Locations
Chikuni Parish Taonga is working with communities in Gwembe, Monze and Pemba Districts to promote climate change adaptation and mitigation
Over the past few years, residents living in the valleys of Zambia’s Southern Province have stood face to face with the effects of climate change. As concerns continue to rise in these valleys and across the globe, the international community is taking more concerted and urgent action to tackle the climate crisis. From policy frameworks like the Paris Agreement to the national strategies that commit to implementing global targets at national level, such as Zambia’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), governments worldwide are working to combat rising temperatures, unpredictable weather patterns, and environmental degradation.
Zambia has committed to addressing climate change through adopting sustainable development policies that promote climate resilience, reforestation, and community-led adaptation strategies. But for many communities, climate change is already a daily struggle.
Indeed, while global policies set the court for a sustainable path out of the climate crisis, the fight against climate change is fought at the local level — especially in vulnerable rural communities where people feel its effects the most.
Gwembe, Pemba and Monze Districts have been wrangling with recurring droughts for years
The Gwembe Valley, once known for its fertile land, and strong farming culture, is now a region grappling with the harsh reality of recurring droughts, deforestation, and soil degradation. For generations, farmers and pastoralists sustained Gwembe. But as harsh droughts intensified, long before the 2024 nationwide drought, many families found themselves with no crops to harvest and no water for livestock. Considering their limited options, many turned to charcoal burning as a means of income. However, this survival strategy came at a cost. Deforestation worsened, depleting the already fragile ecosystem, and further accelerating desertification.
The people of Gwembe and other neighbouring communities, however, are not prepared to accept this reality as a permanent fixture of their community’s legacy.
Determined to take action, community members partnered with Chikuni Parish Taonga, a faith-based organisation (FBO) with an extensive reach in the district. With support from the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP), implemented by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the project aims to restore forests, strengthen food security, and create sustainable livelihoods — one seedling at a time.
Through a network of schools, traditional leaders, and families in the community, Chikuni Parish Taonga launched an ambitious effort to reverse deforestation and empower local communities to become stewards of their environment.
To make this vision a reality, this community-led initiative tackles food insecurity and environmental degradation through four key groups. Garden Committees cultivate fruit trees and vegetables in schools, providing nutritious food for students and training for local farmers and parents. School Centre Committees, comprised of parents and staff, mobilise the wider community, connecting them with training and resources tailored to their needs/challenges. Agroforestry Adoption Squads, that collect and distribute indigenous seeds and resilient trees to restore biodiversity and regenerate forests. Finally, Environmental Protection Squads lead awareness campaigns, patrol against illegal logging, and collaborate with village leaders to enforce conservation efforts.
Each of these committees and squads are set up in primary schools and community centres enhancing the reach of the project and ensuring that community members are at the forefront of the project’s implementation. Through these efforts, over 370 tree seedlings have already been planted, including mango, guava, moringa, tamarind, and neem trees. These trees will not only restore the land but also provide food and economic opportunities for families.
What started as a reforestation project has grown into a movement akin to that of Wangari Maathai’s Green Belt Movement. Families throughout the district are now planting trees in and around their houses, recognising that sustainable change begins from home.
The community is an active part of the project, spearheading activities through 4 sub-communities
Although serious challenges persist, including a lack of access to water, and climate shocks continue to threaten livelihoods, the project’s blend of the traditional knowledge used to promote the growth of indigenous seeds, with new innovations proves that local action can drive global impact.
“GEF-SGP in Zambia remains committed to supporting grassroots initiatives like Chikuni Parish Taonga, because real change starts from the ground up. One seed. One tree. One community at a time”, shares Marisa Mushota-Kalima, the National Coordinator for GEF-SGP in Zambia.
