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© Gernant Magnin / WWF-NetherlandsThe Mazabuka district of the Southern Province in Zambia has major challenges such as the high use of charcoal energy and unsustainable farming practices, including sand mining, burning of sugarcane bio-waste to create energy for brewing the local illicit alcohol Kachasu, rampant deforestation for charcoal production, and farming.
The communities are aware of the impacts of climate change in the district and understand that unsustainable economic and livelihood activities have negative impacts on the environment. However, they bemoan the lack of alternative livelihood options and sustainable energy to support their welfare.
CUTS International, Lusaka (CUTS) - a center for action policy research, advocacy and networking - is a local partner of Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA) and addresses the district's climate issues. With the support of VCA they have adopted an approach where communities are placed in the center to document and amplify experiences and solutions relevant for policy advocacy at the national level. CUTS engages community members of Mazabuka in finding locally led solutions and facilitating a platform through which women, youths, and differently-abled individuals can be heard more effectively.
The activities being implemented in Mazabuka are now strategically designed to have a mutual capacity-building approach to ensure that the community is actively involved in finding sustainable solutions to climate change.
In February 2022, CUTS organized its first forum for women, youths, and persons with disabilities in Lusaka, Zambia, aimed at capacity building and learning about climate change and its impacts on these target groups in Mazabuka. The forum emphasized the importance of women's involvement in climate action to generate locally grown and gender-responsive climate solutions. The committee for women, youths, and differently-abled individuals was created to ensure accountability, and the role of CUTS in these efforts will be critically assessed.
Thanks to the WWF-VCA forums and training sessions, such as the planning of a Mazabuka Climate Change Action Plan, CUTS Lusaka and the Mazabuka local authorities on the District Disaster Management Committee have built a relationship. This has resulted in the District Disaster Management Committee asking CUTS to sit as an advisor and trainer on climate change resilience, owing to CUTS' demonstrated knowledge on climate change. Providing a platform for CUTS to amplify the voices of the most vulnerable and advise on climate change resilience building.
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© © camilodiazphotography / WWF Colombia / WWF-UK)
© Yunaidi Joepoet, Yayasan WWF Indonesia
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