ICLEI Africa’s Adaptation to Climate Change team continue to build on the momentum of its “Five City Network Project” in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

2011/08/17

“Developing adaptation measures that are locally appropriate is priority in order to address the negative impacts of climate change….” were Honourable Maabad Hoja,  Temeke Municipal Mayor ’s closing remarks after a successful two day workshop that was held at City Paradise Hotel on 10 and 11 August 2011 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The Consultative Participatory Action Research Workshop on the topics of ‘climate risk prioritisation and adaptation options identification’ is the second workshop undertaken within Temeke Municipality as part of ICLEI Africa’s Five City Network project, which seeks to pioneer climate action through participatory research and local action.

Having successfully carried out a similarly themed workshop with community members earlier in the week (view article), the ICLEI Africa Adaptation to Climate Change team, Lucinda Fairhurst, Priscilla Rowswell and Faith Chihumbiri, facilitated the activities which assisted the group to undertake some ground-breaking participatory action research exercises. Amongst those who attended were the Mayor of Temeke Municipal Council, municipal councilors, municipal decision makers, municipal technical staff, researchers, environmental NGOs and CBO’s as well as community leaders and representatives of Tuamoyo community.

The consultative workshop, which was delivered in a highly interactive and participatory manner made use of ICLEI’s climate tools such as the Sectoral Risk Tool and the Local Interactive Climate Change Risk and Adaptation Prioritisation Tool (Local RAP), which both include two parts (Part 1 and Part 2) during the delivery of the respective tools. A photography workshop was also undertaken by groups of participants, where stakeholders were given the opportunity to examine and illustrate within their city the impacts that climatic changes and variability are exerting upon the local infrastructure and services. The workshop also identified, through photography, the measures which are being put in place by the local authorities to alleviate the pressure of climate change within the city of Dar es Salaam.

As a way forward within this project, ICLEI Africa will incorporate the findings from the consultative workshop and feed it into the tailor-made Temeke Local Climate Adaptation Strategy (LoCAS), which will be presented through a consultative process within Temeke Municipality to the key stakeholders. It will also provide a step by step guide towards climate smart actions, anticipated to increase resilience at the local government level as well as within the urban communities.