Africa - Regional:

SADC’s RVAA programme aims to support ‘Policy responses to vulnerability constantly informed and influenced by improved assessment of climate vulnerability (who, where, why) across the region’.

The objective of our contract is to assist SADC RVAA Programme Management Unit (PMU) in Gabarone, Botswana to manage and implement DFID’s support to SADC RVAA Strategy.

• This is a component of the wider Climate Smart Programme ‘Scaling-up Climate Smart Agriculture in Eastern and Southern Africa’ aims to improved knowledge, policies and longer-term incentives drive increased uptake of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) in COMESA- EAC-SADC member states.
• The SADC Programme Management Unit (PMU) is responsible for coordinating and facilitation of the SADC RVAA programme. It is supported by a Technical Assistance Team provided by Cardno and LTS International.
• LTS has provided two long-term experts and a range of short-term inputs, delivering the M&E for the RVAA programme and specialist inputs on climate change adaptation, capacity assessment, strategic planning and outcomes assessments.

Cardno and LTS have worked with a range of partners, including the Food Economy Group and the Institute of Development Studies.

Challenges

SADC developed a regional Vulnerability and Assessment and Analysis (VAA) Strategy, which forms the basis for this Programme component. The component has 3 main outputs:

• National Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis procedures operational.
• National Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis outputs reflected in policy and programme.
• Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis output accessible and communicated.

The SADC Secretariat has requested support to achieve this, through technical experts within the RVAA PMU.

Solutions

The technical and project management services include:

• capacity building, institutional development and reinforcement of national VACs.
• harmonisation of vulnerability analysis across the region.
• support to the development and implementation of communication and advocacy strategies.
• support to increase the uptake of vulnerability analysis by policymakers, particularly in relation to humanitarian response, nutrition and food security, social protection, urban planning and climate change adaptation.
• evaluating the impacts of vulnerability analysis on policy.

Value and benefits

DFID’s support to SADC RVAA Strategy will enhance regional and national response to climate change, poverty and livelihood vulnerability.