Designing climate change adaptation tracking in the livestock sectors of Eastern Africa: A case for creating cross-scalar linkages

Summary

In the Horn of Africa, recurrent droughts have led to massive livestock deaths and devastating impacts on economies and livelihoods. While there is isolated evidence of actors adjusting their practices, planning, and investments to cope with these impacts, there is a lack of appropriate methodologies for systematically assessing progress in adapting to the impacts of climate change, a process known as adaptation tracking. This PhD research builds knowledge on how to design such methodologies, focusing on the livestock sectors of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. In showing the variation within and between countries in how they produce and use data on livestock, the research foregrounds the need for methodologies aligned with existing government systems. It also demonstrates the value of developing adaptation tracking indicators that account for the priorities and experiences of diverse actors. Such an approach ensures that actors can track climate change adaptation a meaningful and effective way.