"The development of Agro-Pastoral Farming System in Rural Communities of Djibouti as an Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change" Content

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1 FINAL PROJECT REPORT "The development of Agro-Pastoral Farming System in Rural Communities of Djibouti as an Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change" 1. General Project Informationn Country, project title, project number, implementation site and period Budget originally requested and actually executed Implementing partner(s) and type of budget execution 2. Description of project achievement Original project purpose and degree of its achievement level Results at the output level Impact of the project on communities Gender consideration 3. Visibility of Japan and Partnership 4. Lessons learned and recommendation Content Engagement of communities Design weakness/implementation constraints Risks

2 1. General project information Country: Djibouti Project title: The development of agro-pastoral farming system in rural communities of Djibouti as an adaptation strategy for climate change in the Project ATLAS Award ID: Period: March February 2013 Budget: Originally requested from Japan $ 1,000,000 Executed at February 2013: $ 1,000,000 Implementing partner: Ministry of Agriculture Execution modality: National Execution (NIM) 2. Description of project achievement 2.1 Original project purpose and degree of its achievement level The project was designed to build the resilience of rural population of Djibouti by developing small agro-pastoral farms with the aim to diversify the rural livelihoods with the production of fruits, vegetables and forage. The project overall outcome was stated as : Enhanced capacities of the rural populations of Ali-Sabieh region to adapt to climate change and climate variability. 2.2 Results Output1: surface and shallow groundwater water are mobilized for the sustainable development of agro-pastoral farms Indicators: number of secure (against destruction by flash flood) water infrastructures constructed number of water management committees Targets: 10 shallows well, 5 subsurface dams, 3 water management committees Results: Water infrastructures constructed under the project include: 7 shallow wells (4 equipped with solar systems) 2 subsurface dam 1 infiltration gallery 1 protection dyke in Qor Qalooc to protect an existing deep well from potential flood inundation A quick assessment of the potential underground shallow water resources have been conducted by a national consultant prior to the digging of the wells. The study has determined the sites of the wells and the wells were all positive. In addition to the 7 wells and after a meeting with expert from Somalia, the project team and the Minister of Agriculture have proposed the construction of an infiltration gallery in Beeya-Adde and Dhourreh. The infiltration gallery has been constructed in Beeya-adde and proved that the decision to add this new technology to the project was strategic. Indeed the quantity of water produced by the infiltration gallery in Beeya-adde is 4 times more than what a normal shallow well

3 produces. It is believed that this infiltration gallery will play a key role for the sustainability of the Beeya-adde agro-pastoral farm. 3 water management committees have been established, one in each project site. Meanwhile these committees will need to be capacitated and strengthen beyond the project end date. Photo: a shallow well in Dhourreh with solar Pumps (source: UNDP) Photo: small check dam constructed by the project after a flood in March 2013 in Beyaa-Ade Output2: Agro-pastoral farming system are created and operationalized Indicators: number of agro-pastoral farms created and operational number of irrigation system installed number of tree nursery created Targets: 124 rural farms created and well functioning 1 women tree nursery established Results:

4 22 hectares of land have been prepared for agriculture which could potentially host 124 rural households with each one 0.25 hectares m of robust fencing have been installed 5000 m of concrete irrigation network constructed 6 water reservoirs of 200 cubic meter of capacity were constructed One tree nursery created in Ali-Sabieh city Photo: robust and long lasting fencing for the agrofarm of Qor-Qalooc (more than 3000 m of this fencing were constructed by the project) Photo: concrete irrigation channel in Qor-Qalooc Photo: irrigation network under construction in Qor Qaloc (Rakubyeel) Irrigation network made of concrete has been preferred to PVC network because of the higher resistance of concrete to heat and eventual breaking compared to PVC pipes. However concrete channels should be constructed with high professionalism because of the leakage risks. In some areas, important leakages have been detected but the problem has been fixed quickly. Under this project, more than 2000 m of concrete irrigation network were constructed. Output3: Pilot introduction of new crops and new activities that will further diversify the livelihood Indicators: Number of new crops/new economic activities introduced and demonstrated to agropastors Targets:

5 124 agro-pastors are trained in NERICA rice cultivation 18 households benefitting from beekeeping and poultry production and demonstration to 124 households Results 15 rural families have benefited from the poultry production. Each household has been given 15 chickens and a chicken house constructed for each household. This pilot introduction of poultry production has greatly enhanced the diet of the families who have benefited from it. Households have reported that their Childs have access to diversified food with the preparation of eggs. Due to the high ambient air temperatures in most of the areas of Djibouti, the chicken house has been designed in such way that it balances the solar heat radiation with natural cooling. Photo: a young boy in front of the chicken house given to his family Beekeeping which was another activity planned under this output has not been implemented because of the reduced duration of the project. Output 4: New farmers are continuously trained during the project in cultivation techniques, composting techniques and water and soil conservation and organized in groups Indicators: number of pastoralists trained in agriculture number of technical courses provided Targets: at least 180 pastoralists trained including 30% of women at leats 20 courses provided to agro-pastoralists Results Training was at the heart of the interventions and was mainstreamed at all level. The agropastoral farms of Beyaa-adde and Dhourreh have received each one 2 month of continuous training (8 hours per day) and experience exchange with other agro-pastoral farms have also been conducted. Dhourreh which has experienced some delays in the construction of infrastructures have received only 2 weeks of training. Communities have been trained in the following areas:

6 cultivation techniques of forage, vegetables and fruits: targeted agro-pastoralists are able now to cultivate two types of forage highly adapted to drought and weak water quality of Djibouti as well as tomatoes, onions, spice, melons, watermelons composting techniques of the manure of their livestock: agro-pastoralists have been sensitized to the important value of the manure of their livestock and now they collect this manure and compost it in accordance with the technical guidance provided by the national consultant; Irrigation techniques: agro-pastoralists were trained to control the time of irrigation, duration of irrigation, quantity of water needed by the different types of culture. Due to the arid conditions of Djibouti an especial focus on water conservation were made. Agro-pastoralists were trained also on market prices and seasonality of crops so that they can sell their excess production Photo: training taken place in Qor Qalooc Photo: learning by doing training in Beyaa-ade (forage cultivation) Output5: Knowledge management system established and knowledge management activities implemented Indicators: number of knowledge products developed number of web based support developped number of report produced on national media Targets: at least 2 photos and video report at least 5 briefing notes and presentations 1 website at least 3 report on the national media Results A video documentary on the process of developing the agro-pastoral farms and the achieved results was produced with the help of a national professional company. One photo reports was produced

7 The project results and lessons learned were presented during a joint UN- Government workshop on resilience in May Impact of the project The project had very positive impacts on the targeted rural communities in terms of upgrading their food security situation and also generating some cash from the developed agro-pastoral farms. Environment has been also positively impacted by the project. The project has generated the following positive impacts: Targeted rural communities are more food secure The most concrete success achieved by the project is the self production of forage for livestock by the targeted rural communities. In the case of the agro-pastoral farms of Qor- Qalooc and Beyaa-adde, 32 families are able now to produce forage for their animals and due to the increasing quantity of available forage, their goats are producing actually more milk. Those families report that this self production of forage has brought an important positive change in their capacity to face drought and lack of natural forage. Besides forage production for livestock, beneficiary rural communities have also produced for their own consumption vegetables and fruits like onions, tomatoes, pepper, gumbo, melon, and watermelon. These vegetables have greatly improved their nutrition and particularly for children and women who have been suffering from nutrition problem because of the drought according to WFP EFSA surveys in Beneficiaries of the poultry production have reported an upgrading in their food security situation due to the production of eggs for families. Photo: agro-pastoralists in Qor Qaloc (near their produced forage and showing samples of watermelons produced in their farm) Generation of cash Beneficiary rural communities have sold their excess and/or part of their production of forage, vegetables and fruits into the near local markets of Ali-Sabieh. In the case of Qor Qaloc, all beneficiaries have been able to sold part of their production. Melons and watermelons are fruits highly appreciated in Djibouti during the hot period of summer. One kilogram of melon cost between 200 to 250 FD while one kilogram of watermelon cost vary between 100 FD to 200 FD. Some agro-pastoralists have generated 600 $ US by selling their melons and watermelons production and they will be producing

8 melons and watermelons until September. Thus the project has generated some considerable economic benefits. Photo: melons cultivation in Dhourreh (June 2013) Less pressure on environment Rural communities who have benefited from the project have reported that they are not longer working in the production of charcoal. Indeed they can generate some cash from their small farm while at the same time their families are becoming more food secure. This is an important environmental benefit since rural communities use to cut trees for the production of charcoal. Indeed charcoal making in the rural areas is a coping strategy for rural communities of Djibouti when they face drought. Other environmental benefits of the project are the plantations of trees like leucaena and moringa which are used as wind breakers to protect small trees from the wind. Innovation introduced by the project The project had some positive impacts beyond its geographical limits and beyond the targeted communities. Indeed it is the first time that an infiltration gallery is constructed in the rural areas of Djibouti with high water productivity. The Ministry of agriculture is considering replicating this type of water harvesting technique over a number of other wadis in the country. The construction of check dams is also something positive that the project has brought to the country. 2.4 Gender consideration It is well known that drought and more generally disaster impacts women more than men. The project has therefore focused on the integration of women in the beneficiaries. The activity introduction of poultry production was geared towards 15 women who have been provided with chickens and received training. Women have also been trained in cultivation of the land and they have proved to be very effective and able to work the land. In the rural areas of Djibouti women are the one who are in charge of fetching the water and also in charge of the husbandry of goats. By increasing the availability of water and the cultivation of forage for livestock which is mainly composed of goats, the project has decreased the time allocated for animal husbandry both for women and men.

9 Photo: woman preparing her land for the cultivation of melons in Dhourreh (June 2013) while carrying baby on the back Photo: women in her land showing onions and forage that she has produced 3. Visibility of Japan and partnership In order to ensure the recognition of the Japanese funding for the project, number of actions has been taken from the starting of the project. An official launch of the project has been organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and UNDP in the city of Ali-Sabieh which is the capital city of the Ali-Sabieh region in the presence of the Minister of Agriculture, the local authorities in Ali-Sabieh (the Prefet), UNDP Resident Representative in Djibouti and a representative of the Embassy of Japan. Photo: launching ceremony of the project in Ali-Sabieh (15 March 2012) With the presence of the Minister of Agriculture, Prefet of Ali-Sabieh, UNDP Resident Representative and a Representative of the Japan Embassy In order to show the visibility of Japan contribution on the sites of the project, the Japan flag was featured in the description panels of the different sites at the entrance of each site. Photo: description panel of the Beyaa-ade agro-pastoral site

10 Under the project and in accordance with the initial project document content, exchange of knowledge and lessons learned were organized between the project and the JICA project The Master Plan Study Project for Sustainable Irrigation and Farming in Southern Djibouti. Two joint missions to the respective project were organized with the presence of the Ministry of Agriculture, JICA and UNDP. Photo: joint government-jica-undp mission to Qor Qaloc project site (attended by experts from Tokyo University) 4. Lessons learned 4.1 Engagement of communities The communities have been engaged too lately in the project as beneficiaries. Although they have been benefitting from the construction of infrastructures phase by providing the man power, their training has started too lately. In the future, for similar projects it is recommended that the communities are selected earlier in the implementation of the project so that the ownership is ensured. The project has also experienced in the starting phase reluctance of pastoralists to transform their lifestyle and leave their pastoralist way of life for the agro pastoral way of life. This transition involves important change in the organization of their time as the agriculture requires a continuous presence on the field. In addition to that, during the first 3 months the agricultural land does not virtually produce any vegetables, or forage or fruits. It is therefore very difficult to pastoralists to understand this transition period in which he cannot bring any type of earning to his rural household. The need to support the new pastoralists with food during the first 5 months has therefore appeared in a strong way. In the future, for similar projects it is critical to integrate the food support during the first 5 months of the cultivation. 4.2 Security issues The project has experienced two critical security situation and one minor security issue, both of them related to the security of the construction sites. In one case, because of the non protection of the construction site of the infiltration gallery, a young girl of 15 years old died while she was trying to swim in the trench of the infiltration gallery (depth of 6 meters and large of 3 meters plenty of water). The construction site was not under any guarding at that time. It is recommended that for future projects, the government team responsible for the execution of the project should be trained in standards of construction site security.

11 The second security situation was related to the collapse of a well under construction in Dhourreh by a contracted company. It is therefore critically important to estimate potential damages that could occur with the development of the different type of infrastructures. The third security issue occurred in the project site Dhourreh where a small dam constructed by the project has collapsed following an important flow in the wadi Dhourreh. The breaking of the dam has not impacted on the near agro-pastoral systems but the project has lost some investment because of this failure. In the future it is recommended that a deep and well detailed study should support the construction of this type of infrastructure. Unfortunately the resource for a detailed design was not included in the initial project. 4.3 Design weakness/implementation constraints o The different sites targeted by the project were far each one from other and access to two of them was difficult; o Time for the implementation of the project on three different sites was very short. An ambitious project like this one would need more time than one year to be implemented; o Some of the outputs were designed with too many activities making the project difficult to implement. 4.4 Recommendations A short to medium term support (1 to 2 years) to the developed agro-pastoral farms is critical so that we can ensure they are fully able to continue in the successful development pathway that they have started to explore. This will greatly contribute to the sustainability of the project results. The very positive project impacts on rural communities are appealing to consider a second phase for this project which will strengthen the achieved results and will target much more families; In the short to medium term, UNDP to help the government to monitor the productivity of the developed agro-pastoral farms and the evolution of the resiliency degree of the targeted beneficiaries; UNDP in collaboration with other partners to help the government in establishing a monitoring system for the productivity of the agro-pastoral farms in the country in order to make available data that could help in the decision making process regarding the resiliency agenda of the government.