The contribution of climate finance on livelihoods of agro-pastoralists in the Sebapala sub-catchment

Abstract

Climatic change and variability is a developmental issue facing the world, particularly the developing countries that sustain livelihoods through the environment. Climate change is an issue in Africa, with many agro-pastoralists dealing with its different facets from desertification, drought, land degradation and extreme weather events such as unpredictable rainfall and unforeseen temperatures. Many developing countries have benefited from climate finance initiatives to enhance development and livelihoods. Lesotho, like other developing countries, receives climate finance to enforce the development of livelihoods. However, no study has been conducted to determine the impact of climate finance on the livelihoods of the agro-pastoralists in the Sebapala sub-catchment, in Tsatsane villages, within the Tosing Community Council. The main objective of this study was to determine the impact of climate finance on the livelihoods of the agro-pastoralists in the Sebapala sub-catchment within the Tosing Community Council, Tsatsane. It has identified the kind of livelihoods that existed in the council before the inception of the project. The study further determines the impact of climate finance on agro-pastoral livelihoods and assesses the participation of agro-pastoral farmers in projects. The researcher used a mixed method case study research design to address the problem: whether the impact of climate finance on agro-pastoral livelihoods has led to a partial contribution to the socio-economic development of the community. The study reveals that agro-pastoral livelihoods, including those in Lesotho, have been dominant production systems. For instance, in sub-Saharan Africa, agro- pastoralist farmers engage in crop and livestock farming as well as non-farm activities to sustain their livelihoods. There are some challenges which the study also unpacks. These include land degradation, drought and encroachment of rangelands. They may lead to the demise of the agro- pastoral production systems. The study is intended to contribute to policy development. That is, it may inform processes of policy formulation and enactment of laws on issues of disaster management and livelihoods. Notably, the study is intended to contribute to the Sebapala Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) project considering that no evaluation has been conducted since project implementation.