PRoACC2. (First Draft) Research Proposal. Risk Perception and Livelihoods under Climate Change. in the Mekong Cambodia. Royal University of Phnom Penh

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1 Royal University of Phnom Penh PRoACC2 (First Draft) Research Proposal Risk Perception and Livelihoods under Climate Change in the Mekong Cambodia By Kesa Ly March

2 1. Introduction Project Title: Risk Perception and Livelihoods under Climate Change in the Mekong Cambodia. Acronym: RLCC Mekong Location of Research This research project will be conducted in Prey Veng Province, Kampong Cham province and Stung Treng province where there are the farmers live and rely on the Mekong River. Participating Partner Roles Output Partner1: Royal University of Phnom Penh Host and supervise this research which will be conducted in Cambodia MC1 MC7 Acronym: RUPP Address: Room 112, Building A, Federation of Russia Blvd., ToulKork, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Project Idea and Concept Cambodia increasingly faces natural disaster because of increasing natural resources degradation and overuse of resources for economic development in the country and region (CNMC, 2010). When disaster occurs, the communities often have limited access to information, technology, and capital assets which make them more vulnerable to climate change (Resurreccion at al, 2008). The large proportion of Cambodia population dependent on agriculture, livestock husbandry and fisheries make this country highly vulnerable to climate change (UNDP, 2010). The Cambodian people have an understanding of climatic hazards but adaptive capacity of villagers to cope with extreme climate events is generally low (RGC, 2006). There are several examples of failed attempts to adaptation, including shifting planting dates, which was unsuccessful due to lack of forecasting of local weather; switching to flood resistant rice varieties, which could not survive periods of drought; construction of wells to pump groundwater to irrigate agricultural fields, which yielded water for one season only and lowered the water table (Geres, 2009). A study by UNDP showed that the most common coping strategy was incurring additional debt (used by 64 percent of households), followed by the reduction of food intake by adults (48 percent), including decreasing consumption of preferred types of food (31 percent). These coping strategies burden farmers with another problem: 48 percent of affected households took out new loans as a direct result of floods and 22 percent of them used the loans for food consumption or to pay off existing debt which will have negative consequences on the household s future ability to pay off debt (UNDP, 2011). Current national policies and programs tend to focus on post disaster emergency relief. Programs for improving community's capacity to cope with climate risks and adapt to climate variability receive relatively little attention. Experience also shows that programs for developing and disseminating climate forecast are 22

3 limited and that long term programs for addressing climate variability and climate change have not been well developed (RGC, 2006). The existing evidence also shows that farmers have not been able to fully benefit from the ongoing climate change programs initiated by NGO's and government. One issue is that climate change policies and programs are not well adopted by the farmer due to it is not compatible with what farmers themselves think about climate change and what measures they themselves already are taking to cope with climate related risks. Farmers try to explore other coping strategies which make them get more benefit than the strategy initiated by the NGO and government. However, some famers strategies make them face the other risks (trafficking, sexual abuse etc), for instant, they migrate to Phnom Penh city and other countries (e.g. Thailand) illegally for selling labor. Therefore, the study about the improvement of climate change adaption strategy of the farmers and policy and how to attenuate the discrepancy between what farmers do and think about climate change with climate change policy intentions in the Mekong Cambodia is needed. 2. Description of the Research Project Rational and Background Cambodia is considered one of the most disaster prone countries in the Mekong region due to a lack of adaptive capacities of addressing climate change related hazards. The country has been hit by natural disasters, especially floods and droughts in the last decades, sometimes both disasters occurring in the same year. For instant, floods in 1999 affected 37,527 people, destroyed 17,732 hectares of rice fields, and 491 homes. In 2000, they affected 3,448,629 people, damaged 317,975 houses, and caused 347 deaths. This was shortly followed by 62 deaths, 70% of which were children in the 2001 floods; and the list goes on. In 2002, the Ministry of Health (MoH) reported 2,017,340 people were affected by drought (Oxfam, 2010). In 2010, there are approximately 20,661 ha of crops were reportedly destroyed by drought, flood and insect infestation (MAFF, 2011). In 2011, there is a serious flood which has affected 279,868 families, 332,634 ha of transplanted rice, 693 ha of rice seedlings in 17 provinces of 24 provinces in Cambodia. There are 158,447 ha of transplanted rice and 534 ha of rice seedling were destroyed by this flood. This disaster has strongly contributed to food insecurity in Cambodia as many people had no rice to harvest in 2011 (LWD, 2011). The impacts of droughts and floods are most severe within the agricultural sector which concerns many people as agriculture accounts for around 29% of Cambodia s GDP and 59% of employment. Rice is the primary crop in Cambodia which account for around 90% of cultivated land. The rice production losses generally occur as a result of floods and drought. From 1996 to 2000, the flood accounted for more than 70% of rice losses whereas the drought accounted for around 20% of losses (Geres, 2009). Such events happen almost every year in the major rice producing provinces of Prey Veng, Takeo, Kompong Cham, Kompong Thom, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Siem Reap provinces (Ros et al, 2011). Because agriculture is the main income source of most people in Cambodia, floods and drought impact severely on their livelihood. It is difficult and takes long time to recover due to the severity of impact, lack of resources, low capacity of adaptation to climate change and less support from the government in term of forecasting information, early warning system and agriculture innovation. Effective policies and programs to address farmers' ability to cope and recover from floods and droughts are therefore necessary. To be effective these programs need to incorporate farmers' perspectives. 23

4 Problem Statement and Research Questions The overall research question is how to attenuate the discrepancy between what the farmer do and think about climate change with climate change policy intentions in the Mekong Cambodia? Sub research questions are: - What are the main climate risks according to farmers? Why is climate change a problem for them? - Where do they get information on climate and climate risks? What kind of information do they use? - What were their losses due to this? - What do farmers do to reduce these risks? What are their incentives to change? - Did the government help them? Do they make use of government policies? What are the different between farmer s response to climate risks with government and NGO program and policy? - What drives local farmers' adaptation actions? Overall and Specific Objectives The goal of this research project is contribute to the improvement of poor farmers livelihood by improving their adaptive capacity to climate change. Specific Objectives - Assess farmers' perspective on climate related risks - Analyze farmers risk management strategies (mitigation, coping and adapting strategies) - Compare farmers responses to climate risks with government and NGO program Research Methodology and Implementation Research Approach and Activities Literature Review Publications, research reports, project documents and government policies related to climate change, hydropower and other related issues in the Mekong Cambodia and Mekong region will be reviewed and, where relevant, used in this research. The literature review will focus on the aspects: i. The farmers perception and action for climate risks ii. The efficiency of coping strategy of poor farmer with floods and droughts iii. The policy and intervention of government for coping with floods and droughts iv. The discrepancy between what farmers do/think and government policy intentions Case Study The study sites of this research were selected based on the following criteria: (1) placed along the Mekong River or 3S river in Cambodia and (2) vulnerable to floods or/and droughts and (3)located in different farming systems and environment resources. Based on these criteria the proposed sites of this research are Prey Veng province, Kampong Cham province and Stung Treng province which are placed along the Mekong River and 3S River in Cambodia. Prey Veng province is identified as the most vulnerable province to flood and drought in Cambodia (Geres, 2009). Prey Veng is classified as the poorest province (there are many 24

5 poor family) among 5 poorest provinces in Cambodia. Kampong Cham province is one of the major rice producing province in Cambodia where floods and droughts happen almost every year (Ros et al, 2011). Stung Treng province is placed along the Se San River (3S River) where the Se Sam 2 hydropower dam is under construction. The people living downstream of Se San 2 dam may suffer from the water shortage and risk of dam failure (making big floods) as the result of hydropower development. Stung Treng province is also the target research site for ProACC2 theme 4. Therefore, theme 1 will connect with the theme 4 as the research findings of this target will be useful for each other. Primary/secondary Data Collection Questionnaires will be used for individual interview with the climate change vulnerable farmers, local authority, civil societies staff and government officers. The individual interviews with these respondents will present the evidence and will be used for analysis in this paper. There are about 280 affected people will be randomize selected for individual interview base on gender, level of impact and living condition. There are approximately 30 respondents from local authority, civil society and government will be selected for interviewing base on the relevant of their activities, program, project and responsibility, for instant, World Fish, NGO Forum, UNDP, line department, line ministry, commune council and VDC etc. Data Analysis After data collection, the data will be coded, entered and analyzed in SPSS. The frequency, percentage, minimum, mean and maximum will be calculated. The crosstab calculation will also be used for comparing between man and women, community in Prey Veng province and community in Stung Treng province and Kampong Cham province etc. Anticipated Results and Deliverables The expected results of this research are: - Contribute to the improvement of climate change adaptation strategy of the farmers. - Contribute to inform policy makers for improving the climate change adaptation policy - Building my own capacity in research about climate change, livelihood and other related issues. The scientific and academic products of this research will be delivered as research report, article for peer review in journals, education material, policy brief and synthesis report between case study in China (prepared by Dr. Hao Ly) and case study in Cambodia (prepared by Mr. Kesa Ly). Dissemination and Outreach The findings of this research will be published in journal and other publications one it is a scientific and academic products as mention above. Through this publication, the findings of this research will be disseminated to the researchers, scientists, students and other stakeholders in Cambodia, Mekong Region and global. This finding will be presented in workshop, conference and forum in Cambodia, Region and international namely Mekong Forum, Environment Symposium, and so on. These research findings will also deliver to the students through the education materials. Integration with Phase 1 and other Studies This research and the research which will be conducted by Dr. Hao Li will use the same goal, objectives and research questions in order to compare the case study in China with the case study in Cambodia. This research also link with Dr. Seak Sophat who conducts the research about transboundary cooperation (theme 4) in Se San and Sre Pok River. Dr. Seak Sophat will also analyze the impact of hydropower in Se San 25

6 River on climate change as the same target province (Stung Treng province) and the same context with this research. Schedule of Activities Activities Feb-May June-Sept Oct-Dec Jan-Apr May-Aug Sept-Dec Prepare research proposal X Literature review X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Prepare questionnaires X Data collection in research target provinces X X X X Data entry and analysis X X X Prepare draft paper X X X X X X X X X X Finalize paper X X X X References Cambodia National Mekong Committee. (2010). The state of climate change management in Cambodia. Phnom Penh: CNMC. Geres. (2009). Public Perceptions of Climate Change in Cambodia. Phnom Penh: Geres Cambodia. Life With Dignity [LWD]. (2011). Emergency Relief Assistance to Flood Affected Families By Life with Dignity. Phnom Penh: Life With Dignity. MAFF (2011), Annual Development Report for and Target for , MAFF Oxfam. (2010). Royal Women, Gender, and Climate Change: A Literature Review and Invited Perspectives on Climate Change Impacts and Processes of Adaptation in Cambodia. Resurreccion P. B et al. (2008). Climate Adaptation in Asia: Knowledge Gaps and Research Issues in South East Asia. ISET-International and ISET-Nepal. Ros B. et al (2011). Agricultural Development and Climate Change: The Case of Cambodia. CDRI. RGC (Royal Government of Cambodia) (2006). National Adaptation Program of Action to Climate Change (NAPA). UNDP (2011). Livelihood Recovery Needs Assessment and Action Plan for Selected Areas Affected by the 2011 Cambodia Flood. UNDP UNDP (2010), Local Governance and Climate Change. UNDP 26

7 Annex A: List of Deliverables Outputs Description Type of Output Expected Date MC1 MC2 MC4 MC5 Farmers Perception and Response to Climate Risks in the Mekong Cambodia The discrepancy between the policy and farmer response to climate change in the Mekong Cambodia The Improvement of Climate Change Adaptation Strategy in the Mekong Cambodia Risk Perception and Livelihoods under Climate Change in the Mekong Cambodia Journal Article Dec 2013 Journal Article June 2014 Policy Brief Oct 2014 Case study report Sept 2014 MC6 MC7 Risk Perception and Livelihoods under Climate Change in China and the Mekong Cambodia (co authored with Hao Li) The policy and farmer response to climate change in the Mekong Cambodia Synthesis research report Education material Nov 2014 Dec 2014 Annex B: Budget Plan Expenditure Ma Day Person Unit Cost Total Travel for the field visit and data collection in provinces Accommodation during field work in provinces Food during field work in provinces Data collection assistant Meeting/workshops expenses 300 Communication, copy and other expenses 300 Access to data of the government related to rainfall, weather, drought, flood etc 100 Total