Introduction

The baseline study titled "Strengthening the Contribution of Local Actors for a Climate Resilient Society in Zanzibar" focuses on Chuini Shehia in Zanzibar’s West A district, a region highly vulnerable to climate change due to its climate-sensitive livelihoods and environmental degradation. Conducted as part of a project funded by Bread for the World, the study establishes a benchmark for measuring the impact of interventions aimed at enhancing climate resilience. It examines livelihood activities, climate knowledge, gender dynamics, and access to weather services, providing critical insights to guide policy and community action.

Research Design

The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection:

• Scope: Focused on Chuini Shehia as a pilot area, targeting climate-sensitive livelihoods and community practices.
• Data Collection: Included household surveys, interviews with local stakeholders, and analysis of existing climate data.
• Indicators: Aligned with project objectives, assessing climate knowledge, gender equity, access to weather services, and coping mechanisms.
• Stakeholder Involvement: To ensure contextual relevance, we engaged community members, local government authorities, and traditional weather forecasters.

Key findings

• The study found that people engage in a variety of livelihood activities specifically to get income and food to cater to their households’ basic needs. A good percentage of livelihood activities found in the study area are climate-sensitive and hence face threats from the changing climate and its challenges, thereby increasing their susceptibility.
• The study also discovered an increase in women's engagement in undertaking and participating in household livelihoods.
• Respondents showed inadequate awareness of Climate Change, though the effects have posed significant challenges to smallholders' livelihoods, leading to a vicious cycle of poverty while expanding vulnerable groups in the study area.
• There are different coping mechanisms implemented in the community across the different livelihoods.
• The study discovered that the majority of respondents primarily rely on information from TMA, with fewer relying on traditional forecasters.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies:

• The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar to invest in Tanzania's meteorological authority to improve data collection and interpretation and promote institutional capacity for climate change coordination.
• To establish frameworks for evaluating areas affected by climate change, involving all stakeholders in the process
• The integration of scientific weather forecasts and traditional weather forecasts should be put into consideration to enable the downscaling of weather forecasts, making them more useful, accurate, and reliable for enhanced climate resilience.
• TMA cooperates with local government authorities and community members (traditional weather forecasts) to undertake the integration process at the district level, where development plans and budgets are prepared to inform the regional and national decision-making processes.

Recommendations for Local Government:

• Local Government Authorities are advised to enhance the capacity of district and ward extension officers to support smallholders in interpreting weather and climatic information
• The local government should also safeguard traditional weather forecasting knowledge and facilitate clear data flow between the community and district-level leadership. Measures should be taken to perpetuate this knowledge and counteract negative impressions associated with Indigenous Knowledge (IK).

Recommendations for Chuini Community:

• The Chuini community and its stakeholders, the study recommends the development of a comprehensive, community-led adaptation plan to build resilience against the effects of climate change.

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