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Summary:

Situated in the Horn of Africa, the Republic of Djibouti is located on the Gulf of Aden at the southern entrance of the Red Sea and shares borders with Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia. The country’s terrain is craggy, comprised of plateaus, plains, volcanic formations and mountain ranges reaching 2,000 meters in height (MHUEAT, 2001). Djibouti has very little arable soil; 89 per cent of the country is desert, 10 per cent is pasture, and 1 per cent is forested (USDS, 2010). As a result of little precipitation and lands unsuitable for agriculture, Djibouti imports nearly all of its food (CIA, 2010). Djibouti is a resource scarce country, this proneness to natural disasters is exacerbated by scarce water resources management, subpar land use planning, lack of building code enforcement, and limited capacity to react to natural disasters (GFDRR, 2009). Dijbouti is prone to a number of natural hazards, including multi-annual droughts, frequent flash floods, frequent earthquakes, volcanism and fires fueled by droughts (GFDRR, 2009). Sea level rise represents a great threat to Republic of Djibouti, particularly in Djibouti town where around 70% of the population is concentrated. Climate change will have impacts on the Djibouti marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Adaptation strategies and adaptation measures proposed, which must form part of a comprehensive social and economic approach, should include:

  • Coastal protection;
  • Strengthening of rock rubble breakwaters on the marine coastline;
  • Development of the Ambouli wadi;
  • Reforestation of dunes;
  • Banking up the walls of landfills;
  • Installing a drainage system for rainwater ;
  • Implementing regulatory and institutional measures.

Deforestation for charcoal is a persistent issue in the country (USDS, 2010), and country has inadequate supplies of potable water (CIA, 2010). As identified through the creation of Djibouti's National Adaptation Programme of Action, the Priority Projects are:

  • Mitigation of climate change-related risks for the production system of coastal areas through an integrated, adapted and participatory management involving grassroots organisations
  • Promoting the fencing of forest areas in Day and Mabla coupled with the introduction of improved stoves
  • Implementation of restoration and management actions adapted to surface water
  • Improvement of rangeland management to mitigate the risks associated with traditional extensive livestock
  • Promotion of the integrated agro-pastoral industry and the development of irrigation techniques to control the salinisation of soils
  • Promoting the regeneration of pastures endogenous to the areas of Doda and Grand Bara
  • Restoration of protected sites through the protection of coral reefs and mangrove vegetation
  • Promoting protection measures adapted to the water supply infrastructures of the City of Djibouti

The study of the vulnerability and adaptation of the coastal region focuses primarily on the city of Djibouti, an extensive urban sprawl and hive of economic and social activity, which is in the throes of rapid urban development and marked population growth. Djibouti has a land area of about 23,000km2, and a population of 632,000 people growing at 6.1 per annum. More than 65% of the population lives in the capital city. The country has some of the lowest health, education and other social indicators in the world. School enrolment rates are low at 35% to 40% and illiteracy rates high at 57% for women and 42.7% for the overall population. The rate of school drop out is also high at 7.9% and 17.3% for men and women respectively.

Economic activity in the country is concentrated in urban areas; two-thirds of the country’s approximate population of 741,000 people resides in the capital city, Djibouti City, with 85 per cent of the population living in urban coastal areas. The remaining 15 per cent are nomadic herders (GFDRR, 2009; MHUEAT, 2006; USDS, 2010). Djibouti’s economy benefits from its proximity to the large Ethiopian market and its status as a free trade zone in the Horn of Africa. Major economic drivers in the country are the Port of Djibouti, the banking sector, the airport, and the operation of the railroad (CIA, 2010; USDS, 2010). The port is a significant contributor to economic activity given that nearly 60 per cent of the world’s commercial ships use Djiboutian waters, passing from the Red Sea and into the Gulf of Aden to reach the Indian Ocean (USDS, 2010). Despite improved economic conditions after the 1991-94 civil war, approximately 42.5 per cent of the country lives in extreme poverty and around 60 per cent of urban dwellers are unemployed (CIA, 2010; MHUEAT, 2006).

ADAPTATION NEEDS AND PRIORITIES
Djibouti’s climate is characterized by a warm to very hot temperatures throughout the year, as well as weak and irregular precipitation (MHUEAT, 2006). Over the past several decades, the country has undergone a significant decrease in precipitation during the months of April to July, a slight rise in precipitation in the months of August and September, and considerable increases in the month of January (MHUEAT, 2006). Many of Djibouti’s coastal developments, including the capital city, are vulnerable to hurricanes, cyclones and flooding; many are located below sea level (MHUEAT, 2006).
The country’s National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) anticipates a decrease in precipitation of between 4.4 to 11 per cent and a rise in temperature of 1.7 to 2.1°C by mid-century, changes which will further impact the availability of potable water (MHUEAT, 2006). In light of these projections, it lists many of the anticipated impacts of climate change on Djibouti’s key socioeconomic sectors including: loss of coastal zones as a result of erosion, rising sea level, and flooding; loss of potable water; higher risk of disease; loss of biodiversity; loss of economic infrastructure; loss of human lives; and threats the livelihoods of pastoralists due to high temperatures and declining pastures (MHUEAT, 2006). It indicates that the country’s greatest adaptation needs are in the areas of water, agriculture, pastoralism, forestry, and the coastal zone. The four highest priority measures are the following:

  • reduction of risks of climate change to coastal areas through integrated coastal zone management;
  • improved management of soils and plant resources to reduce risks associated with climate change;
  • promote adaptation measures to improve the management of surface water and the development of irrigation techniques to protect forested areas and guard against the salinization of land;
  • and promotion of adaptation measures to protect the food and water of the city of Djibouti (MHUEAT, 2006).

The country’s Initial National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) also lists a number of priority adaptation activities: coastal protection, strengthening of rock breakwaters on the coastline, reforestation of dunes, installation of a drainage system for rainwater, and implementation of regulatory and institutional measures (MHUEAT, 2001). The Global Facility for Disaster Risk Reduction has also pointed to a need for Djibouti to increase its risk assessment and evaluation capacity, including exposure to natural disaster risk and climate variability, as policymakers currently have little access to risk evaluation tools (MHUEAT, 2001).

NATIONAL LEVEL POLICIES
Djibouti has prepared both a NAPA and National Communication under the UNFCCC, which form the basis of its planning for adaptation to date. In addition, given the country’s proneness to natural disasters, in 2006 the government created an Executive Secretariat for Risk and Disaster Management, which coordinates natural disaster technical matters as well as prevention, mitigation and response activities, encompassing adaptation to the anticipated effects of climate change (GFDRR, 2009).

CURRENT ADAPTATION ACTION
Based on available information, there appear a very low number of adaptation projects and programs currently taking place in Djibouti. One project, funded by the World Bank, is addressing disaster risk management within the context of climate change in Djibouti, mainly focusing on capacity building within government ministries to enhance the ability of the government to respond to natural disasters. In addition, the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) is funding a project, implemented by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which aims to address vulnerabilities in Djibouti’s coastal zone. This project was identified in the country’s NAPA as an adaptation priority. Other projects in Djibouti focus on the sectors of agriculture and freshwater resources, and emphasize capacity building and policy formation and integration.

PROPOSED ADAPTATION ACTION
Djibouti’s NAPA identifies a number of proposed adaptation actions across a range of areas, including coastal zones, agriculture, freshwater, forestry, energy, pastoralism, and urban areas. These projects would aim to enhance capacity, as well as engage in community-based adaptation and awareness raising. Based on current information, it appears that only one of these projects are currently being funded by through the Least Developed Countries Fund.In addition to the projects presented below, through its Middle East and North Africa program, the World Bank intends to fund adaptation activities in Djibouti over the coming years. This work will include studies that enhance knowledge of the timing, location, and magnitude of climate change impacts, as well as the identification of least cost options to address these impacts.

ASSESSMENT
There are relatively very few adaptation activities currently taking place in Djibouti, and a need for future projects to address a range of adaptation needs as identified in the country’s NAPA. The existing projects do address priority areas for the country—coastal zone management and disaster risk reduction. However a broader range of adaptation actions are required, including efforts that focus on forestry, freshwater, pastoralism, agriculture, gender, and capacity building to perform risk assessments and formulate comprehensive adaptation strategies. Given the country’s current water scarcity and the expectation that this situation will be further exacerbated under future climate conditions, there is a need for adaptation activities that focus on this sector in particular, including efforts to harvest rainwater and water efficiency measures.

Source: Hove, Hilary; Echeverría, Daniella; Parry, Jo-Ellen. (2011) “Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action: East Africa.” Adaptation Partnership / International Institute for Sustainable Development.

References:

 

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Review of Existing and Planned Adaptation Action
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UNDAF - UN Development Assistance Framework
RPD/RCF Regional Programme Document/Regional Cooperation Framework
Poverty Reduction Strategy
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GEF Project Database - Djibouti
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