Impacts of Climate Change, Variability and Adaptation Strategies

The dry central part of Tanzania, including Singida Region, has been affected by climate change to the extent that water for domestic use cannot easily be found. Although Singida Municipality is located in the semi-arid area where water resource is limited, it is not the only main factor for water scarcity in the Municipality. Climate change and climate variability have intensified as well as worsened the situation. Communities either have been coping or adapting to climate change impacts on water resource availability. They have been doing so by buying water at a very high price, sharing water with animals and traveling long distances, spending almost 8 hours on queues waiting for water as well as diversifying economic activities. However, such strategies need to be enhanced. Interventions to reduce climate change impacts need to consider households and communities’ differences in terms of resources endowments, experiences and safety mechanisms, which distinguish them in regard to exposure, sensitivity, vulnerability and hence, adaptive capacity.

Sixbert Mwanga is an Assistant Research Officer at the Institute of Resource Assessment University of Dar es Salaam. He is a coordinator for Climate Action Network Tanzania with more than 60 environmental organization members. He holds Master of Science in Natural Resource Assessment and Management from the University of Dar es Salaam,Tanzania.