Navigating floods and building resilience through community-led climate adaptation in South Sudan
Unity State in northern South Sudan faces recurring climate shocks, particularly devastating floods. Each rainy season, vast areas are submerged, leading to displacement and loss of livelihoods. Thousands are forced into temporary settlements, where they struggle with the long-term impacts of these disasters.
Lakoyo Shakira
Posted on 30 Sep 2024
Bentiu, the capital of Unity State, hosts many internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have fled persistent flooding.
While humanitarian organizations have built protective dikes to reduce flood damage, the need for sustainable, community-driven solutions has become evident.
Danish Refugee Council’s Climate Adaptation and Innovation (CADI) project offers a new approach to resilience through community engagement.
Unity State's vulnerability to flooding has worsened due to changing weather patterns and inadequate infrastructure.
The state's low-lying geography causes rivers to overflow, submerging entire communities. This forces thousands to flee their homes repeatedly, seeking refuge in displacement sites, particularly around Bentiu.
The human cost is severe. Communities are uprooted, farmlands are destroyed, and access to basic services is disrupted.
While humanitarian aid offers temporary relief, long-term solutions are needed to address the root causes of displacement and support communities in building resilience.
This initiative helps reduce reliance on firewood, offering a more eco-friendly alternative while addressing both environmental and energy needs in the community.
/ DRC Danish Refugee Council
A new approach to climate adaptation through DRC CADI Project
Danish Refugee Council (DRC) launched the CADI project in Unity State to promote sustainable, locally driven solutions. The project focuses on empowering communities to take a proactive role in addressing climate challenges, providing them with skills and resources to develop tailored solutions for their specific needs.
In a recent phase, 35 community leaders participated in an intensive eight-day training program. This aimed to strengthen their capacity to identify and address climate challenges, equipping them with the tools to lead adaptation efforts.
Participants came from diverse backgrounds, ensuring the project addressed the varied needs of the community.
The training covered practical skills in climate risk assessment, resource management, and innovative adaptation techniques.
The goal was to provide participants with actionable skills they could apply immediately in their communities.
Innovation is a central theme of the CADI project. After the training, the participants were divided into five groups, each tasked with developing innovative solutions to climate challenges.
To support their efforts, each group was awarded a $2,500 grant to implement their projects.
These community-led projects cover a range of adaptation strategies, from water management to new agricultural techniques better suited to the changing climate.
The emphasis on local innovation ensures the solutions are relevant and sustainable.
For instance, one group focused on producing cooking briquettes from water hyacinth—a free-floating, perennial aquatic plant known for its rapid growth and invasiveness.
This plant, if left unchecked, can clog waterways, disrupt ecosystems, degrade water quality, and block transport routes.
By converting the water hyacinth into briquettes, the group not only mitigated its harmful impact on the environment but also creates an affordable and sustainable energy source for cooking.
This initiative helps reduce reliance on firewood, offering a more eco-friendly alternative while addressing both environmental and energy needs in the community.
Another group is constructing flood-resistant housing using locally available materials and techniques. By empowering community members to take charge of their own adaptation strategies, the CADI project fosters ownership and responsibility, which are critical for long-term success.
Looking ahead
The CADI project is rooted in the belief that community-led initiatives are essential for effective climate adaptation.
Rather than imposing solutions, the project builds on existing community knowledge and skills, offering additional support where needed.
By training local leaders and providing resources to implement their ideas, the project strengthens the community's resilience and self-sufficiency.
The participants have not only gained practical skills but also developed a deeper understanding of climate adaptation's importance.
They are now better equipped to identify potential risks and take action to mitigate them before they escalate into disasters.
This proactive approach is key to reducing the impact of future climate shocks and preventing further displacement.
While the CADI project has made significant progress, challenges remain. The scale of flooding in Unity State is immense, and the damage caused by climate shocks is often overwhelming.
However, the success of the project’s initial phase demonstrates that community-led adaptation efforts can reduce vulnerability and build resilience.
This initiative aligns with the Danish Refugee Council’s (DRC) broader climate resilience approach in South Sudan, where we view recurring floods not just as isolated emergencies, but as challenges that require our entire programme to adapt.
The participants have not only gained practical skills but also developed a deeper understanding of climate adaptation's importance.
/ DRC Danish Refugee Council
DRC is working closely with communities to think strategically about where they live, work, and farm for the long term, recognising that much of climate change is here to stay.
Our approach is grounded in understanding specific community vulnerabilities to climate shocks affecting agriculture, natural resources, infrastructure, and livelihoods.
We also focus on strengthening local institutions and governance to promote adaptive capacity, enabling more effective responses and resource management.
Key strategies include promoting sustainable practices like regenerative agriculture, flood-adaptive techniques, and natural resource management, helping communities reduce dependency on climate-sensitive inputs.
Looking ahead, the DRC CADI project aims to expand, reaching more communities and continue to support innovative approaches to climate adaptation.
The hope is that the skills and knowledge gained through the project will benefit not only the current generation but also future leaders, ensuring the community remains resilient in the face of an unpredictable climate.
Unity State’s ongoing battle with climate shocks highlights the urgent need for sustainable, community-driven adaptation strategies.
The CADI project offers a promising path forward by focusing on local leadership and innovation. By equipping community members with the skills and resources to address climate challenges, the project is building a more resilient and empowered population in Bentiu.
Though the challenges are significant, the progress made so far demonstrates that community-led initiatives can be a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.
As Unity State continues to face the impacts of flooding and other climate shocks, projects like CADI will be essential in ensuring that displaced communities not only survive but thrive amid adversity.
