120,000 farmers are receiving
adaptation information through weekly FM radio broadcasts and text messaging in local
languages.
9.
Outcomes
Midline study involving 677 households and endline study involving 641 households were
conducted in 2013 and 2014 to assess changes in household’s adaptive capacity over time. The
key outcomes include the following.
 The midline study reveals that access to adaptation information improved by 47% in
Soroti, 19% in Sembabule, and 11% in Nakasongola compared to the control district
Rakai. The endline likewise indicates that access to adaptation information increased by
48% in Soroti, 10% in Sembabule and 7% in Nakasongola compared to the control
district Rakai.
 Effectiveness of adaptation actions improved by 27% in Nakasongola, 15% in Soroti, and
6% in Sembabule compared to the control district Rakai. The endline likewise showed

10.
that effectiveness of adaptation actions increased by 26% in Nakasongola, 33% in Soroti,
and 15% in Sembabule compared to the control district Rakai.
A significant reduction in crop loss and damage was achieved as a result of improved
access to locally relevant adaptation information, such as agricultural advisories,
protection of plants from extreme heat and guidance on low cost water harvesting
structures. The studies showed that the use of timely and locally relevant adaptation
information significantly reduced crop loss and damage by 40% (endline) to 65%
(endline) in the intervention districts compared to the control.
Good practices

Accessing resource in combination with ICT is key for community
development:
o

Linking communities to local institutions enhances community
adaptation action:
o

Community linkage to local institutions which are able to support the
communities with resources, such as, early maturing and drought resistant
crops is critical for community decision making and action, hinged on the
received information.
Innovative institutional arrangements with technology is a pivot
in climate change adaptation
o
11.
For community development through utilization of decisions made from the
acquired adaptation information, accessing resources in combination with ICT is
key.
Effective adaptation information generation, dissemination and utilization
require a combination of innovative technological and institutional
arrangements. The baseline study showed that there was no strong institutional
coordination to support the generation, dissemination and use of adaptation
information. This intervention strengthened and tested institutional
arrangements at national, district, sub-county and village level to support the
generation, dissemination and use of adaptation information.
Key lessons learned



The impacts of climate change and the actions required for minimizing its impacts cut
across institutions and disciplines. Is this not old story? Re-inventing the wheel?
The concerted efforts of government departments with effective coordination and
collaboration among key players is essential for implementing adaptation actions.
Use of ICT/mobile technology once scaled up can have a greater impact beyond the over
100,000 farmers reached

12.
Accurate weather and climate information has facilitated the farmers to plan and hence
strengthen community resilience
Resources provided
The project is funded by the International Development Research Centre, Canada (IDRC).
Technical leadership on the application of ICTs for the generation and dissemination of
adaptation information is provided by FHI 360. The Climate Change Department, Uganda
National Meteorological Authority and Makerere University (College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences and Zoology Department) provide methodological guidance on the
generation and infusion of adaptation information to farmers.
13.
Relevant URL
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIwuCpbe4OQ
www.ccu.go.ug/index.php/projects-chai-projects/chai-project-menu
www.fhi360.org/projects/climate-change-adaptation-and-ict-chai
14.
Link(s) to other relevant information sources
www.idrc.ca/EN/Programs/Agriculture_and_the_Environment/Climate_Change_and_Water/Pa
ges/ArticleDetails.aspx?PublicationID=1312
16.
Contact details for further information
John B. Kaddu, Uganda Lead Climate Change Adaptation Negotiator, [email protected]
Berhane Gebru, Director of Programs, FHI 360 TechLab, [email protected]
Patrick Kibaya, Project Manager, CHAI, [email protected]
17.
Keywords
ICT and climate change, climate change adaptation, adaptation information, e-adaptation, eresilience, ICT4Ag, ICT in agriculture.
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