Search Climate Insights Directory

The analysis identifies women as central actors in Cambodian agricultural value chains, particularly in rice and cassava, though they face systemic barriers in literacy, technical training, and access to extension services. While women often control household finances and run a majority of micro-enterprises, they are more vulnerable to climate shocks and labor shortages caused by rural-urban migration. The report recommends a Gender Action Plan (GAP) to increase women's participation in agricultural machinery operation, infrastructure construction, and value chain management, leveraging the Women Farmers Network for outreach.

The document analyses 64 agricultural adaptation projects in sub-Saharan Africa approved between 2010 and 2016, finding that 61% involved the private sector. It categorises this involvement into three levels: stimulating future investment through awareness and business models, using private actors as service providers for public activities, and leveraging private capital through incentives. While the first two roles are more common, the report finds limited evidence of large-scale private investment being leveraged, with one notable exception in Madagascar. The authors argue that project designers should identify commercial opportunities across the entire value chain from the start to better attract diverse private actors.

The document analyzes the persistent land-use conflicts between farmers and pastoralists in Tanzania, specifically focusing on the Pawaga division. It identifies historical evictions, 'green grabbing' for conservation, large-scale agricultural investments like SAGCOT, and a biased legal framework as primary drivers of hostility. The author argues that Tanzania's formal land dispute machinery is inadequate and often politicized, failing to protect pastoralist rights. As an alternative, the paper highlights a successful pilot project by the Tanzania Natural Resource Forum (TNRF) that established a coalition of farmers and pastoralists in Pawaga to resolve disputes through dialogue and joint bylaws.

The document details CDKN-supported projects in Nepal aimed at climate-smart agriculture, adaptive hydroelectricity, and resilient irrigation systems, while also addressing the country's US$2.4 billion adaptation deficit through improved access to climate finance.

On 19 May 2016, Phalodi, India, recorded an all-time record high temperature of 51°C. An analysis by the Raising Risk Awareness Project found that while annual mean temperatures across India are increasing and heat waves in some small areas are becoming more frequent and intense, human-induced climate change did not play a detectable role in this specific event or a similar one in Andhra Pradesh in May 2015. The study suggests this lack of a detectable trend might be caused by irrigation use and the masking effect of aerosols on warming.

The Caribbean faced $33bn in natural disaster damages between 2000 and 2009, representing 61% of its 2014 regional GDP. Climate change threatens key sectors: 94% of tourist accommodation in Belize is vulnerable to sea level rise and flooding, while 90% of agricultural land is rain-fed. Projections indicate divergent crop impacts, with Jamaica's sweet potato yields potentially increasing by 33% by mid-century, while Belize's corn yields may decrease by 25% by 2030. Financial losses are widespread, with 25% of surveyed households using education savings for reconstruction.

The document outlines the expected effects of a warmer and drier climate on agriculture in Trinidad & Tobago by 2050, specifically highlighting a significant reduction in suitable land for tomato cultivation and a higher resilience for cocoa, while noting a shift in crop suitability toward upland and mountain areas.

The report investigates the 51°C record temperature in Phalodi, Rajasthan, on 19 May 2016. While annual mean temperatures in India are increasing, the analysis found that human-induced climate change did not play a statistically significant role in this specific event or a similar 2015 event in Andhra Pradesh. The authors suggest that the warming effect of greenhouse gases may be masked by the cooling effects of aerosols and increased irrigation. However, the report warns that as energy policies shift away from fossil fuels, the diminishing cooling effect of aerosols could increase the intensity of future heat waves.

Between 2010 and 2014, Timor Leste received US$102.5 million in grant-equivalent finance specifically targeting climate change, with a strong emphasis on adaptation and water-related infrastructure. Japan, Australia, and the Least Developed Countries Fund were the primary contributors, focusing on irrigation, water and sanitation, and environmental policy respectively.

Mozambique possesses high agricultural potential but remains a net food importer due to low productivity and high climate vulnerability. The report identifies four primary areas for improvement: simplifying bureaucratic tax administration to reduce investment costs, developing public financial incentives and public-private partnerships (PPPs) to mitigate risk for farmers, prioritizing critical infrastructure in energy and irrigation, and enhancing revenue-sharing mechanisms to protect natural resources. It highlights that administrative delays and high interest rates (often over 20%) are more significant barriers than tax rates themselves. The document also emphasizes the need for better community consultation in PPPs and the implementation of a more transparent fiscal rule for sharing extractive industry royalties with local communities.

The document positions irrigation as a primary tool for agricultural transformation in Africa, essential for improving resilience to climate change and extreme events. It identifies significant barriers, including water scarcity, limited technical skills, and a massive investment gap, estimated by the World Bank at over USD 40 billion. The paper advocates for a comprehensive approach involving national Master Plans for Irrigation, the integration of groundwater use to combat droughts, and a shift toward public-private partnerships to fund both large-scale and smallholder irrigation systems. It emphasizes that achieving full irrigation potential in Sub-Saharan Africa over a 50-year horizon would require diverting up to 50 percent of agricultural expenditures to water management.

The document examines how foreign agricultural investments in Africa exacerbate water stress and the legal tensions between investor rights and the human right to water. It highlights the vulnerability of customary water rights compared to statutory contracts and the potential for investment treaties to limit a state's ability to reallocate water during shortages. The authors recommend integrating international human rights and environmental law into domestic legislation and investment contracts to ensure sustainable water governance.

The analysis found that while human-induced climate change slightly increased the probability of the 2016 record-breaking heat in Rajasthan, the effect was not statistically significant. The study suggests that the warming effect of greenhouse gases in India is being partially offset by the cooling effects of aerosols and increased irrigation. Despite the lack of a strong temperature trend, the combination of high heat, pollution, and humidity is increasing the health risks and mortality associated with heat waves.

South Africa faces a severe water crisis driven by climate change, population growth, and crumbling infrastructure. The report argues that the country must shift its focus from building new infrastructure to managing demand through water efficiency. Key opportunities for savings include improving agricultural irrigation (30-40%), reducing municipal leaks and household waste (12-30%), and increasing industrial efficiency. The document emphasizes the role of the business community in disclosing water use and investing in water-saving technologies to avoid economic instability and social unrest.

The study finds that the combined impact of climate change and expanded irrigation will generally reduce river runoff, with the most significant negative impact on hydropower production occurring in the Kizilirmak basin. While reservoirs in the Devoll basin improve water availability during low flow periods, reservoirs in the Kizilirmak basin increase water losses through evaporative surfaces and by enabling larger irrigation withdrawals.

South Africa is overexploiting its water resources, with national withdrawals exceeding reliable supply. Forecasts indicate that municipal, industrial, and agricultural water demand will continue to rise through 2035, reaching an estimated 18.9 km3. Even if all large-scale reconciliation strategies are implemented, a supply gap is expected to persist. The paper argues that closing this gap requires additional measures beyond surface-water infrastructure, specifically focusing on groundwater development, wastewater treatment, and water conservation and water demand management (WCWDM).

A research initiative applied a water supply and demand modelling tool to the Zambezi River Basin over 18 months to evaluate the impact of two climate scenarios ("wetting" and "drying") and two irrigation expansion scenarios. The analysis indicates that these factors could lead to significant negative impacts on both existing and planned hydropower investments in the region.

The document analyzes the trade-offs between Lesotho's water exports via the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) and its domestic needs for water, agriculture, and industry. Using the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) system, it finds that while climate change introduces uncertainty in precipitation, strategic investments in the Polihali Dam and the Lesotho Lowlands Water Supply Scheme (LLWSS) can simultaneously secure water transfers to South Africa and improve domestic water and food security.

The paper presents TAGMI, an online open-access tool using Bayesian network models to assess the likelihood of success for agricultural water management (AWM) interventions at a sub-national level. By integrating social, human, physical, financial, and natural factors, the tool evaluates the potential for outscaling three specific technologies—soil water conservation/in situ rainwater harvesting, small-scale private irrigation, and small reservoirs for communal irrigation—within the Limpopo and Volta river basins. The authors use a climate change scenario to test the robustness of these interventions and argue for the further development of Decision Support Systems and the identification of implementation best practices for poverty-constrained smallholder systems.

The report examines the intersection of domestic law, international investment law, freshwater law, and human rights law in the context of large-scale agricultural investments in Africa. It highlights how foreign investors often secure formal statutory water rights through contracts and treaties that prevail over the informal customary rights of local communities. The document emphasizes the increasing pressure on water resources due to population growth and climate change, particularly in Southern and Northern Africa. It analyzes the role of river basin organizations, such as those for the Senegal, Niger, and Lake Chad basins, in managing transboundary water resources. The report concludes that host states must integrate these parallel legal regimes to ensure sustainable water management and protect the human right to water.