The looming threat of climate change casts a daunting shadow over local communities, confronting them with the stark realities of heatwaves, droughts, and erratic rainfall patterns in Southern Africa. In response, the Community-Based Adaptation (CBA) model has emerged as a beacon of hope, offering solutions to empower vulnerable populations and protect vital ecosystems.
Spanning three nations the project embodies a collaborative endeavor to tackle the complex impacts of climate change. “The CBA-SCALE Southern Africa+ project is a multi-country project being implemented in three countries namely Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The preparatory phase started in 2019 with broader consultations which included engagement with communities and various policy making stakeholders to build the necessary enabling relationship conditions for success and impact.
“These relationships were used to consult and gather insights that informed project design. Thirdly fact-finding missions to close information gaps to deepen collective understanding of the context in the three countries were undertaken to deepen collective understanding of the context in the three countries,” read the project brief
At its essence, the CBA-SCALE Southern Africa+ project aims to fortify livelihoods and ecosystems across approximately 100 communities in the target countries. Over the span of five years, from November 2023 to August 2028, project partners will introduce a diverse array of nature-based, gender-responsive solutions tailored to each community’s unique needs.
These interventions not only mitigate climate risks but also bolster the resilience of vulnerable populations, estimated to benefit around 500,000 individuals. Beyond local implementation, the project advocates for systemic change by engaging decision-makers at national and international levels. By fostering an enabling policy and financing environment for community-based adaptation, the project endeavors to catalyze widespread impact, ensuring resilience-building efforts reach far and wide.
The official launch of the CBA-SCALE Southern Africa+ project is slated for Thursday in Harare, marking the commencement of a transformative endeavor to safeguard livelihoods and ecosystems amidst climate uncertainty.
