DIALOGUE REPORTS-Babile-Government Group
I. Background information
a. Location of dialogue: Babile town
b. Date of dialogue: 29-30 May, 2013
c. Participant detail: Government workers from different offices
II. Key Issues Discussed
a. Resource mapping
The participants listed and mapped the location of major resources in the District. Accordingly,
the major resources found are three wet & dry season grazing areas, farmlands (located in all
the five zones of the District), four market centers, five watering points for animals, four areas
of accessing water for households, four areas for accessing fuel wood, mobility routes for cattle
and market, settlement areas, forest areas, human and animal clinics and schools.
.This is the resource map of Babile town that was developed last year and we have used it
during resource mapping.
b. Hazard Mapping and Impact Analysis
The major hazards reported are drought, heat stress, erratic rainfall, flood, diseases and pests, and
conflict. These hazards are affecting almost all parts of the District. However, the level of exposure and
sensitivity is not the same.
According to the participants, hazards have primary and secondary impacts on the major resources of
the community and the community themselves. The most common impacts inflicted by the hazards
include scarcity of water, shortage of feed and food, migration, land degradation (mainly soil erosion by
water), emergence of new diseases and pests, loss of animal and human lives as a result of diseases and
pests, robbery, and displacement. The impact chain indicates that a hazard has multiple impacts and
different hazards might have the same impacts. The following impact chains indicate which hazards
result in which impacts.
Dehydration &
death of animals
Scarcity of
water
Crop failure
Increased food insecurity
Weight loss and
death of animals
Drought
Increase susceptibility to
diseases
Scarcity of feed
& food
Famine
Migration
CConflict over
resources
Exposure to new
diseases and pests
Soil erosion
Reduced soil fertility &
productivity
Reduced food selfsufficiency
Flood
Water pollution
Dries water bodies
Takes away animals &
humans
Heat stress
Favors new diseases
and pests
Increase susceptibility to
diseases
Water
scarcity
Reduce
quality of water
Losseconomic
of aquaticloss
Causes
biodiversity
May cause family crisis if
Affects livestock, plants
mother or father is
and
human beings
victimized
Reduce productivity
Bee swarming
Reduce honey production
Reduce bee population
Damage food crops and
pasture
Scarcity of feed & food
Reduce market value
Diseases & pests
Kill susceptible
animals
Economic loss
Family crisis
Loss of life
Robbery
Reduces labor
force
Loss of livestock
assets
Decrease
productivity
Conflict
Moisture
stress
Displacement
May expose to diseases
Increase
food wastage
& feed
Causes time
shortage
Erratic rainfall
Conflict over
resources
Migration
Exposure to
diseases and
pests
c. Existing Preparedness and Response Strategies
The major impacts identified are water shortage, death of susceptible animals and humans,
displacement, diseases, land degradation (soil erosion), feed & food shortage, and loss of crop
& livestock productivity. For these impacts, a number of response strategies being used are
identified. These include soil & water conservation, diversifying crop choices, practicing water
harvesting (mainly ponds), land use planning, use of irrigation, extension services, introduction
and use of improved animal breeds, visiting clinic, migration, involving community in natural
resources management programs, and enclosing degraded areas (area closure). The impactresponse strategy matrix indicates that one existing response strategy has been used for solving
or abating the effects of different impacts. Furthermore, most existing response strategies are
considered as response strategies for most of the impacts considering mainly their effects on
the secondary impacts of the impacts themselves.
The timing of the existing response strategies is different. Some of the response strategies are
used before the impact, some after the impact and others are on-going as the impact occurs.
Accordingly, water harvesting is the only response strategy used before the impact; soil and
water conservation, use of irrigation, extension services and community participation are ongoing response strategies, while crop choice, land use planning, use of improved animal breed,
visiting clinic, migration, and area closure are response strategies used after the impact has
occurred. Furthermore, the approximate time before or after which the strategy is used also
varies.
The response obtained indicates that the identified existing response strategies differ in their
effectiveness. About 81.8% are low in their effectiveness, while the remaining 18.2% are
medium. Different reasons were forwarded for the low effectiveness of most of the existing
response strategies. The major ones are lack of adequate awareness and know-how from the
community side, inadequate supply of required logistics, low level of enforcement of land use
policies, skill gap from development workers and experts side, and top-down approaches
followed in community mobilization.
d. Historical timeline
The different types of hazards have been there since the 1960s. However, in general terms the
frequency and severity of most of the hazards is increasing. Drought, flood, erratic rainfall,
diseases and pests, and conflict have been there since the 1960s though there frequency and
severity has generally increased after that. The conflict during the 1960s and late 1980s were
more of large-scale involving two different nations, whereas the recently happening ones are
mainly on resources. Heat stress is relatively a recent phenomenon and is increasing from time
to time. The impacts on human beings are less intense during these days due to better
preparedness from government.
Drought, conflict, erratic rainfall, heat stress, and diseases and pests are hazards that are
occurring together or at about the same time. This indicates the existence of some kind of
relationship among these hazards.
DISCUSSION ON CLIMATE CHANGE NOTES:
The participants pointed out that they have learnt important facts about climate change-both
globally and at national level. They indicated that the note is in line with what they are
witnessing in their surrounding. They also appreciated the efforts being made to curb the
impacts of the change.
e. Alternative Adaptation Strategies
NRM
The natural resources group identified strengthening soil & water conservation efforts,
developing and implementing land use planning, and capacity building as most important
alternative adaptation strategies. The vulnerabilities are mainly due to natural resources
degradation emanating from inappropriate land use. The community in general has limited
knowledge of resource conservation to overcome land degradation of today’s scale and also
does not have adequate materials required for conservation works. Improving their know-how
through continuous training and supporting them with the required materials could help them
adapt better to climate change impacts and build resilience.
LIVELIHOOD ADAPTATION
The livelihood adaptation group also identified building capacity of community, development
workers and experts in various ways, using improved technologies in different livelihood
activities, and expanding market networks as decisive alternative strategies for building the
resilience of the community to climate change impacts. Use of modern technologies that
enable the community adapt better to the changing climate require basic working knowledge,
which can be acquired through continuous training and practice. The income of the community
from their produce can be increased through expansion of market networks, which is almost
nonexistent at this moment.
IV. Analysis
a. Climate change context and impacts (context analysis should include both the climate
change issues experienced by communities, as well as their understanding of the
phenomenon)
The climate change issues that are experienced by the communities are not different from what
has been said so far. As a result of climate change, the communities are facing different types of
problems on their resources. The pastoralists are repeatedly facing shortage of feed during the
dry season and also wet season as a result of erratic rainfall. Some of the pastoralists are facing
critical shortage of water for both human beings and their livestock and are forced to travel
long distances that take up to 8 hours in search of water. The agriculturalists are repeatedly
facing reduced crop yield or complete failure of crop as a result of moisture deficit stress
particularly if rain ceases early or damage by pests and diseases. The heat stress is also affecting
the day to day activity of community and also their livestock and crops. Human beings are
unable to work or even move during day time; animals stay in the shade for long period of time
during the days-reducing grazing time. In general, the climate change is affecting the livelihood
of the community significantly. There is good understanding of climate change.
b. Institutions and relationships (clan relationships, administrative frameworks)
There are some administrative frameworks to improve the adaptive capacity of the community.
In every peasant association, there exists 1 to 5 farmers network. For every development
activity or communication, this network is being used. The clan leaders are also working very
closely in resolving some issues within the community.
c. Differential vulnerability - which sectors/groups are more vulnerable
In the District, the pastoralists are more vulnerable than the agriculturalists (those who produce
crops and also keep livestock). The agriculturalists get grain aid from Government, whereas the
pastoralists lose most of their livestock as a result of, for example, drought. As they migrate,
they also face different problems (e.g., conflict, diseases that kill their animals, robbery, attack
by wild animals such as hyena and lion, etc).
e. Preparedness and Response strategies-challenges, barriers and opportunities
i. NRM
The challenges and barriers to the response strategies are mainly related to lack of adequate
awareness within the community, lack of materials and finance, lack of experienced experts,
and weak enforcement of land use polices. The opportunities are presence of adequate labor
force that can be mobilized for different development works, and presence of good
Government policies and strategies in land resources management and community
development.
ii. Livelihood Adaptation
The major challenges and barriers to the livelihood adaptation strategies are low capacity in
terms of experts, finance, community know-how and logistics required, limited choice of bestfit technologies, Lack of adequate awareness about the importance of marketing network in
changing people’s life, and lack of market information system. The opportunities are presence
of interest for change in the community, adequate labor force, possible market expansion
areas, and presence of good government policies.
V. Options for the future
i. NRM
a. Areas of support (based on alternative response strategies)
The most important areas of support in the area of natural resources management are
supporting the soil and water conservation efforts which are already underway through human
capacity building and materials required for conservation works; building the capacity of the
District in terms of trained manpower to develop and implement land use planning that
ensures sustainable use of its land resources. The capacity building should improve the
technical know-how of the farming community as well as the development workers and the
experts at District level.
b. Recommended approaches
Based on the alternative response strategies identified, the government representatives will
prioritize areas where intervention can be made and discuss how these priorities can be taken
forward. As a starting step, individuals with different roles (group leader, mobilizer and
participants) are already selected and communicated.
c. Next Steps
The next steps are to hold meeting with the individuals selected to discuss about the prioritized
interventions and how to take these priorities forward.
iii. Livelihood Adaptation
a. Areas of support (based on alternative response strategies)
The major areas of support are in building the capacity of the District and community in various
ways, particularly awareness creation and improving the know-how of the community to
understand and adopt technologies, in introduction of best-fit practices that enable the
community get better benefit from its land and livestock assets, and assist in creating market
networks.
b. Recommended approaches
Group leader, mobilizer and participants are elected. These representatives will identify priority
areas for intervention and how to take them forward.
c. Next Steps
Meetings are arranged to discuss on the prioritized response strategies and their
implementation.
VI.
Observations on Tools and Process
The tool was in general terms good and served the purpose. The process went very well with no
notable problems.