The Strategic Pilot on Adaptation to Climate Change (SPACC) is a three-year project, initiated in 2011, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The full title of the project is: ‘Reversing Environmental Degradation and Rural Poverty through Adaptation to Climate Change in Drought Stricken Areas in Southern India: A Hydrological Unit Pilot Project Approach’. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is the GEF agency for implementation of the project, while the Bharathi Integrated Rural Development Agency (BIRDS) is the executing partner. Both FAO and BIRDS (and its partner agencies) are co-financing the project.
Andhra Pradesh experiences high climate variability with some districts in the state being particularly prone to frequent droughts that threaten agriculture production and the livelihoods of farmers. The development objective of the SPACC project is to increase the knowledge and capacity of communities to adapt to climate change and climate variability in seven drought-prone districts of Andhra Pradesh. Globally, the project aims to build on existing knowledge and document experiences in integrating climate change adaptation within sustainable land and water management (SLMW) in drought-prone areas.
The project has been structured into three main components: (i) information tools for decision making and local institutional capacity development; (ii) pilots on adaptation measures integrated into SLMW practices; and (iii) a platform for scaling up climate change adaptation measures suitable for drought-prone areas. The project outcomes include: (i) equipping farmers and community-based organisations to make informed decisions on land and water management based on scientific and local knowledge, taking into account the impact of climate change and climate variability. Ensuring farmers acquire skills in managing climate variability and testing adaptation technologies in farming systems through participation in Climate Field Schools (CFS); (ii) ensuring that farmers have acquired skills to manage climate risks through participation in climate change schools; (iii) piloting adaptation technologies and identifying best practices; and (iv) documenting and disseminating the project outcomes.