Community Land Use Responses to Climate Change (CLURCC)

According to the organisers, local communities in northern Ghana are well aware that their climate is changing, and they are beginning to understand that this may represent a trend that will continue in the future. With this knowledge, they are eager to access the information they need to better understand the risks they may face in future, and to plan appropriately. CARE and its partners are therefore working with community members and other stakeholders to analyse local observations of climate change and communicate projected impacts, in order for communities to plan for local adaptation.

Separate dialogues were held with women and men to allow analysis of gender differences in the results and to understand how this affects vulnerability. Organisers say that during the dialogues, communities noted a number of changes that they had observed in their environment, including shifting rainfall patterns, increasing incidences of drought, and reduced soil fertility. They also analysed the impact of different hazards on their lives. This discussion provided openings for local stakeholders to learn about projected climate change impacts, potential consequences, and options for adaptation. These discussions lead to a facilitated participatory planning process which yielded community action plans to reduce vulnerability to climate change. This included identification of priority actions such as tree planting, establishing early warning systems for droughts and floods, and adopting agricultural practices that conserve soil moisture and nutrients.

The project team is also working to link communities with local government authorities at district levels so they can communicate the priorities they identified in their action plans. This is expected to generate district development plans that are grounded in the local reality, and that reflect the community members' priority strategies to help them adapt to current and future changes in climate. These linkages are facilitated by local non-governmental organisation partners, who have received training in analysing climate vulnerability and in identifying appropriate strategies to adapt to climate change.

To address the particular vulnerability of women to the impacts of climate change, the project seeks to place significant emphasis on ensuring that the needs and priorities of both men and women are represented in community and district action plans. This is achieved by ensuring equal representation of women on planning committees and supporting women through training and mentoring to take on leadership roles in community and local government organisations.

The project works in ten communities in two Districts in Northern Ghana – Bawku Municipal and East Mamprusi.

Climate Change, Natural Resource Management, Food Security, and Governance

The majority of people in northern Ghana are dependent on rain-fed farming for their livelihoods, and alternative income generating strategies are limited. Food and livelihood security are challenged by decreasing soil fertility, desertification, deforestation, and inequitable access to and control over resources such as land. They are already experiencing the impacts of climate change in the form of shifting rainfall patterns and more frequent and extreme droughts and floods. This places further strains on food security and livelihoods, leading to dire consequences for already vulnerable people.