Participatory Climate Risk Assessment Hub in Tanzania (PCRAH) Project

Introduction

Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT) has participated in numerous projects regarding community engagement projects which have given SAT experiences and have enhanced SAT facilitators’ capacity in knowledge dissemination, application of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) practices and other approaches encouraging community engagement in addressing challenges they face. SAT, with the support of Bread for the World (BftW) is now implementing the Participatory Climate Risk Assessment Hub in Tanzania (PCRAH) Project with 11 Bread for the World (BftW) Partner Organizations that are in different parts of Tanzania including Tarime and Musoma-Mara, Misungwi-Mwanza, Shinyanga, Same-Kilimanjaro, Chemba and Kondoa-Dodoma, Dar es Salaam, Lindi, Makete-Njombe and Morogoro; and in Mvomero district, specifically in Mkindo and Msufini communities.

The participatory Climate Risk Assessment Hub in Tanzania (PCRAH) Project is a two years pilot project. It uses the PACDR tool for integrating climate and disaster risks into community planning and development. The tool consists of seven modules that build upon each other to enable users to systematically integrate the consideration of climate and disaster risks into community planning and development. Good local knowledge can – and must – inform the assessment of climate and disaster risks, but the process can seem daunting. The potential for improving the adaptive capacity of households and communities or for implementing climate-friendly strategies may not be apparent at first glance. Taking account of hazards, risks, global warming, and local responses requires information and a way of organizing knowledge and evidence into an effective plan. The PACDR tool can guide the way.

Focus Group DIscussion (FGD) with community representatives from Mkindo village.

Project development Goal

The project’s development goal is for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to contribute to increased climate awareness and resilience of local communities in Tanzania.

Project Objectives

The project objectives include local communities developing and implementing adaptation action plans and CSOs in Tanzania capacitated by SAT successfully facilitating climate risk assessments using PACDR, including follow-up. Hence, SAT is an information hub and provides technical support to BftW Partner Organisations in contextualising the PACDR tool at the community level. The project is working through sharing knowledge and practices that are part and parcel of the developed adaptation plans in the implementation process.

Planned activities for the project

One of the interventions used by the PCRAH Project is borrowing expertise from previous projects implemented by SAT like the technologies introduced and promoted in the community to address climate change impacts and disaster risks.

Beneficiaries

Direct Project beneficiaries

A total of 2006 (1200 women, 800 men and six people with disabilities) community members from Mkindo and Msufini in Mvomero District.
A total of 11 Bread for the World Partner organizations
A total of 4 SAT staff (2 women and two men)
A total of 20 (10 women and ten male) Local Government Authorities (LGAs) leaders (VEO, WEO, Ward Councilors), Agriculture extension agents and Community development officers of Mvomero District and
A total of 6 (3 women and three men) line ministries’ Indirect beneficiaries.

Indirect beneficiaries

A total of 505 (300 women, 200 men and five people with disabilities) downstream community members from other Communities around MkNRF and
A total of 2405 (1300 women, 1100 men and people with disabilities)) Community members of BftW POs

Facilitation of the PACDR Tool at the community level in Msufini village In Mvomero District

Outputs

Outputs under Objective 1

A total number of 905 (536 women, 318 men, and one person with a disability) community members from Mkindo and Msufini in Mvomero District are aware of the project and participated in the endorsement of the action plan.
A total of 17 (06 women and 11 male) Local Government Authorities (LGAs) leaders (VEO, WEO, Ward Councilors), Agriculture extension agents and Community development officers of Mvomero District participated in the awareness creation, endorsement of the action plans and implementation of the developed adaptation strategies.
Two (2) reports on the Participatory Assessment of Climate and Disaster Risks, including Findings, Recommendations and Actions, were developed and shared in two communities.
Pilot communities developed and endorsed two (2) action plans which identified and documented adaptation goals and refined/ further developed adaptation strategies.

Establishment of tree nurseries at Msufini village

Outputs under objective 2

A total of 52 (women 28, men 24) representatives of 7 BftW Partner Organizations have enhanced knowledge and experience in successful PACDR facilitation and follow-up; they know possible problems/gaps/challenges and solutions.
Two feedback meeting reports from the virtual PACDR community of practice document how members shared their problems/challenges and lessons learnt and developed solutions.
SAT community facilitators are capacitated to play their role as PACDR facilitators and multipliers. A total of 11 backstopping sessions (9 for the PACDR application and 2 for establishing the project monitoring tool and its application)
An information hub in Tanzania for participatory climate change impact and disaster risks assessment was established. A drop box folder was created and used. Four resource folders updated, including experience from the field – sample pictures, reports- PACDR Facilitation, meetings, backstopping; Other materials – Facilitation skills, EMA-2004, Latest update from NEMC, National – Master Plan, Tanzania NDC; and PACDR Information.

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