Know the Risks: 

Climate change is causing massive loss and damages in Tanzania and will continue to impact the livelihood of Tanzanians people even more in future. To adapt to climate change impacts and to mitigate loss and damages it is key to know the risk and vulnerability. Precious knowledge of local vulnerabilities and risks allow to tailor fitting solution. The development and implementation of activities and intervention to build capacity to adapt and empower communities to grow resilient against climate impact has to rely on a scienced-based local risk and vulnerability assessment. 

The Study Design: 

Therefore CAN TZ and the Sokonie University of Agriculture conducted a participatory, science-based climate risk and vulnerability assessment in the districts Lushoto, Pangani and Bagamoyo. The study mapped climate risks and measured the Climate and Livelihood Vulnerability. For the measurement of the Climate and Livelihood Vulnerability the framework of the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI), the Livelihood Vulnerability index of the IPPC (LVI-IPCC) and the Livelihood Effect Index (LEI) applied.  The indexes are constructed out of the assessment of major components that effect Livelihood  such as access to water resources, financial resources, strength of the social network , food security and access to health resources. The components where measure through sub-components that measure concrete indicators on household level. For the assessment of the household financial resources e.g. the household was asks how much loan it has taken and if there expense are higher as their income. The data were collected in three villages (Mwangoi, Ushongo and Kidomole) by conducting key informant interviews, focus groups and structured household surveys. 

Results: The Climate Change impact districts in Tanzania through droughts, sea level rise, saltwater intrusion and crop diseases 

The application of vulnerability indices (LVI, LVI-IPCC, and LEI) helped in identifying vulnerable communities and gaining a deep understanding of the factors that determine vulnerability all the three villages from three different districts in Tanzania. 

In Mwangoi village, Lushoto district, increase in incidences of crop and livestock diseases and pests are the most serious and priority climate-related hazards, with reduction in yield, both for livestock and crops being the attendant outcome risks. This has reportedly led to recurring food shortages in the village. Notably, the frequency of occurrence of crop and livestock diseases and pests in the Mwangoi is alarmingly high, calling for immediate mitigation measures.  

In Ushongo, Pangani district, sea level rise and storm surges have been reported to seriously affect the people’s livelihood in this coastal village. Specifically, the most impactful outcome risks are poor water quality due to saltwater intrusion into the wells, damage to homes and properties, a perpetual loss of fishing grounds and consequently loss of income. These climate change effects require immediate and concerted adaptation measures. 

 In the Kidomole, recurring drought is the high priority climate risk, with reduction of crop yield and loss of income being the most significant outcome effects. 

Recommendation for increased relicense  

The findings have also highlighted the potential areas of intervention in order to build community resilience to climate change impacts.