Researches from the Botswana International University of Science and Technology ( BIUST) have collaborated with OR Tambo and Adelaide Foundation, International Development Research Centre of Canada ( ORTARChI) to run projects in the region that address issues of climate change.

The researchers held a vulnerability and risk assessment workshop in Maun where they interacted with members of the community on issues of climate change and how climate change has impacted their lives.

According to Communications and Public Affairs Officer of BIUST Rebecca Baruti the residents of the Chobe district were of the view that this workshop came at the right time as they are facing challenges in their region which is prone to veldt fires, poor rainfall and drought periods brought on by climate change.

Moreover, she noted that they said that a significant portion of the community’s livelihood depends on subsistence farming which is further hampered by the crop loss caused by wildlife changing their migratory patterns and invading their fields in search of food and shelter.

ORTARChI Chair- Prof. Gizaw Mengistu Tsidu said that ORTARChI is a 15 million rand project funded by National Research Foundation of South Africa ( NRF), Oliver Tambo adlaide foundation, South Africa Department of Science and

Technology, and Canada’s IDRC.

He further explained that the ORTARCH project has received about 5.2 million Pula from the Ministry of Communication, Knowledge and Technology ( MCKT) in support of ORTARChI training programme.

Tsidu said the project involves over 20 scientists from Botswana ( BIUST, UB & BUAN), Germany, Italy, Ghana and Ethiopia. The project is expected to train 10 PhDs and 18 MSc, 90 percent of which are from Botswana and about 10 percent are from collaborating countries Ghana and Ethiopia.

Moreover, the thematic research areas of ORTARChI are climate change and variability, climate impact in water, vegetation and livestock resources, climate change mitigation and adaptation in these resource areas.

“This workshop is one of several engagements we plan to have over the next five years with you and other communities in sub- Saharan Africa,” he said.

Tsidu revealed that the final outcome of studies from consultations and analysis of observations in their research areas will help the institutions develop mitigation and adaption options at technological and management levels.

The technologies and management options against climate change impacts will be implement with the support of people in various communities at local levels.