Zambia
Both Zambia’s cities and its countryside suffer the effects of climate change. Rains disappear for months, meaning that farmers see their crops die. Pastoralists rearing animals struggle to find water for their herds. When the rains do come, they flood the land and destroy the crops that way. Meanwhile in cities, floods do great damage to shanty towns and lead to an increase in waterborne diseases, such as malaria and cholera.
Smallholder farmers, pastoralists, the urban poor: It is the voice of these groups that Hivos Zambia strives to amplify. We work together with our Voices for Just Climate Action partners to map how these communities perceive the climate crisis and support them in effectively pushing their agenda. For example, through organizing the Climate Justice Lab, where local community members prototype local solutions to climate challenges, such as innovative ways to grow crops or prevent flooding.
“Both science and real life show that women, youths and vulnerable groups are most affected by drought.”
Mangiza Chirwa is program manager at Hivos in Zambia.
