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Governance Dimensions of Climate Change Adaptation: The Case of Didahara, Borana, Southern Ethiopia

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Handbook of Climate Change Resilience

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Abstract

Climate change adaptation is, deservingly, among topical research issues. Among other things, the performance of climate change adaptation strategies has to do with its institutional strength. This chapter appraises the governance demission of climate change adaptation in Borana pastoralist community, Ethiopia. Data was collected from all stakeholders involved in adaptation efforts through interviews, focus group discussions, field observation, and multi-stakeholder workshop. Six key informant interview sessions were organized with representatives of the government, the local community, and NGOs. Twelve FGDs were made with NGOs, government experts, community elders, and members of Raba Gada, while a 1-day multi-stakeholder workshop was organized with all stakeholders to synchronize evidences obtained through interviews, FGDs, and field observation. Relevant related literatures were also consulted. Standard approach of climate change adaptation governance was adopted to interpret qualitative and quantitative data gathered.

The result revealed more weaknesses than strengths in the institutional setup put in place to deal with climate change adaptation governance. Weaknesses relate to poor decision-making, cooperation, and coordination among stakeholders who interact in intricate work structure. There was also undue manipulation of indigenous institutions which, coupled with corruption and government cooption, has undermined people’s confidence in them. Strengths were witnessed in the area of autonomy, information exchange, and open discussion. The chapter concludes by offering recommendations to improve the institutionalization of climate change adaptation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Food Security Studies, College of Development Studies, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Desalegn Yayeh Ayal

  2. MARIL (Managing Risk for Improved Livelihood) Consulting Firm, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Solomon Desta

  3. International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya

    Lance Robinson

Authors
  1. Desalegn Yayeh Ayal
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  2. Solomon Desta
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  3. Lance Robinson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Desalegn Yayeh Ayal .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. International Climate Change Information and Research Programme (ICCIRP), Faculty of Life Sciences, Research and Transfer Centre Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

Appendix I Climate Change Adaptation Governance Institutional System Linkage

Appendix I Climate Change Adaptation Governance Institutional System Linkage

figure a

Climate change adaptation governance institutional system linkage

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Ayal, D.Y., Desta, S., Robinson, L. (2020). Governance Dimensions of Climate Change Adaptation: The Case of Didahara, Borana, Southern Ethiopia. In: Leal Filho, W. (eds) Handbook of Climate Change Resilience. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93336-8_172

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