United Purpose works with some of the most climate vulnerable people in the world. While Africa contributes less than 3 percent of global greenhouse emissions, its population is disproportionately impacted by the direct impacts of flooding and drought, and the indirect effects of increased pest attacks, rising costs of inputs and food and so on. 70% of the population of Africa is engaged in agriculture, much of it rain fed. In Ghana, for example, only 0.89% of cultivated land is irrigated, leaving rural populations reliant on unreliable rain patterns (UNDP). The low yield is attributed to low-adoption of good agronomic practices by smallholder farmers, dwindling rainfall (due to Sahel rain patterns creeping in), intensifying weather variabilities and limited access to relevant information and direction from agriculture extension agents on the respond
to emerging challenges in the production of these crops. Specific climate related challenges include desertification, heat stress on plants, changes in soil moisture and temperature, changes in height of water table, and less water available for crop production. Impacts of climate variability may result in increased cost of production, low yields, increased post-harvest losses, food insecurity and loss of livelihoods. They are less likely to have access to the knowledge, skills and assets needed to adapt to a changing climate and mitigate their risks; leaving them more vulnerable to shocks and stresses. In the Gambia, 10-20% of its total land area is seasonally or diurnally flooded. The Government of Senegal (GoS) announced in June 2016 that Senegal has lost more than one million trees since 2010 mainly due to illegal logging and the timber trade.
United Purpose works with mostly rural communities in West Africa to help them find ways to increase their household climate resilience, enabling thriving individuals, enterprises and communities.
Ability of a system, household and individual to prepare for, mitigate or recover from the impacts of negative events using predetermined coping responses in order to preserve and restore essential basic structures and functions (e.g. human life, housing, productive assets) (Béné et al.,
Ability of a system, household, individual to adjust, modify or change its characteristics and actions in order to better respond to existing and anticipated future climatic shocks and stresses and to take advantage of opportunities (Béné et al., 2012, Brooks, 2003, IPCC, 2012).
Early warning systems Savings and access to credit Disaster risk reduction Irrigation
Climate smart agriculture Access to information Natural resource management Crop and income diversification