Project profile — Bati Adapts to Climate Change Impacts

This project aims to improve the ability of the people of Ethiopia’s Bati woreda (Bati district) to withstand the impacts of climate change on their lives. More specifically, it works with 4,660 households (11,697 men and 11,603 women), whose livelihoods and food security, or access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food, are highly dependent on rain-fed, traditional agriculture practices. Such practices increase people’s vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. Some project activities include: (1) conducting risk assessments on the impact of climate change on the community; (2) promoting water conservation; (3) promoting dry season gardening and climate-responsive crop and livestock management; (4) rehabilitating small-scale irrigation schemes; and (5) building the capacity of the local partner organization, Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA), and local offices of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture to support community-based projects addressing climate change.

The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: (1) increased collaboration and coordination between targeted communities, government, and civil society, including the Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA), at regional, zonal, woreda and kebele levels to support climate change adaptation; and (2) increased adoption of climate-resilient gender-responsive food security strategies by 4,660 vulnerable households (11,697 males and 11,603 females).

Results achieved as of September 2013 include: (1) 57 woreda (district) officials (including six women), development officers and local partner staff have improved awareness on climate change adaptation issues; (2) climate change adaptation activities were included into new and existing plans of woreda development agents and will be reviewed every quarter; (3) each kebele (community) was assisted in conducting assessments and producing a climate change adaptation plan; (4) early warning training on potential climatic challenges was provided to each kebele, as well as at the woreda level; (5) 12 comprehensive gender-sensitive woreda climate change adaptation plans were produced; (6) training for trainers on the management of climate-resilient seeds, intercropping and composting was provided to 21 experts (three of whom are women), including development agents, woreda experts, local partner staff, and farmers; (7) 1,176 farmers (including 270 women) received training on vegetable and fruit production and are now applying basic farming techniques (i.e. weeding, watering and cultivating on time); (8) 239 kg of various vegetable seeds were provided to 855 men and 315 women farmers , as well as technical assistance to ensure the seeds were planted using improved agricultural practices; (9) 446 quarts (qt) of climate-resilient improved seeds were provided to 1,588 men and 699 women; and (10) 1,237 beneficiaries (including 431 women) received 12,906 grafted mango plants which are well performing, even under water stress. These are contributing to increase the integration of climate change adaptation in targeted communities, government, and civil society plans and strategies, as well as to increase the adoption of climate-resilient farming practices by vulnerable families .