Livelihood-focused climate risk assessment: Stress testing livelihood options in the world’s largest terrestrial transboundary conservation area

This Climate Risk Assessment seeks to answer how and in what ways a changing climate limits progress toward diversifying livelihoods for resident communities in the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA). The KAZA TFCA vision hinges on sustainable economic prosperity of its almost three million inhabitants, many of whom are dependent on natural systems and resources that are under tremendous pressure from economic development, and unsustainable use of natural resource.

Findings from this work will supplement the KAZA Livelihoods Diversification Strategy 2023-2033 with an analysis of how climate risks are evolving across the landscape and may affect the viability and resilience of current livelihood activities. The authors anticipate the outcome of this work will serve to strengthen the base of knowledge that is necessary for climate programming in the KAZA TFCA, and ultimately, help inform decisions, policies and actions that bolster the livelihoods and socio-economic resilience of its residents