International Development Research Centre

Multi-level behaviour change for inclusive water security in a changing climate

Project disclaimer

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Description

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that approximately half of the world’s population is prone to water scarcity. Notably, African countries remain vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and the risks associated with water insecurity, with floods and droughts negatively impacting the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable communities. Behavioural and psychological sciences offer insights into how individual perceptions, motivations, and agency affect how people act on weather and climate information and how they respond to changing hazard profiles. However, in Africa there is a gap in terms of the contributions of these sciences to adaptation strategies that promote water security for vulnerable communities. This project examines adaptation behaviours and practices to identify insights and practical actions that address intersectional concerns that can be implemented at scale. The potential of behavioural and psychological sciences on adaptation to promote inclusive water security for the most vulnerable will be tested in Burkina Faso, Malawi, and Tanzania. Individual and community risk perceptions and behaviour around extreme events will inform interventions to address critical climate challenges related to water. The findings are expected to provide a basis for scaling to the Sahel region, Ethiopia and Zambia. The project forms part of the Climate Adaptation and Resilience initiative (CLARE), co-funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and IDRC. This five-year, CAD120 million initiative aims to enable inclusive and sustainable action to build resilience to climate change and natural hazards for people across Africa and the Asia-Pacific. The project team is led by the London School of Economics, WaterAid Canada, and Water Witness International working in collaboration with the University of Malawi, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Shahidi wa Maji (Tanzania), the United Nations’ University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, Kulima Solutions and regional and country offices of WaterAid.

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Location

The country, countries or regions that benefit from this Programme.

Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia

Disclaimer: Country borders do not necessarily reflect the UK Government's official position.