Context

Mundri West is located in the western equatorial state of South Sudan. Over the past five years, the area has faced flooding, droughts, and unpredictable rainfall. In 2022, the rains started and ended earlier than expected. Farmers couldn't prepare their fields or plant in time, missing one of their two annual harvests. Household food supplies took a hit (CSRS, 2022). The unpredictable weather has upended people's lives. Without reliable data, information, or early warning systems, residents can't prepare for climate events. People need better support to cope with what's coming.

The approach

HOT is working with YEDA and the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) on the Climate on the Map Project. Communities in Mundri West County are mapping climate risks and identifying ways to adapt.

The project uses a two-fold approach focusing on building community knowledge and skills to prepare for climate-related risks while strengthening anticipatory action and infrastructure resilience. Key activities include,

1. Participatory mapping for the Mundri West community to identify and document specific climate-related risks.
2. Supporting local communities through inclusive engagement in issue identification and mapping processes, ensuring risks and adaptation strategies are based on their lived experiences; suggesting practical and sustainable adaptation strategies that can be implemented by the community and endorsed by local and international stakeholders.
3. Enhancing local capacity through education, resource management, and adaptation practice implementation; and advancing the creation and use of open map data.

The project engages women, individuals with disabilities, youth, community leaders, elderly people, and displaced populations in hazard and solution mapping exercises, develops community-based emergency preparedness plans, and establishes village savings and loan associations (VSLAs) to strengthen economic resilience.

Outcome & Impact:

• Improved community awareness of climate patterns, available resources, and areas at risk of natural hazards and insecurity
• Enhanced community resilience through identification of risk prevention strategies and solutions to cope with climatic events
• Strengthened local structures and resources for better recovery from climatic events and more efficient resource use (economic resilience)
• Establishment of preparedness measures to build resilience to climate shocks