ALM UNDP

According to a recent field visit by an independent assessor, the Onamulunga Garden project has achieved many of the intended results. Various sites at the school have been prepared for crop agriculture using the latest conservation tilling methods for dry land crops and micro-drip irrigation for vegetables. The project coordinator is Agriculture and Life Science teacher, Johannes Nelongo, who has provided inspirational leadership for 87 grade 9 and 10 students to put the theory they learn in the classroom in practice in the field, growing maize, sunflowers, cow peas, spinach, carrots, onions and other vegetables.They apply conservation furrowing and ripping, water saving techniques, mulching, application of organic and chemical fertilising, crop rotation and alternative growing methods. As such, the project provides learners with practical adaptation techniques. “Practical exercises make it easier for learners to interpret theoretical information. It thus gives them wisdom and insight and teaches them how to apply these methods at home,” says Nelongo.[Refer to the attached document for further details.]

According to a recent field visit by an independent documenter, the research into sweet-stem sorghum varieties at the Ogongo Campus achieved numerous intended results. On one tenth of a hectare, eight sweet-stem sorghum varieties were grown to select one variety that has the optimal balance of grain, bio-mass and sugar content. The research established that not all varieties were suitable for uptake as multi-purpose crop. Yet, the trial delivered three varieties with a promising combination of grain, biomass and sugar, and also endurance to withstand heavy rain. These three varieties were part of an on-farm trial, specifically focusing on the successful delivery of silage. The farmers involved received training at the University of Namibia (UNAM) on how to farm these varieties. Subsequently, the farmers would produce silage and feed a control group of goats to test results. This trial, however, failed because of this year’s extreme floods. However, the three varieties will be tested further and will form part of new on-farm trials. Ultimately, one crop variety will be selected for distribution within the SGP-CBA and the wider northern area of Namibia, to plant at the household level. This crop will make a simple, but significant contribution towards food security, poverty alleviation and a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. The different purposes of the crop are: food, fodder for livestock, chicken feed, and silage for the dry season and sugar extract for ethanol/biofuel. Another possible use for the sugar extract is in fruit juices. The project demonstrates a need for training of farmers in processing for these different applications.[Refer to the attached document for full Results and Learning.]

1. Engage a range of stakeholders (from regional, national and community levels) throughout the project planning cycle based on assessment of their needs, role and capacity: During the project preparatory and initiation phases, a stakeholder analysis (including face-to-face discussions, interviews with questionnaires, and seminars) facilitated identification of stakeholder need, roles and capacity. This analysis resulted in a summary matrix of stakeholders and their relevance to the project, including the interests and possible functions of government and non-government entities, community-based organizations and other concerned groups in project implementation. Throughout the development and implementation of the project, various stakeholders at regional, national and community levels have filled a specific niche. Stakeholders have participated in discussions about project ideas and have provided background information during early stages of project planning. Regional-level stakeholders have served as the main authority over planning activities linked to the forest sector (i.e. related to land management, agriculture and economic development) in cooperation with national authorities. National-level stakeholders have also been well positioned to provide forest-sector education on multiple levels. Local specialists have provided important data and technical expertise, and community-level stakeholders have served as primary partners in organizing activities intended to promote community awareness and mitigate anthropogenic pressure on forest ecosystems.
2. Evaluate the project at different stages of the project cycle - preparation, initiation, life time: The team realized that project evaluation provides key inputs and is therefore a very important element in the project preparation cycle. Two expanded seminars were organized by the Climate Change Program Unit for evaluating the project at its different stages: one during the project’s inception, and the second in the presentation of findings and fine tuning of the planned measures. In these evaluation meetings, current climate change variability and risks, as well as future scenarios of climate change, were discussed along with suggested mitigation measures that pose a challenge and require the collaborative action of different project partners.
3. Bring in international experience to improve forest management and response to climate change risks: During a workshop, International Technical Advisors shared their experiences with implementation of approaches to assess forest vulnerability to climate change impacts and European forest adaptation initiatives. It was found that the project needed to incorporate more international knowledge and experience, including modern concepts of adaptive forest management, as well as early warning and response system to climate change risks, into adaptation measures.
4. Develop institutional capacities and policy frameworks at national and local levels: Recognizing that effective local and national government leadership and institutional and legal framework are needed to coordinate and guide adaptation, the project has prioritised building institutional capacity. A public outreach and advocacy strategy has been developed to raise awareness and build capacities for sustainable management of forests vulnerable under forecasted climate change. Specifically, community representatives have been active in designing, planning and implementation project’s initiatives in reforestation, pest outbreak and forests fire monitoring and mitigation.

Project Objective: To develop and pilot a range of coping mechanisms for reducing the vulnerability of farmers and pastoralists to climate change, including variability.