Adapting to Climate Change in the Lake Victoria Basin, Burundi

Philbert Ntaciyica feeds his goats grass harvested from his farm in Burundi’s Northeastern Giteranyi commune. Climate change is causing increasingly erratic rainfall and longer dry seasons across Burundi, putting mounting strain on agriculture, food security and access to safe water. For Philbert and his family, heavy rainstorms in previous years have washed away his crops and fertile topsoil, forcing him to leave his family behind and migrate to neighbouring Rwanda in search of work. A UNEP-backed project ‘Adapting to Climate Change in the Lake Victoria Basin (ACC-LVB), is helping 2000 farmers like Philbert to adopt nature-based solutions to adapt to less predictable weather in Burundi. Philbert has built grass-lined terraces along his farm to halt erosion. He’s also planted fruit trees among his crops which provide shade. Not only has his harvest increased as a result, but he’s also able to use the grass to feed his goats, saving him previous income.