ESAFF to implement climate adaptation initiative in Adjumani district

AJUDMANI, March 31, 2025 — The Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers Forum [ESAFF] Uganda is to launch an important project in Adjumani district focused on enhancing climate change adaptation and ensuring accountability in climate funding.

Funded by Bread for the World [BfdW] and sub-granted by ESAFF’s Regional Office, the initiative, titled “Campaigning for Climate Change Adaptation Policies and Accountable Climate Funding”, will also extend to other countries, including Tanzania, Madagascar, Lesotho, and South Africa.

ESAFF Uganda, which is dedicated to empowering small-scale farmers, will implement Participatory Research and Score Card to identify key issues in agriculture, climate change adaptation, and the effects of COVID-19. This collaborative effort will lead to the development of advocacy action plans and coalitions focused on food and nutrition security, combining traditional knowledge with modern weather forecasting techniques and promoting effective climate governance.

On March 14, ESAFF Uganda partnered with Adjumani District Local Government to administer a scorecard assessing climate adaptation strategies. The session allowed small-scale farmers to provide input, while government representatives pledged support for the creation of a district Climate Change, Food, and Nutrition Security Coalition, emphasising the need for a collective and inclusive approach to tackling climate challenges.

Ronald Bagaga, ESAFF Uganda’s Programme Manager, highlighted the importance of working closely with farmers and local leaders to address challenges and develop strong advocacy plans. The initiative aims to build resilience among small-scale farmers facing climate challenges through community engagement and advocacy.

Participants from five surrounding villages, including local government representatives and community stakeholders, will work together on the implementation of this climate change project.

Traditional leaders raised concerns about environmental changes destabilising agricultural practices, with His Royal Highness Simon Suru Baru noting the loss of natural indicators for weather prediction. He urged the community to engage in tree planting as a crucial adaptation strategy.

Grace Mazapke, the Acting Community Development Officer Adjumani district, noted the district’s increasing struggles with climate change, such as prolonged droughts and flooding, which are contributing to rising cases of malnutrition. Efforts are ongoing to regulate tree cutting and establish disaster management measures.

Small-scale farmer and ESAFF member Janifer Angua shared the harsh realities of climate impacts, linking extreme weather events to crop destruction and food insecurity.

This initiative aligns with the Paris Agreement, which aims to combat climate change and support adaptation efforts in developing countries. ESAFF Uganda aspires to ensure that climate adaptation policies are effectively implemented and that funding is transparently managed, ultimately benefiting small-scale farmers and their communities.

https://thecooperator.news/esaff-uganda-transforming-lives-of-small-scale-farmers/

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