Traditional and indigenous knowledge for climate change adaptation in Eswatini

This briefing note explores the value of Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge in helping communities forecast weather and climate, identify and manage changes in seasons and weather, and develop responses to climatic variability and climate change. It aims to contribute to understanding how Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge systems help communities identify and cope with climate change and how this understanding can contribute to NAP processes.

Some of the recommendations to further the understanding of Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge for adaptation in Eswatini are listed below:

1. The wealth of Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge pertaining to climate change from all the country’s regions needs to be documented (preferably by agroecological region) and managed for the benefit of wider audiences within and outside of Eswatini. The MTEA, whose mandate includes climate change in Eswatini, can lead the process.
2. The mainstream curriculum for schools and universities could be updated to include climate change and the relevant aspects of Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge as they relate to climate change. Both climate science and Traditional Knowledge about weather forecasting are poorly understood, and Traditional Knowledge is seldom used by younger generations. It is recommended that such knowledge be included in the climate change curriculum to help retain this knowledge in local communities.
3. Structured processes are required for local communities to engage in the NAP process. The lack of a system or means to collect Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge from communities means that this knowledge does not inform the NAP. Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge should inform the identification of adaptation interventions for local communities. The MTEA, through the Climate Change Unit, can spearhead structured engagement processes for communities in the NAP process.