Climate change is predicted to have severe consequences for South Asia, particularly in agriculture, which employs more than 60 per cent of the region’s labour force.
Some of the predicted impacts of climate change include: increased variability in both monsoon and winter rainfall patterns; increases in average temperatures, with warmer winters; increased salinity in coastal areas; weakening ecosystems; the recession of glaciers in the Himalayas; and increased frequency and/or severity of extreme weather events (floods, cyclones, and droughts).
Adaptation efforts in South Asia have so far been fragmented, lacking a strong link between national climate change strategies and plans, and existing disaster risk reduction, agricultural, and other relevant policies. This disconnect partly stems from a lack of conceptual understanding and partly from the ongoing debate as to what constitutes adaptation and what represents good and sustainable development.
Focusing on five countries in the region (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka), this review captures examples of good practice in climate change adaptation programming, in order to inform Oxfam’s learning, enabling it and other organizations to replicate some of these good practices in their own programs and to advocate their adequate financing and governance.
The review identified seven key lessons about good practice in the region:
- Participatory assessment and analysis of vulnerability and capacity: Good practice is based on a solid assessment of the vulnerabilities, needs, and capacities of actors involved.
- Focus on poor, vulnerable, and marginalised beneficiaries: Good practice means targeting and working with the most vulnerable, including women and socially-marginalised groups.
- Local ownership: Good practice requires community ownership of the processes and actions.
- Diversity of stakeholders: Good practice involves a diversity of stakeholders with different knowledge practices.
- Flexible and responsive design and implementation: Good practice involves flexibility in design and implementation, and responsiveness to changing needs.
- Future-looking: Good practice does not only help communities address immediate concerns, but also helps them prepare for the long-term future.
- Build adaptive capacity at multiple levels and within existing institutions: Good practice involves working with local government (such as municipality or district) to build adaptive capacity.
