Developing Agro-Pastoral Shade Gardens in Djibouti

Djibouti is characterized by a very arid and semi-desert type of climate, which makes it extremely sensitive to climate change-induced drought and water scarcity risks. The country has a fluctuating, low and abrupt precipitation regime with annual mean rainfall of 150 mm, mean temperatures comprised between 17°C and 42°C and extremely high rate of evapotranspiration amounting to 2000 mm per year. The aridity of the climate is further reinforced by a particularly hot and dry West wind regime ('Khamsin') resulting from the warming and drying of the Eastern African Monsoon (Foehn effect) when blowing over Somalia and Ethiopia‘s mountain ranges. Added to this are the effects of La Niña phenomenon, which in severe La Niña years brings drought to the country and sparks food-security concerns in areas that are already water stressed and heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture and pastoralism. Under historical conditions, Djibouti climatic context is clearly one of high hydrological uncertainty, frequent dry spell and chronic water stress, features that are likely to be worsened by climate change with wide-ranging implications on national economy, food security and human development in general.

The objective of the project is to support a three-pronged adaptation strategy to foster the transition from pastoralism to a new and more resilient multi-functional practice of agro-pastoral shade gardening. The project focuses on three separate but linked components. Water availability being the main limiting factor of agricultural productivity and livelihood security in Djibouti, the objective of the project is to diversify and promote climate resilient agro-pastoral practices in rural Djibouti.

This will be achieved through three outcomes:

• Capacities to mobilise and secure sustainable water resources to agro-pastoral communities in the face of climate change developed;
• Sustainable agro-pastoral systems developed, providing greater forage production capacities, diversifying agricultural productions and creating capacities for replication;
• Micro-credit schemes adjusted to scale-up shadow-garden-based agro-pastoral production.

Component 1 will be geared towards improving and securing access to water as a key requisite for developing agro-pastoral systems highly resilient to increasing aridity. The water produced under Component 1 will then be used in Component 2 to develop family and community oasis- like shade gardens over height 10-ha plots by using date palm as tree cover to protect the ground from the sun radiation, limit evaporation and create favourable microclimates for forage and vegetable growth, replicating the traditional practices imported by Yemeni populations in Djibouti centuries ago. The final component of the project supports adaptation micro-financing services under Component 3 that provides financial means and incentives for rural communities to accumulate capital in anticipation of climate shocks, diversify livelihoods and scale up best practices generated by the project under the first two components.