This thesis analyzes how adaptation to climate variability and change is built
endogenously by local resource users, and exogenously by a cooperation of an
international donor and a community-based organization. The research is exemplified
by a case study in the northern central regions of Namibia. The research area is
characterized by mean annual rainfall of 450mm, with 50% inter-annual variability.
Climate change projections predict a further increase in extreme rainfall events.
Livelihoods in the remote village are largely subsistence-based agro-silvo-pastoralism
with marginal market involvement. The concepts of local knowledge, vulnerability,
adaptive capacity, and adaptation and development are used to theoretically frame the
analysis. Empirical data was collected through semi-structured interviews on local,
regional and national scale. Additional means of data gathering were participant
observation and participatory community workshops.
When analyzing endogenous adaptation practices, rainfall was identified as the main
determinant of agricultural and livestock productivity in the area. Moderate rainfall is
most favorable for local agro-silvo-pastoralists. In addition, the community is highly
exposed to non-climatic stressors, in particular increasing population density. The
local population perceived an earlier onset of the rainy season, and an increase in total
precipitation over the past two decades. Climatic records confirm this pattern. The
crop and livestock species used are highly adapted to arid conditions, but can buffer
extremely low or high rainfall only to certain degree. A fundamental adaptation
strategy is spreading risks to different livelihoods. Local ‘safety nets’ are furthermore
composed of strong social cohesion within the community, and extended family
networks beyond the village borders. Given the complex interplay of climatic and
non-climatic stressors in the area, vulnerability was found to be ambiguous. There is
considerable local knowledge on coping strategies and risk spreading mechanisms,
however, climate change combined with non-climatic stressors can potentially
devalue a part of it.
Exogenous adaptation in the research area is implemented via OIKE, a communitybased
organization. OIKE drafted the project proposal, whereas the donor agency
guided the writing process and included their conceptual ideas on adaptation. The
adaptation project focuses on technological, institutional, and educational aspects.
Given the high climate variability in the area, it is extremely difficult to separate
adaptation from development. OIKE perceives any development initiative – whether
related to climate change or not – as contributing to reducing the vulnerability of the
local community. The piloting of some of the adaptation technologies in the project is
considered limited in scope, because it does not consider how these technologies can
be adopted and afforded by the local community in the post-project phase.
A number of synergies and tensions were identified between endogenous and
exogenous adaptation. Whereas some aspects of the project build on local knowledge
and practices, the integration is marginal in others. In particular the tight time frame
of the project intervention was found to mismatch with local realities. This case study
furthermore exemplifies the difficulties of translating global policies into local
practices, and local needs and concerns into global policies. Community-based
organizations were found to have major potential to act as boundary organizations that
mediate between these spheres. Concerning the concept of adaptation, it is
recommended to increasingly consider the complex interplay of climatic and nonclimatic
stressors.