The ‘ mainstreaming ’ approach to climate change adaptation : insights from Ethiopia ’ s water sector

There is scientific agreement in the latest report from the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): anthropogenic climate change is already occurring and even if greenhouse gas concentrations are stabilised, global warming and sea level rises will continue for centuries – the result of climatic processes and feedbacks (Solomon et al., 2007). These changes in the Earth’s physical systems are likely to have a major impact on biological and socio-economic systems, and the poorer developing countries are at greatest risk. Adaptation is, therefore, seen as an inevitable and necessary response. Vulnerability to climate change and other climate hazards is largely determined by social and economic factors such as income, access to education and healthcare, and the availability of economic opportunities. In sub-Saharan Africa socio-economic vulnerability often coincides with bio-physical vulnerability; a large proportion of the population (the rural poor) depends on climate-sensitive rain-fed agriculture for subsistence and income and have limited livelihood options (Eriksen and Næss, 2003). In many cases adaptation implies tackling preexisting development issues that contribute to vulnerability (Metz and Kok, 2008). At the same time, longterm climate change is likely to compound existing vulnerabilities to both climatic and socio-economic stresses, contributing to poverty, undermining economic growth and posing a significant challenge to the sustained achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It is argued, therefore, that climate change adaptation should be integrated with the sustainable development agenda (Eriksen and Næss, 2003; Olhoff and Schaer, 2010). ‘Mainstreaming’ is one development-orientated approach to climate change adaptation. It has become increasingly popular in international donor circles over the past five to ten years and is being adopted by developing country governments for long-term strategic planning. In many developing countries, however, the process of mainstreaming is in its earliest stages and there is very little accepted doctrine on how the process should occur. This Background Note uses Ethiopia and its water sector – including both water supply and water management – as a case study to highlight issues associated with ‘mainstreaming adaptation’ in practice. It is based on the MSc dissertation of author Naomi Oates (Oates, 2010) drawing on primary evidence gathered in May and June 2010 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, including interviews with stakeholders in government, non-governmental organisations and donor organisations.