Building Climate Change Resilient Communities in Africa

Countries in the tropics and global south such as Zimbabwe are experiencing increasing climate induced extremes and change with projections pointing to increasing impacts of these impacts. The related extremes and Climate Change impacts include recent occurrences such as the Tropical Cyclone Idai, that ravaged Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi; recurrent droughts which have affected Zimbabwe over the past three years, prolonged dry spells, erratic rainfall and violent hailstorms. Prior to these catastrophic events, research had long identified how farmers in southern Africa continue to face such vulnerabilities. Furthermore, studies have noted the centrality of Smallholder farmers to agriculture development in Southern Africa for the unforeseeable future, despite their reliance on rainfall for agriculture. Equipping and preparing smallholder farmers with knowledge and resources on how to adapt and mitigate climate change, at the same time remaining food and income secure is critical. Urban areas have also not been spared by the negative impacts of Climate Change. Key among these include water shortages due to desiccation of water traditional water sources such dams, rivers and other natural aquifers; violent hailstorms; heat waves and hydro-power shortages due to dwindling water levels in Kariba dam.

Hidden impacts include job losses, suppressed industrial activity, poverty and the ever rising food and raw material prices which could potentially create instability. Trying to understand and proffer solutions to these impacts calls for both multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary efforts. This resilience-building effort requires both rural and urban focus. This book brings together authors including economists, sociologists, social workers, lawyers, agriculturists and natural scientists from different institutions and focus areas to address these issues. Key stakeholders and practitioners including government departments, development partners, civil society, and academic are invited to utilise this book, as one of the resources to manage Climate Change.