The West Africa Learning Event was hosted by the Adaptation Learning Programme of CARE International, the CGIAR Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) Program and the NGO ENDA Energy, Environment and Development. CARE Benin/Togo, Southern Voices Program, Niger NAPA Project, Niger PPCR Program, Ghana Farm Radio International and Canadian Hunger Foundation (CHF) also sponsored the event.
Participants from 50 organisations working in 12 West African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Togo) and from Kenya and UK confirmed the urgent
need for community based adaptation to respond to the
adverse effects of climate change at a West Africa Learning
Event in Cotonou, 3-6th September 2013. The 72 participants
from a diverse range of 36 NGO and research organisations and 14 government organisations shared and
reflected on their experiences, successes, challenges, opportunities,
questions and future perspectives across the
region.
This communiqué is the collective product of these deliberations
conveying strong messages on the crucial need to develop effective adaptation practice and
policies to secure livelihoods and realise resilient development
and economic growth in the face of an uncertain
and changing climate.
Climate change challenges in West Africa, the case for CBA
Climate change and variability is already changing
rainfall patterns, temperatures and causing previously unknown extreme
weather events across West Africa. These phenomena
are challenging both traditional mechanisms for
maintaining resilient livelihoods in the face of a wider
set of shocks and stresses and the effectiveness of
development opportunities, resulting in increasing vulnerability.
More impacts are anticipated in future as climate
conditions become more complex and uncertain: increases
in crop failures, livestock losses, pest and disease
outbreaks and the further degradation of natural, land
and water resources are likely.
While climate change response strategies are in place or planned at national level, and Community-based adaptation (CBA) is increasingly recognized as part of a sustainable and effective response to climate change, coherent support to practical adaptation by the most vulnerable groups is still at a beginning. CBA adds a new analytical lens and measures to existing sustainable development and risk reduction efforts, but
the same criteria for successful
results apply.
Follow the link below to read the comprehensive communique Key Messages and crucial outcome:
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