For many farmers in Africa, erratic rainfall events have left them susceptible, with no guarantee of food availability in the coming months. The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) research however shows this need not be the case. Climate information services can help farmers better understand, anticipate and manage the risks that a variable and changing climate brings to their livelihoods.
In this blog, CCAFS takes a look at a national consultation workshop on climate services held in Tanzania 7-9 May. More than 50 climate scientists, researchers, practitioners, farmers and national policy-makers from across the climate sensitive sectors of agriculture, health and disaster risk reduction came together to brainstorm, share experiences and initiate a permanent dialogue between all the different sectors. The workshop discussed climate service needs in the country and built the foundations for a national framework for climate services which will potentially reach millions of users in Tanzania, and improve the lives of vulnerable communities.
Link to blog http://ccafs.cgiar.org/blog/scaling-climate-services-tanzania#.U5FylCgudrW
Faciliated by the Tanzania Red Cross supported by the IFRC under the GFCS Climate Services Adapation Programme in Africa
Maasai community members in Tanzania took part in the production of participatory-video to identify, highlight, video-document and report in their own way and perspective on the importance of climate services for their lives and livelihoods. During the process, they discussed the current knowledge of local climate and weather hazards, risks and vulnerabilities; simple practical examples (stories) of response, including early warning system;
Their livelihood adaptation strategies and the importance of receiving timely and accurate climate and weather information and key messages to better plan their livelihood in the future.
The community meetings and the participatory video production process were facilitated by the Tanzania Red Cross supported by the IFRC under the GFCS Climate Services Adapation Programme in Africa.
Photo credit: Ms.Fernanda Baumhardt
Participatory video on climate risk information: Connecting the dots between Maasais, national and international actors http://vimeo.com/96085561
Maasai Participatory Video: The importance of Climate Change Information to Communities - ORIGINAL VERSION http://vimeo.com/96111660
Climate services for action in Malawi has embarked on an ambitious drive to integrate weather and climate information into its national health planning in a move which could radically improve surveillance and management of diseases like malaria, diarrhea and malnutrition, which are all influenced by weather and climate. More information here: http://www.gfcs-climate.org/node/429
Malawi is vulnerable to climate change; heavy rainfall, storms and dry-spells are on the increase. With weather forecasts and early warnings people are better prepared to cope with changing risks. In this short film people from Malawi tell hot their communities prepare for the risks.
Filmed in Malawi 2014 by Finnish Red Cross Field Communication Unit.