Location : ICIRSAT
Date : 2026-11-24 10:15:00
Organized by International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) through the Dryland Academy, Under the Aegis of CGIAR CapSha Accelerator and Climate Change Science Program.
Zimbabwe is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its dependence on rain-fed agriculture, recurrent droughts, floods, heat waves, and changing rainfall patterns. Climate-related disasters have significantly affected agricultural productivity, food security, water resources, biodiversity, and livelihoods, particularly among rural communities. According to Zimbabwe’s National Climate Policy and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), strengthening institutional and community capacities for climate risk assessment and climate adaptation is critical to achieving sustainable development and climate resilience.
However, several challenges remain:
Limited technical capacity to conduct climate risk assessments.
Insufficient use of climate information in planning and decision-making.
Weak integration of climate risks into development plans and investment decisions.
Limited knowledge of climate adaptation and mitigation options at local levels.
Inadequate coordination among stakeholders and institutions.
There is therefore a need for a comprehensive capacity-building programme that equips stakeholders with knowledge, tools, and skills to assess climate risks and implement effective climate actions.
The program is designed for researchers, extension professionals, government officials, project managers, policy makers, NGO practitioners, development partners, university faculty, watershed and natural resource management specialists, and private-sector representatives involved in agroecology and nature-based solutions, landscape restoration, climate resilience, and sustainable rural development.
To strengthen Zimbabwe’s institutional and community capacities for climate risk assessment, adaptation planning, and climate action to enhance resilience and sustainable development.
Build technical capacities of government institutions and stakeholders on climate risk assessment methodologies.
Enhance understanding and application of climate information and climate projections.
Develop capacities for identifying and prioritizing climate adaptation and mitigation options in various crops and cropping systems.
Strengthen climate-informed planning and decision-making processes.
Promote community-based climate adaptation and resilience-building practices.
Facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration among key stakeholders.
Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife
Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development
Local Government Authorities
Meteorological Services Department
Agricultural Extension Officers
Research institutions and universities
Civil society organizations
Farmer organizations and community leaders
Women and youth groups
Development partners
Module 1: Introduction to Climate Change and Climate Risks
Climate science fundamentals
Climate change trends in Zimbabwe
Impacts on agriculture, water, and health
Module 2: Climate Risk Assessment Tools and Methodologies
Hazard, exposure, and vulnerability assessments
Climate risk mapping
Scenario analysis
GIS and spatial tools
Module 3: Climate Information and Early Warning Systems
Climate data interpretation
Seasonal climate forecasting
Early warning dissemination through Agromet advisory services
Module 4: Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment
Community vulnerability assessment tools
Participatory approaches
Gender-sensitive climate assessments
Module 5: Climate Action Planning
Adaptation planning
Climate-smart agriculture
Nature-based solutions
Disaster risk reduction strategies
Module 6: Climate Mitigation and Low-Carbon Development
Sustainable land management practices
Carbon sequestration and its measurements
Carbon credits and methodologies
Module 7: Climate Finance and Resource Mobilization
Climate finance mechanisms
Green Climate Fund opportunities
Proposal development and investment planning
Module 8: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Climate indicators
Tracking resilience outcomes
Knowledge management systems
At least 25-30 stakeholders trained in climate risk assessment and climate action.
Climate risk assessment toolkits shared.
District-level climate risk profile (at least one) prepared.
Climate adaptation action plans developed for at least one district.
Enhanced institutional coordination mechanisms established.
Increased awareness and adoption of climate-resilient practices.
Improved national and local capacities to assess climate risks.
Better integration of climate risks into development planning.
Increased adoption of climate adaptation and mitigation measures.
Strengthened resilience of vulnerable communities and agricultural systems.
Improved access to climate information and early warning systems.
The programme will adopt:
Participatory and multi-stakeholder approaches.
Partnerships with government, research institutions, and development agencies.
Integration of indigenous knowledge and scientific information.
Dr Shalander Kumar
Principal Scientist II
Socioeconomics, Inclusion and Impact
ICRISAT, Hyderabad, India
Email: Shalander.Kumar@icrisat.org
Dr Kumaracharyulu Deevi
Senior Scientist
Transforming Agrifood Systems
ICRISAT Focal Point for CapSha Accelerator
ICRISAT, Hyderabad, India
Email: kumaracharyulu.deevi@icrisat.org
Dr Martin Moyo
Principal Scientist I
Climate Action
Resilient Farming Systems
ICRISAT, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Email: Martin.Moyo@icrisat.org
Dr Moses Shyam Davala
Scientist
Transforming Agrifood Systems
ICRISAT, Hyderabad, India
mosesshyam.davala@icrisat.org
Email: Folorunso.Akinseye@icrisat.org
Dr Padmaja Ravula
Theme Leader – Dryland Academy
Cluster Leader – Gender Equality and Youth Inclusion
Global Research Program – Transforming Agrifood Systems
ICRISAT, Hyderabad, India.
Email: padmaja.ravula@icrisat.org
