Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources and Agriculture – and Adaptation Strategies in Tanzania (CLIVET)

Project summary

Objectives: The overall objective is to contribute to the knowledge and capabilities of Tanzania to encounter the impacts of climate change and to develop best strategies to adapt to these changes, particularly as they relate to water resources and the use of water within the agricultural sector. Research approach: The methodology of the project builds on integrated and interdisciplinary research on three axes: 1) climate change predictions, especially downscaling of results from global circulation models. 2) assessment of the impacts of these predictions, through integrated hydrological models, on the water resources in selected rural and important agricultural settings and areas. 3) identifying the actual, on-going and optional measures for adaptation in agriculture. Outputs, capacity building, and outreach: 1) Increased research capacity and competences. 2)Three Ph.D.’s and similar number of M.Sc.’s. 3) An international network of researchers 4) A set of state-of-the-art regional climate change predictions. 5) Hydrological models. 6) Socio-economic analysis. 7) Context-specific, evidence-based, and geographically focused recommendations on adaptation strategies. 8) Scientific and popular publications. 9) Stakeholder involvement.

Outputs

Completion Report:
2014 has had two main activities: The Final International conference held in Sept. 2014 in Dar es Salaam, with participation of app. 50 invitational scientists. The submission of the 3 PhD thesis's, which were all succesfully submitted during 2014.

The key messages from the scientific work within the CLIVET projects are :

• Temperatures will likely increase by 1-2 degrees by the middle of the century and 3-4 degrees by the end of the century.

• A likely overall increase in precipitation and larger seasonal variation might lead to water related stress during a prolonged dry season and flood risks during the wet season.

• The overall climate related effect on water resources is a status quo.

• Increased rainy season rainfall offers opportunities for rain fed agriculture and water storage for hydropower and irrigation.

• Groundwater resources should be included in integrated management.

• At the village level, people are already feeling the impacts of climate change and use existing strategies of diversification to cope.

• Local governments are already effectively dealing with these climate related impacts. Assigning more responsibilities and capacities to LG can unlock great potential for adequately delivering locally diversified climate change adaptation.

Regarding capacity building the project has educated three Tanzanian PhD’s (two graduated – one has submitted her thesis) and three Tanzanian Masters (All graduated). In addition, six Danish masters’ students have written their thesis with in project. From an institutional point of view, an effort has been put into capacity building on accounting, with two visits from the Danish head accountant to colleagues in Tanzania.

A strong international research network has been established through joint research, field work, annual meetings and conferences. The involvement of South African supervisors has strengthened the PhD-education and research in the project.