Responses of Local Government Authorities to Climate Change Impacts in Agro-Pastoral Communities: A Case of Bahi District, Tanzania

Abstract

Despite the Government of Tanzania's efforts to reduce the detrimental effects of temperature and rainfall changes on many sectors, including agriculture and livestock, local governments in Tanzania have demonstrated a limited capacity to construct climate-resilient local communities. This study assessed local government authorities' responses to climate change's impacts on agro-pastoral communities. Bahi District in Tanzania was selected and recruited as the study area. A cross-sectional research approach utilised and collected primary and secondary data through interviews, focus group discussions, and a structured questionnaire from 78 participants. Nvivo software was used to analyse qualitative data, while IBM SPSS version 20 and Excel were utilised to analyse quantitative data. The findings demonstrated that LGAs have responded to the impacts of climate change by providing extension services, farm inputs, and implements; developing and implementing local climate action plans; and allocating budgets for funding programmes and initiatives that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as adaptation and resilience to the effects of a changing climate. Based on the findings, there is a general failure to identify implementation channels due to a lack of technical data, human resources, and money, resulting in inadequate implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. The study recommends that LGAs require ongoing support to improve their knowledge of local climate impacts. Also, placing gender concerns at the forefront of national climate change policies, strategies, and programmes to combat climate change should be prioritized. Moreover, the Government should address the issue of shortage of extension officers which are needed to improve resilience and adaptability.