Event Description
This event will consider how climate change adaptation can be integrated within the water sector to benefit the poor. We will explore: how the changing climate is impacting poor people's management of water and their adaptive responses; climate and water policy contexts; and the need for urgent policy solutions.

Day 2
2009-08-20 09:00 - 10:30 Morning Seminar
Financing Mechanisms to Make Funding Available for Adaptation Measures

2009-08-20 11:00 - 12:30 Morning Seminar
From Theory to Reality: Sustainable Water Management in an Uncertain Climate

2009-08-20 12:45 - 13:45 Lunch Side Event
Why Tackling Water, Energy and Climate Change Together Makes Business Sense

2009-08-20 12:45 - 13:45 Lunch Side Event
Presenting the African-European Parliamentary Dialogue on Climate Change

2009-08-20 14:00 - 15:30 Afternoon Seminar
Getting the Politics Right - Towards Stronger Collective Action on Water and Climate Change Impacts at COP-15 and Beyond


Event Summary and Conclusions
Ms. Wangu Mutua started by presenting how the Vi Agroforestry program have supported farmers to develop a number of simple but highly effective actions to enhance their adaptability to a changing climate. These activities include planting drought resistant trees mixed with crops, and covering the earth between the plants with dry grass to limit evaporation. All methods used are at field-level and do not require large investments but it has involved devoted staff that have established long term relationships with farmers and local community groups.

Research from Niger, by Tearfund and the Institute of Development Studies, was then presented. In Niger communities are demonstrating resilience with a variety of adaptive measures including new means of water harvesting, and the construction of more deep wells. Lessons must be learnt from these localised solutions. Governments should strengthen adaptive capacity at the local level by supporting localised water resources approaches that are adapting to climate variability.

The panel debate that followed addressed how climate risk can be effectively integrated into water policy and planning. Discussion covered the need to included scenario based planning, local institutions and existing models when investing in adaptation to climate change. There was a consensus that adaption is not about inventing new methods, but about building on existing knowledge and successful practices. Several speakers stressed that we need to act now to use and spread local positive examples in a systematic way.

Read more about the Vi Agroforestry program in the newly published policy brief "Adapting water management to climate change".
Read Tearfunds report Separate Streams at here.