Building Climate Resilience in Rainfed Landscapes Needs More Than Good Will

Rainfed smallholder farming is particularly vulnerable to climate change, which can greatly exacerbate existing poverty and livelihood challenges. Understanding the complexity of systems that connect environment, society people help us reduce this vulnerability increase resilience communities households perturbations. In recent years, theory has proven a useful approach for exploring development As result, there been an in tools frameworks assessing resilience. Despite increased focus, no consistent use concept practice little evidence as benefits using tools. This paper aims bridge by coupling research on with its application international field. The specific hypothesis we explore if how rural livelihoods build toward climatic variability already degraded agro-ecological landscapes? We present framework indicators assess extent community change through improved local agricultural production natural resources management. Primary secondary landscape data, together participatory watershed action plans were used populate 16 baseline two rainfed dominated watersheds Ethiopia Ghana respectively. Given awareness challenges related resources, agriculture extreme weather, very willing develop improve their management Nevertheless, our analysis revealed strengthening alone, would likely not be sufficient meet all -livelihood identified. To address severity recurrence disturbances, such droughts, floods disease poverty-affected communities, capacity will depend external factors, addition inherent action. New knowledge, infrastructure social security mechanisms, including insurance emergency assistance need added watersheds. conclude are also climate-action affected systems. Populating complex social–environmental further development, understand progress building under changing climate. Special attention systemic describe interdependencies social-ecosystem factors critical take