TANZANIA IGUNGA ECO-VILLAGE PROJECT Integrated Approaches for Climate Change Adaptation The Integrated Approaches for Cli- BACKGROUND 2019 mate Change Adaptation in Igunga Igunga is one of six districts in the Tabora District, Tabora Region is one of five region, located on the western plateau. projects, which falls under the Euro- It is one of the driest districts in Tanzania with an average rainfall of 500-700 mm pean Union (EU) funded Global Cli- per annum. Although this part of Tanzania mate Change Alliance (GCCA). experienced serious drought in 2017, the TABORA Zanzibar SEPTEMBER area was subject to severe flooding in The project encompasses the eco- 2018 in two villages. This unpredictable DAR ES SALAAM village approach, and has made rainfall pattern continues to test the strides to increase and diversify resilience of communities here. incomes, and strengthen resilience Igunga is a poor district. The average and reduce vulnerability to climate estimated daily income is $1.5 and 45% change. of the population lives below the poverty line and is predominantly rural. 85% of The ten targeted communities de- the inhabitants depend on smallholder agriculture and livestock as main sources pend on the ecosystem for their meetings and getting involved in more of food and income. Crop production is activities. livelihoods, which are increasingly affected by erratic and insufficient rainfall. becoming threatened due to cli- Livestock husbandry is mostly traditional. The district experiences a high prevalence mate change. Pasture is available in the rainy season but of HIV/AIDS. scarce in the dry season. This leads to Through a Farmer Field School ap- Igunga district is strongly affected by overgrazing. the adverse effects of climate change. proach, farmer groups have been Although stable water bodies are scarce, Prolonged dry spells, floods, loss of trained in a wide range of proven in some areas small-scale fishing takes natural resources such as water and climate adaptation technologies, place. Women provide a substantial part wood, and increased incidence of pests including integrated pest control, of agriculture labour but traditionally own and diseases result in lower agricultural only a small percentage of assets. Women production and high livestock mortality fish farming, poultry keeping, tree have limited control over decision- rates. Traditional farming methods planting and renewable energy making although this is improving with and overgrazing has lead to further sources. Innovative techniques to more women than ever attending village degradation of soil and loss of water. ‘Recharge, Retain and Re-use water’ have been tested and expanded in the project area. The project also contributes to Tan- zania’s poverty reduction strategy and improving the livelihoods of communities. The Igunga eco-village project is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG 13) – CLIMATE ACTION. KEY INFORMATION Sector: Climate change adaptation strategies Lead Partner: Heifer Nederland Other Partners: Heifer International FIshing nets are made to breed tilapia in a nearby man-made dam Tanzania, Igunga District Council, Aqua for All and ICIPE Budget: € 2,132,480 Duration: 2015 - 2019 PROJECT DETAILS In the Igunga Eco-village project local communities in ten villages have been supported to increase their resilience Expected Results towards the adverse effects of • Targeted communities trained to better • Fish farming adopted as a commercial climate change. The project covers an adapt to climate change through improved enterprise area of 783.04 square kilometers and Natural Resource Management, sustainable • Ten fish cage groups have placed 50,000 intervenes through a multidisciplinary increase in agricultural productivity and a fingerlings into Mwamapuli Dam approach integrating different strengthened socio-economic situation • 36 brooder chicks, used for raising chicks, have sectors: agriculture and livestock, • Enhanced the capacity of the Igunga District been adopted by farmers and local artisans Council (IDC) to access, plan and implement have been invited to other regions to carry out water, sustainable energy, natural climate change adaptation strategies’ pen construction and have been paid resource management and socio- • Experience and lessons learned under the • More than 8,000 participants were intro- economic resilience. eco-village approach were documented duced to tree planting and nurseries, includ- Lessons learned have been used to and shared with appropriate stakeholders, ing school environment clubs and prisons including relevant policy makers upscale activities at local level and • 333 fuel efficient stoves and 40 biogas plants adopted by farmers, local artisans to improve legislation at district Achievements have been invited to other regions to con- level. Good practices also shared • Natural Resource Management committees struct stoves and have been paid in international fora. Through a have been established in nine villages com- • 9 water harvesting tanks constructed by Farmer Field School approach, prising 272 members project and 9 have been adopted by farmers farmers have been trained on a wide • 55,632 trees have been planted in schools, • 29 local artisans trained on how to construct range of proven climate adaptation villages, district hospitals and prisons and use slow sand filters for domestic water • 8 Active water committees (community technologies, including integrated treatment and more than 15 farmers have owned water supply organizations) estab- adopted this technique pest control (push-pull), tree planting lished and registered in 5 villages with 85 • 54 local artisans trained on the installation and renewable energy sources. members and use of a SATO pan - as a result more then Innovative techniques to ‘Recharge, • Recharge, Retain and Re-use water activities 60 farmers have adopted the technique Retain and Reuse (3R) water’ were implemented including: • 315 members have joined HIV/AIDS and gen- tested and expanded, in order to - 7 Hand dug shallow wells and 7 ponds der committees make more efficient use of available constructed and rehabilitated and 2 • Workshops carried out for district authori- other new sites of each in the process of water resources. ties about climate change participatory ap- construction proaches In close cooperation, farmers and - Sanitation and hygiene awareness raising • 130 savings and credit groups have been es- the district government choose in ten villages through community-led tablished, each group have saved amounts and adjust the most appropriate total sanitation approaches done ranging from €120 -€3,000 solutions to improve natural resource - Igunga town water pipeline, 7 ponds • 1,500 website hits in one year and growing and 7 hand dug ponds protected by management, increase agricultural with a Kiswahili version planned using vetiver grasses • Strong media coverage of the eco-village production and strengthen socio- • Farmer field schools have trained 310 groups model in Igunga economic resilience. These strategies to adopt effective climate change adapta- • Development and launch of six village bylaws have been translated into bylaws, tion activities • Development and implementation of ten policies and budgets. - Biofertility training for 85 farmers village action plans Lessons learned have been shared - 12 Kitchen gardens created with 180 women members locally with district communities and staff, and with a wider community Sustainable Future of policy makers, development practitioners and academics. 6,000 The project will end in September • 440 solar lights have been distributed families, consisting of 36,000 2019 but the eco-village approach lives to farmers and students and another on with a strong commitment from individuals, are direct participants. 160 are in a procurement process the district authorities to mainstream These are the more vulnerable • Two fish farming groups and 60 chicken climate change activities into their rearing groups passed on the gift of fin- households of the villages, including budgets and plans. Communities and gerlings and chickens to their neighbours people with disabilities, female the Igunga District have plans for the • Continue with workshops for the dis- headed households and those living following: trict authority about climate change with HIV/AIDS. Another group of • Implementation of an Annual Survey participatory integrated approaches 6,000 families (36,000 individuals) • Public awareness campaigns concern- • Continue with farmers’ sensitization have benefitted indirectly from the ing water and health due for launch meetings on the formation of savings project, resulting in a total outreach • Biogas beneficiaries trained on the ad- and credit groups of 72,000 people. vantages of using bio-slurry, the prod- • Continue with farmers’ sensitization meet- uct used in biogas digesters for farming ings to continue with passing on the gift For more information please contact: Name: Stella Thomas, Project Manager, Igunga Eco-Village Address: 100 Foundation Road, Mikocheni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Email: [email protected] Tel: (+255) 713 844 483 | (+255) 767 499 917 Website: www.heifer.nl | www.igungaecovillage.com This publication has been produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Joanna Martin, V&C Expert for NIRAS Finland and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union..