Environmental research

1. About the NGO Mulungushi University was established as the third public university under the University Act of 1999 in 2008. The goal was to enhance national capacity to increased access to higher education and research in Zambia and to develop necessary skills to equip the labour market. The mission of the Mulungushi University is to provide high quality education and generate knowledge and technological innovations relevant to national and regional development goals. This is critical to development towards the realization of poverty reduction and wealth creation in line with Vision 2030, which seeks to make Zambia a medium income country by the year 2030. The applicant, Disaster Management Training Centre is one of the specialized Directorates at Mulungushi University offering training and capacity building programmes in disaster management and environmental studies. It is one of the only one in Zambia and is among the few in the sub-region offering such training. The staff at the Centre was actively involved in the formulation of Zambia s Disaster Management Policy promulgated in 2005. The centre conducts training in community based disaster risk reduction and management, climate change adaptation and mitigation to local communities. So far has offered training in Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction to NGOs such as World Vision Zambia (WVZ), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Oxfam, Care International Zambia and Concern World Zambia. In addition the centre undertakes research and consultancies in disaster risk reduction and climate change. The centre has participated in research and baseline surveys for the Global Network for Disaster Reduction (GNDR) 2011 survey and urban vulnerability Assessment for Care International Zambia and Oxfam on Community Led Disaster risk reduction. In academic field, Disaster Management Training Centre offers a bachelor s degree in Environmental Studies (BES) in addition to short courses in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and environmental management and planning. 2. Project s main objective 2.1 To explore the prospects of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) in climate change adaptation in Zambia. 3. Specific Objectives 3.1 Analyses perceptions of climate change related hazards, risks and vulnerability of local Indigenous communities in Zambia. 3.2 Evaluate the effectiveness of IK, scientific Early Warning System (EWS) on climate change in Zambia. 3.3 Investigate traditional early warning system/Indigenous Knowledge (IK) indicators and their accuracy in mitigation and preparedness for climate change impacts. 3.4 Document existing Indigenous knowledge systems to climate change adaptation practiced in Zambia. 4. Key project outcomes 4.1 Context of local community understanding and preparedness techniques of climate change established. 4.2 Indigenous and scientific preparedness against climate change impact established. 4.3 Traditional early warning systems and IK techniques identified and effectiveness tested. 4.4 Indigenous knowledge and early warning strategies on climate change from various parts of Zambia documented. 4.5 Context of local community understanding and preparedness techniques of climate change established. 4.6 Indigenous and scientific preparedness against climate change impact established. 4.7 Traditional early warning systems and IK techniques identified and effectiveness tested. 4.8 Indigenous knowledge and early warning strategies on climate change from various parts of Zambia documented.

Zambia