Building Climate Ready Communities

The project established and trained traditional weather forecast committees in three villages: Kidomole in Bagamoyo and Mazizi and Kihangaiko in Chalinze. These committees, comprising local community members, were trained on how to document traditional weather indicators, interpret scientific forecasts, and generate integrated weather advisories. The training was conducted using a participatory approach, ensuring community involvement and the inclusion of indigenous knowledge. Moreover, for a long period, people solely relied on traditional weather forecast to predict weather.

Traditional forecasts, which provide more localized and specific information, can be harmonized with scientific data to produce reliable, area-specific weather advisories. Participants were introduced to Weather Forecasting and Climate Change. They learned about both traditional and scientific weather forecasting methods, highlighting the importance of weather forecasts in planning and executing livelihood activities. Seasonal calendars were created to showcase the timing of various livelihood activities and the impact of climate change on these activities.
Indigenous knowledge researchers differentiated between traditional forecasting methods and witchcraft, emphasizing the scientific basis of traditional forecasts. Community members identified local indicators used for weather prediction, which were then recorded and discussed. Committees were formed and oriented on their responsibilities, including observing and documenting weather indicators, reviewing past forecasts, and communicating new forecasts. Leadership positions within the committees were selected through a voting process, ensuring gender representation and community involvement. TMA officers trained participants on interpreting scientific weather forecasts, explaining the implications of different weather scenarios on local livelihoods. This session aimed to bridge the gap between scientific terminology and practical application in farming, fishing, and pastoral activities.
The project identified the need to increase committee membership to ensure broader community representation and improve the documentation process for greater accuracy and reliability. The committees were encouraged to visually capture seasonal indicator changes and acquire rain gauges for precise weather documentation. To avoid confusion with local government structures, the term “committee” was changed to “traditional weather forecasting teams.”
In addition to providing training on observation, recording, interpretation, packaging, and dissemination of traditional weather forecasting to end users and other pertinent stakeholders, the activity centred on orienting traditional weather forecasters on their roles, responsibilities, and mode of operation. The established and trained committees are expected to provide end users with precise, area-specific weather forecasts using traditional indicators. It is anticipated that the information generated and shared will help end users make informed decisions about how to plan and carry out their livelihoods, hence improving their ability to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.
The project successfully formed and capacitated traditional weather forecasting teams, enhancing their ability to interpret and disseminate weather forecasts. However, challenges including limited understanding among ‘’team’’ members, low meeting attendance, and concerns about the accuracy of forecasts were noted. It is anticipated that, continued support and monitoring by CAN Tanzania will be essential to address these issues and ensure the long-term success of the initiative.
In a nutshell, by empowering local smallholders with accurate and timely weather information, the initiative will go a long way in mitigating the impacts of climate change and support sustainable livelihoods. The collaborative efforts from CAN Tanzania, TMA, and indigenous knowledge researchers underscore the importance of inclusive and participatory approaches in addressing climate challenges.

In June, CAN Tanzania conducted a two-day workshop in Chalinze District. This was the second phase of the project which aimed at equipping extension workers from Chalinze and Bagamoyo districts with knowledge and capacity for interpretation, packaging, and dissemination of scientific weather forecasts in the form of climate service where advisory messages are generated, packaged, and disseminated to end users. The attendants were equipped with knowledge by facilitators from CAN Tanzania, Tanzania Meteorological Authority, and Research institutes. Interpretation guideline developed by CAN Tanzania and National Coalition of Climate Service were used in this training as a reference and guiding tool. Following this, the findings were used to provide tailored capacity building to address the gaps and strengthen the process. Beyond that, this activity enabled the introduction of the tool to a representative of Indigenous knowledge-based weather forecasting teams that was formulated in activity one. This phase enabled the establishment of a foundation for better use of the tools in the future following the integration process to generate localized climate services.

This phase used The Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture and Fisheries (PICSAF) tool which supports extension workers to aid smallholder farmers/pastoralists in making informed decisions under variable and changing climatic conditions. On the other hand, Participatory Interpretation of Seasonal Outlook (PISO) tool which supports extension workers to interpret scientific weather forecast into usable weather information was also used. Facilitators used the two tools to aid farmers, pastoralists and fishers to get accurate, locally-specific climate and weather information. Beyond weather information, facilitators utilized participatory decision-making tools, especially resources allocation maps, seasonal calendar, crop/animal/livelihood matrices and participatory household budget to offer advice for locally relevant crop, livestock, and livelihood options. PICSAF placed smallholder farmer/pastoralist at the centre of its approach, helping them address climate challenges through the communication of historical climate information, seasonal forecasts, and short-term forecasts in a relevant and useful manner.
The involvement of district extension officers and heads of departments in the adoption and utilization of PICSAF and PISO tools is pivotal for scaling, gaining support, and sustaining the intervention within the district leadership. This will also assist in the future for integration within local government structures through district climate services and indigenous knowledge committees. Journalists were also engaged in the training sessions as they play a critical role in disseminating climate services to the public. Strengthening the capacity of journalists to effectively collect and communicate climate information and advisory is important for the delivery of accurate information to the communities. Moreover, community extension supporters, who are individuals within the community with notable achievements in farming, livestock, or fishery activities, were also included in the project. Following an earlier project learning, it was deemed fit to add community-based extension supporters/workers to the project. This decision came in response to significant setbacks caused by the local government restructuring in Pangani project area, which resulted in the transfer of trained government extension workers from the project areas. The new extension workers required capacity-building from scratch to avoid delaying of project’s progress. Furthermore, some extension workers reported competing priorities and work tasks assigned by leadership which reduced their effectiveness in facilitating the community under project activities. To address these challenges, the project incorporated community-based extension supporters, who would maintain knowledge within the community and support the extension officers in community facilitation, given their presence within the community. This would also ensure sustainability of the project as the skills would remain within the community.

In a transformative workshop held on July 3rd and 4th, 2024, stakeholders gathered to explore the integration of indigenous knowledge (IK) with scientific weather forecasting. This event marked a crucial step towards enhancing climate resilience in the Bagamoyo District. The initiative sought to blend traditional weather prediction methods with modern meteorological data, providing a more comprehensive and accurate forecasting model to support agricultural and pastoralist communities. The two categories of stakeholders had been trained independently in the month of May and June. Different perspectives were brought forth by a diverse group of participants, including district and village extension workers, traditional forecasters, civil society organizations, journalists, and representatives from CAN Tanzania and the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA). Mr. Nziku, the District Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries Officer, opened the workshop by emphasizing the critical role of adaptation measures in mitigating the impacts of climate change. He underscored CAN Tanzania’s ongoing efforts since 2021 in advocating for climate resilience, stressing the importance of integrating local and scientific knowledge to better predict weather patterns. Participants engaged in a detailed analysis of the long rainy season of March-May 2024, comparing predictions from traditional forecasters and scientific models. The findings revealed an interesting interplay between the two forecasting methods. For instance, in Mazizi village, the start of the rainy season was accurately predicted by both TMA and local indicators, which included observations like the appearance of certain bird species and lunar patterns. However, discrepancies were noted in the timing and intensity of rainfall, with some areas experiencing unexpected heavy rains leading to crop damage. Farmers shared practical insights, such as the observation of bird species signals indicating rain, which guided planting schedules. These local indicators often provided timely and accurate weather predictions, particularly useful for short-term agricultural planning. However, the workshop highlighted that while traditional methods excel in local specificity, it does not have a broader accuracy and back up as compared to scientific analysis. Another challenge with traditional forecasting was the inability to predict the duration and intensity of the seasons. The workshop’s critical focus was on creating an integrated forecasting model that harnesses the strengths of both IK and scientific methods. Participants reviewed data collected from various villages, comparing the predictions with actual weather outcomes. This aimed to refine forecasting accuracy, with an aim on establishing a combined prediction for critical agricultural activities Moreover, the workshop also assessed the impacts of the MAM season on livelihoods, particularly in farming and livestock sectors. The challenges faced by farmers, such as excessive rainfall leading to crop loss and infrastructure damage, were discussed. Livestock keepers reported issues like foot rot and pneumonia in young animals, aggravated by wet conditions. The discussions underscored the need for proactive measures, including improved animal shelters and better agricultural practices to mitigate such risks. Furthermore, key observations and a call to action were concluded in the event. Participants highlighted the need for continuous documentation of IK processes and the creation of a comprehensive database that can be used alongside scientific data. They advocated for training farmers in modern agricultural practices, such as the use of solar dryers and minimal tillage techniques, to enhance productivity and resilience. A significant takeaway was the recommendation for a more robust collaboration between local communities and meteorological authorities. The TMA expressed interest in further exploring IK’s potential to complement scientific forecasts, which could lead to more effective climate adaptation strategies. In a nutshell, the integration of indigenous knowledge with scientific weather forecasting represents a promising frontier in climate resilience. This workshop demonstrated the value of combining traditional wisdom with modern science, offering a nuanced and effective approach to weather prediction. As the effects of climate change continue to challenge agricultural and pastoralist communities, such initiatives are crucial for developing sustainable, adaptive practices that safeguard livelihoods. The success of this workshop sets a precedent for future collaborations, ensuring that both scientific and indigenous perspectives are valued and utilized in building a resilient and sustainable agricultural sector. CAN Tanzania and the RSN are committed to supporting these efforts, paving the way for a more informed and prepared response to climate variability.