Adaptation is about helping communities, ecosystems, and institutions adjust to the realities of a changing climate while safeguarding human health and wellbeing. In East Africa’s drylands and urban informal settlements, strategies must respond to recurrent droughts, fragile ecosystems, and vulnerable populations whose livelihoods are closely tied to land and climate.
Key adaptation actions include:
- Agroecological and climate-smart agriculture practices that restore soil fertility, improve water use efficiency, adopt drought-resistant crops, and diversify production for nutrition and resilience.
- Climate-smart livestock systems that integrate fodder production, rangeland management, and animal health services.
- Community-led solutions, including diversified income sources and the integration of indigenous knowledge such as seasonal calendars, rangeland stewardship, traditional diets, and the promotion of neglected and underutilized crop species (NUS), which enhance both resilience and dietary diversity.
- Strengthening disease surveillance and early warning systems for climate-sensitive diseases such as malaria, cholera, and Rift Valley fever.
- Mental health and psychosocial support embedded in adaptation programs, recognizing the toll of climate stressors on mental health and wellbeing.
- Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions to reduce disease risks during floods and droughts.
