PROJECT IDENTIFICATION FORM (PIF)
*
Full-sized Project
UNDER THE Least Developed Countries Fund
GEFSEC PROJECT ID: 3406
IA/EXA PROJECT ID: 3950
COUNTRY: Eritrea
COUNTRY ELIGIBILITY: UNFCCC Ratified on 24 April 1995;
NAPA submitted to UNFCCC.
PROJECT TITLE: Integrating climate change risks into community
based livestock management in the northwestern lowlands of Eritrea
GEF IA/ExA: UNDP
OTHER PROJECT EXECUTING AGENCY(IES): Ministry of Agriculture
PROJECT DURATION: 4 years
GEF FOCAL AREA: Climate Change - Adaptation
GEF-4 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES: Not Applicable
GEF OPERATIONAL PROGRAM: LDCF
EXPECTED DATE OF WP INCLUSION: June 2008
EXPECTED DATE FOR CEO ENDORSEMENT: August 2008
EXPECTED STARTING DATE: FSP - November 2008
EXPECTED STARTING DATE (PPG): July 2007
PROJECT CONTACT: Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, UNDP-GEF,
Tel: +1-212-906 6843; Email: pradeep.kurukulasuriya@undp.org
(through Bo Lim, UNDP-GEF)
DATE OF SUBMISSION: May 2007
FINANCING PLAN ($)
PPG
Project
GEF Total
100,000
3,000,000
Co-financing
GEF IA/ExA
7,500
Government
2,500,000
Others
900,000
Co-financing
7,500
3,400,000
Total
Total
107,500
6,400,000
PART I - PROJECT IDENTIFICATION
A - PROJECT SUMMARY
1. Eritrea’s NAPA highlights that the livestock production system and related livelihood opportunities of pastoralists
are highly vulnerable to long-term climate change, including variability. The productive and reproductive
efficiencies of the pastoral system have been declining progressively due to a number of baseline issues (see section
C). However, these pressures will be compounded by additional stress due rapidly changing climatic factors. With
crop cultivation and animal husbandry accounting for 60 percent of rural incomes, while in specific regions such as
the lowlands incomes from livestock become even more important, anticipated climate change will have serious
repercussions on rural poverty and well-being. This proposal, for a NAPA follow-up project in Eritrea, focuses on
integrating climate change risks into livestock management by pastoralists in vulnerable rangelands in the
northwestern lowland region of Eritrea.
2. Evidence of observational and projected climate change, including variability, especially in the frequency of
drought in Eritrea is well documented in the country’s NAPA (2007) and Initial National Communication (INC,
2001). The occurrences of dry spells and seasonal and multi-year droughts are more frequent and increasingly
severe in terms of impacts (animals lost, etc). The INC highlights that in the event of a more than likely doubling of
global CO2 levels, mean temperature in Eritrea will rise by 4.1 o C by approximately 2050. Rainfall projections vary,
with reductions in lowland regions and increments in highlight regions. Resultant impacts will be felt on water
resources and agriculture inter-alia. Vulnerability assessments in the Mereb-Gash basin suggest a decrease in runoff
by 29.5% (relative to baseline conditions). The resultant impacts on the livestock production system from these
changes will worsen and compound pressures brought about by high evapotranspiration rates such as diminishing
soil moisture. These changes will hasten the decrease in rangeland productivity. This process has already resulted in
high levels of household food insecurity, malnutrition, dependence on food aid and the exodus of rural populations
into urban centers in search of alternative sources of income.
3. Over the years, pastoralists have evolved a production system that adapts to the fluctuations in feed and water
supply availability. The major river basins and the areas with relatively higher rainfall and soil fertility of the
rangelands serve as the dry season camp, while the open grazing land of the drier areas form the wet season camp.
The routes that pastoralists, including their livestock, use to travel between seasons are well defined and based on
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1
known water points, feed and tree shade. The movement involves mainly the larger animal species, but in areas
where heat stress is acute all livestock species are forced to move seasonally. Over time, this traditional coping
practice has been disturbed by a number of factors (see section C), and the most recent of these is increasing climate
variability including the occurrence of extreme weather events such as drought. Northwestern rangelands (wet
season camp) are especially most sensitive. Recurrent droughts and high temporal and spatial variability of rainfall
produces negative impacts on the water resources availability by depleting underground water through evaporation.
Inadequate recharge of underground aquifers of rangelands results in lower drinking water availability for livestock
and reduces livestock productivity as a result of lower biomass productivity. In effect, the rangelands are already
under severe pressure from drought. Recent records showed that frequent droughts and inter-annual precipitation
variability between 1992 and 2004 have contributed towards the annual deaths of thousands of livestock species
such as cattle and camels. Thermal stress is increasingly exceeding thresholds that animals can tolerate, leading to
shortening of grazing hours that most of grazing takes place during night time or early morning, decreased feed
intake and interference with animal productive and reproductive functions. Without adaptation interventions, the
linkage between pastoralists and land will be adversely affected and lead to adverse economic impacts, changes in
social structure, cultural identity, and even political instability.
4. This project will support adaptation to changing climatic conditions of pastoral communities in the rangelands of
Eritrea in the areas of livestock and water management. The project will enhance technical capacity in climate
change risk management of key stakeholders at the community and national/sub-national levels, implement priority
demonstration climate change risk management activities (based on activities identified through the NAPA process),
and provide support for the diversification towards less climate change sensitive livelihood opportunities for
rangeland communities.
5. The proposed project is aligned with UNDP’s comparative advantage in improving capacity building, providing
technical and policy support as well as expertise in project design and implementation in relevant areas such as
sustainable land management and water governance at global level and in East Africa in particular. UNDP is also
able to draw on its experience of designing GEF funded adaptation to climate change projects, as well as from
conducting the NAPA process in the sub-region. It will draw on technical assistance from the Drylands
Development Centre, which specializes in assisting countries in development projects in the drier parts of the world,
as well as the Water Governance Facility (a joint UNDP-SIDA initiative which seeks to advance socially equitable,
environmentally sustainable and economically efficient management of water resources). Through its network of
technical staff, country office presence in additional to operational expertise in designing similar Council approved
SCCF and LDCF projects in arid regions of Africa (Kenya, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Niger, and
Namibia), UNDP is well positioned to assist Eritrea to design and implement this LDCF proposed project.
B – PROJECT OBJECTIVE
6. The goal of this project is to “enhance resilience of pastoral communities in Eritrea to climate change including
variability-induced adverse impacts.” As a contribution to the achievement of this goal, the project objective is to
“enhance adaptive capacity of livestock production systems in the Kerkebet area”. This arid region, which
represents the drylands of the northwestern lowland, is among the most vulnerable to climate change. The NAPA
process identified this area as the geographic focus for interventions through this pilot project. In order to achieve
the project objective, the following three outcomes will be achieved.
Outcome 1: Livestock management systems that are effectively integrate climate change risk management
techniques piloted
7. This outcome will focus on implementing activities that will reduce vulnerability of livestock management to
climate hazards. This includes climate-resilient water management practices and forage management systems
reduce climate perturbations on livestock.
Without GEF Intervention
8. Currently, the pastoral communities in the northwestern lowland are supported with livestock and human health
delivery system, irrigated horticulture and crop agricultural activities, crop and livestock extension services, water
supply and nutrition programmes under five age and pregnant and lactating mothers.
9. Besides Government supported irrigated agriculture, rural water supply, a livestock and human health delivery
system and crop and livestock extension services (which amounts to $ 2,500,000 for activities in the northwestern
lowland), there are three other ongoing projects that are of relevance to the proposed NAPA follow up adaptation
project. The “Integrated Rural Development Project (IRDP)”, “Lutheran World Federation Nutrition Project” and
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“Gash Barka Livestock and Agriculture Development Project” are community development initiatives that cover
the northwestern lowland. The objectives of these ongoing projects and the Government activities are to contribute
to the livelihood of the populations engaged in traditional livestock production and increase the contribution of the
agricultural sector to the national economy by improving productivity of crop, livestock and community. The main
strategies taken to achieve these objectives are (a) strengthening the animal health delivery system through the
provision of drugs, vaccines, and veterinary supplies; (b) rehabilitating the regional laboratory for diagnostic and
vaccine production at the NVC through the provision of buildings, equipment, technology and initial supplies; (c)
provide other agricultural including livestock extension services; (d) increase crop and horticulture through
irrigation; and (e) provide basic social services to the community.
With GEF Intervention
10. The above baseline activities do not account for risks associated with climate change, including variability, on
rangeland and livestock management systems. With GEF intervention, the baseline will introduce improved water
and forage management systems that incorporate climate risks into their design, as well as enhanced community
capacity to address climate risks such that the productive and reproductive efficiencies of livestock are maintained
and/or enhanced. The explicit incorporation of climate risks in pastoral systems, in addition to baseline
development activities, will contribute towards the reductions in the proportion of population classified as food
insecure relative to projected baseline estimates without adaptation interventions. It is anticipated that 3 villages
(with roughly 200 households/village and 10,000 ha of rangeland) will be covered by the interventions through this
project.
11. LDCF funds will contribute to meeting the additional cost of achieving outputs which specifically address
climate change, including variability, driven risks including:
(a) Demonstration activities that integrate climate risks into water (including irrigation) and livestock
management in pilot areas implemented. Specific activities will be based on a strategic plan that will be
formulated during the preparatory phase. Priorities identified as part of the NAPA priority profile such as
improved irrigation practices will be evaluated for their feasibility for implementation;
(b) Pastoral communities and relevant stakeholders trained on identifying and supporting implementation of
climate resilient rangeland management priority practices;
(c) Communication linkages between short- to medium-term climate forecast centers and pastoral communities
strengthened for timely management decisions to be made (linked to capacity development outcome –see
below);
(d) Implementing measures that will facilitate the pursuit of alternative livelihood options (based on an
assessment and analysis of developing climate resilient alternative livelihoods in the pilot areas to be
undertaken during the preparatory phase).
Outcome 2: Technical capacities of communities and relevant institutions on integrating climate change risks
into livestock and water management enhanced.
Without GEF Intervention
12. The Government places priority on livestock management in the context of the national economic prosperity. To
this end, the Government strategy has focused on ensuring that “research and extension services will work closer
with each other and more directly with the farmers: to better understand their problems; to respond more directly to
them with applied programmes of training; to provide access to information and technologies; and to develop
solutions to farming issues where none other exist. The means by which forage and fodder can be produced from
different types of production systems, and the manner in which animals can better be managed to make best use of
available nutrition, has received specific attention. The Farmers Agricultural Services (FAS) provides the vehicle
for this integrated support and its development and initiation across the country is a priority for Government.” The
FAS is currently funded at approximately US$ 50,000/year.
With GEF Intervention
13. With LDCF funds, UNDP will draw upon its experience in human resources development, institutional
strengthening, and non-governmental and community participation to support training programmes at various levels
including at the community and relevant national and sub-national institutions (such as agricultural extension). The
focus will be develop better understanding and capacities to manage livestock and water in rangelands in the context
of pressures due to climate change, including variability. This will include not only awareness raising initiatives but
targeted capacity building initiatives that will develop skills of key stakeholders to systematically integrate climate
change risks into pastoral land and water management in the context of agricultural and food security-related
strategies, polices, measures (be at the national/sub-national or community level). In addition, in support of the
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promotion of alternative livelihood options under outcome 1, LDCF funds will be channeled to develop skills in
alternative livelihood options (including training and establishing technical and institutional support services) that
will enable pastoralists to pursue less climate sensitive livelihood options.
14. Specific outputs include personnel trained in forage conservation techniques and in managing and distributing
water based on available climate information, improved knowledge on reseeding of the rangeland with climate
resilient varieties, extension support services and other relevant stakeholders trained in climate change risk
management, awareness of climate change risks and needs pertaining to livestock and water management in
rangelands improved for policy makers, and development of a rangeland management plan incorporating climate
change risks over the next 30 years.
Outcome (3): Lessons learned and acknowledgement management component established.
15. The LDCF provides an opportunity to pilot and operationalize interventions that, among other aims, improves
adaptive capacity to climate change. The achievement of the above outcomes will contribute towards lessons on
improving resilience to climate change. These lessons will form a crucial input to informing Eritrea’s plans and
strategies to adapt to climate change, over the coming years.
16. The objective of the project and outcomes are well aligned with the UNDP-GEF M&E framework for adaptation
to climate change projects in the agriculture and food security thematic area.
C – PRIORITY THREATS/ROOT CAUSES AND BARRIERS TO BE ADDRESSED
17. As with any multi-faceted problem, reducing the vulnerability of the livestock sector to climate change,
including variability, necessarily involves also addressing the linkages between agriculture and water resources as
well as barriers to livestock management in Eritrea which have little to do with climate change. Traditional coping
practices have been affected by land and ground water use change, desertification, poverty, and border conflicts.
Land and ground water use change is occurring in most of the rangelands and in particular in those areas with higher
rainfall (such as the southwestern lowland and the riverine areas). The conversion of some rangelands into rain-fed
cropping (even in areas with low rainfall to grow crops) while others are converted into irrigation is placing pressure
on livestock as grazing regions are increasingly confined to marginal areas. The movement of livestock is
increasingly restricted due to land fragmentation. In the more arid rangelands, the process of desertification is also
increasing pressure on rangelands. Desertification has caused conversion of perennial grasslands to savanna
dominated by annual grasses. The above issues are being tackled to varying degrees of success through government
and donor projects and programmes and this project will be linked to ongoing efforts.
18. At the same time, this project will specifically address barriers such as limited technical capacity and
understanding of the sector-specific implications of climate change amongst relevant stakeholders. It will provide
an opportunity for stakeholders to practice specific coping measures which in turn will set the foundation for
adaptation. It will provide the tools through which communities and policy makers can take it upon themselves to
better inform and implement climate change risk management options for livestock and water management. In this
regard, the NAPA project profile that underpins the outcomes of this proposal will be assessed, evaluated and a plan
for implementation will be formulated (using an adaptive capacity approach as recommended by UNDP-GEF’s
Adaptation Policy Frameworks document) during the preparatory phase. Additional measures necessary to ensure
the sustainability of the proposed interventions, including those that focus on management and technical capacity,
will be identified and incorporated into the project design. The project design will be informed by an indepth rootcause analysis of the climate change risks which will be guided by the principles of UNDP-GEF’s Adaptation Policy
Framework. This approach will ensure that the implementation of the NAPA priority profile is not undertaken in
isolation but contributes to ongoing activities by government and other donors who are actively working towards
developing the agriculture sector.
D – GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS EXPECTED, OR ADAPTATION BENEFITS (if LDCF or SCCF project)
20. The adaptation benefits of the proposed project will primarily be in terms of the number of pastoralists practicing
climate resilient livestock and water management practices. This will contribute towards the reduction of the
proportion of populations classified as vulnerable to climate change impacts on food production. In turn, the project
will contribute by way of lessons that can be scaled up to support the achievement of the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs), especially the goal of halving the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day and those
who suffer from hunger. The project will also help achieve benefits in terms of lessons from the pilot areas which
can be replicated in other similar parts of the country (e.g. eastern lowland). The project will also be useful for
promoting adaptation to climate change and variability not only in Eritrea, but the entire dry land of East Africa
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where extensive pastoralist livestock production is practiced. The project will contribute to the GEF portfolio on
adaptation through UNDP-GEF’s Adaptation Learning Mechanism (ALM).
E – FIT WITH FOCAL AREA STRATEGY
21. This project reflects the first “urgent and immediate” project profile in Eritrea’s NAPA based on the guidance
from the UNFCCC and LEG. The project is linked to baseline programmes of Government funded agricultural
activities and the ongoing projects including IRDP, Lutheran World Federation Nutrition Project and Gash Barka
Livestock and Agricultural Development Project.
22. The project is well aligned with Eritrea’s UNDAF for the period 2007-11. UN support for Eritrea will be in six
major areas including food security, sustainable agriculture, environmental protection and natural resources
development. It is also well aligned with a major portion of Eritrea’s Interim Poverty reduction Strategy Paper
(2007) focuses on a statement of the Government’s commitment to poverty reduction. The preparatory phase of the
project will outline in detail the key linkages.
F – POTENTIAL RISK AND MITIGATION
23. National level policies on livestock and agriculture in the context of natural resource management are not
adequately prepared and implemented. Legislation to regulate and monitor natural resources and the economic
sectors are not in place or not completely enforced. The institutions with the mandate to promote environmental
protection, to facilitate sustainable agriculture and livestock development, and to regulate utilization of natural
resources lack sufficient capacity. During the preparatory phase, a detailed mitigation strategy will be formulated.
One solution to mitigate some of these risks is to develop concurrently capacity and technical skills within Eritrea on
the adverse impact of climate change including awareness raising for civil society at large on the risk posed by
climate change Government support for this project is also likely to mitigate some risks although the full size
proposal will need to articulate in detail specific measures.
G – ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
24. The baseline financing of existing Government sponsored activities in the northwestern lowland and ongoing
projects financed by Word Bank, Lutheran World Federation and International Fund for Agricultural Development
(IFAD) respectively will serve as co-financing for the implementation phase of this proposed project. The
Governmental budget line for agricultural activities during the life time of this proposed adaptation project which
will serve as co-financing is US$2,500,000. Similarly, partnerships will be developed with the World Bank,
Lutheran World Federation and IFAD whose on-going projects and programmes could contribute co-financing of
approximately US$ 900,000. During the preparatory phase, Ministry of Agriculture, which is the implementing
body, will support office space amounting to USD 10,000. UNDP country office in Asmara has contributed US$
3,000 for the preparation of this PIF.
25. The executing agency for the preparatory phase of this project will be the Ministry of Agriculture through its
regional office and its structure. During the project formulation phase, an in-depth analysis will be undertaken of
the capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture and/or other appropriate local institutions that could implement the full
size project. The communities and the local government will participate in preparing the strategy design,
implementing and monitoring and evaluation. The full project will be designed following UNDP-GEF procedures.
PART II - FINANCING PLAN
1) ESTIMATED PDF MANAGEMENT BUDGET (IF PLANNED)
Estimated Staff
Component
weeks
Locally Recruited Personnel
24 weeks
Internationally recruited consultants
Training
Office equipment
Travel
Miscellaneous
GEF($)
5,000
Other Sources
($)
3,000
Project Total
($)
8,000
10,000
10,000
1,000
13,000
19,000
1,000
6,000
2)- TIMETABLE FOR THE PROJECT
Implementation
Project Identification Form.doc
Rev February 15, 2007
Start Date
July 2007
PPG
Completion Date
March 2008
5
Start Date
November 2008
Project
Completion Date
December 2012