Associate Professor
Goytom Abraha Kahsay
Department of Food and Resource Economics
University of Copenhagen
Rural households, Agriculture, and Climate change - why and how farmers (do not) adapt in Ethiopia (RACE)
This project investigates why and how rural households in Ethiopia (do not) adapt through a combination of qualitative, quantitative, and experimental methods, using an integrated watershed management lens.
Global warming has far-reaching consequences for humans, ecosystems, and economies. Households reliant on rain-fed agriculture are particularly vulnerable. Yet, current climate change adaptation among these households remains very limited. Using integrated watershed management and smallholder agriculture in Ethiopia as a case, we uncover what makes households adapt to changes, estimate the relative importance of climate change in the adaptation of new practices, measure what types of interventions promote adaptation (across a range of households, including female-headed households), and diagnose how this can inform effective future adaptation policies. RACE will suggest pathways to enhance rural households' adaptive capacity.
Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (UCPH-IFRO)
Bahir Dar University (BDU), Ethiopia
Policy Studies Institute (PSI), Ethiopia
- WP1 identifies the determinants of rural households' climate change adaptation practices.
- WP2 estimates the relative importance of climate change when adaptation measures are undertaken.
- WP3 designs and tests interventions that increase household-level adaptation of climate-smart technologies.
- WP4 identifies factors enabling the design and dissemination of realistic and feasible guidelines on climate change adaptation on the ground
- WP5 builds human and social capacity at partner institutions to undertake high quality climate change related research and dissemination.
Bahir Dar University (BDU):
- Amare Sewnet
- Daregot Berihun Tenessa
- Astede Desta Tegegn
- Zewdu Berhanie Ayele
- Getachew Yirga Belete
PSI:
- Adebe Damte Beyene
- Mintewab Bezabih
- Selamawit G/Egiziabher Kedebe
- Hailemariam Teklewold
September 2023: Joint start-up workshop.
December 2023: 5 PhD students enrolled (4 double degree PhD students enrolled at Barhir Dar University (BDU) and University of Copenhagen and 1 PhD student, partially funded by RACE, enrolled at University of Copenhagen).
March-June 2024: PhD students and senior researchers from Bahir Dar University (BDU) and Policy Studies Institute (PSI) visited Copenhagen (1 month visit for senior researchers and 3 months visit for PhD students).
March-June 2024: BDU researchers present their research work at the department of Food and Resource Economics.
October 2024: Joint preparatory field visit to South Wollo in Amhara region, Sidama Region and South Ethiopia regional state.
January-February: Data collection, ongoing.
March 2025: Senior researchers joint field work during data collection.
March 2025: Project Advisory Committee meeting held.
IFRO researchers
| Name | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Antehunegn Belachew Birilie | PhD Student |
|
| Carsten Smith-Hall | Professor, Head of Section |
|
| Dagim Belay | Assistant Professor - Tenure Track |
|
| Eyob Teredie Ayele | PhD Student |
|
| Gebreegziabher Fentahun Gugsa | PhD Student |
|
| Gebretsadik Teshager Siltanu | PhD Fellow |
|
| Goytom Abraha Kahsay | Associate Professor |
|
| Iben Nathan | Associate Professor |
|
| Yazie Chanie Tegegne | PhD Student |
|