Enhancing Climate Change Resilience in East Africa (ECREA)
Enhancing Climate Resilience in East Africa (ECREA) is a collaborative initiative focused on strengthening climate resilience through innovative research, policy interventions, and community-driven solutions.
Project Name (full): Enhancing Climate Change Resilience in East Africa (ECREA)
Geographic area, countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda
Funders: Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) through WISER- MET office
Partners: Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Kenya Meteorological Department, Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA), National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA), Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), Rwanda Meteorology Agency, Radio Huguka Rwanda, iShamba, Shamba Shape Up, ICPAC, PABRA, and University of Reading.
Brief Description
The Enhancing Climate Resilience in East Africa (ECREA) project is a multi-country initiative aimed at strengthening climate resilience among smallholder farmers in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through the UK Met Office, and implemented by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT through the PABRA model, the project bridges the gap between climate information providers and end users to enhance decision-making for climate adaptation. ECREA focuses on both the supply and demand sides of the Weather and Climate Information Services (WCIS) equation, ensuring that climate information is not only accurate and timely but also accessible, actionable, and user-centered. The project is committed to improving farmers' coping and adaptive capacities by strengthening climate advisory services and fostering inclusive, localized, and demand-driven climate resilience strategies. A key aspect of ECREA is its strategic partnerships with National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS), IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Center (ICPAC), Shamba Shape Up, iShamba, and community radios like Radio Huguka (Rwanda) and FADECO Radio (Tanzania). These collaborations ensure that climate information reaches farming communities through multiple channels, providing reliable forecasts, tailored advisories, and practical guidance for climate-smart decision-making. By leveraging digital tools, media platforms, and community networks, ECREA empowers smallholder farmers to build resilience against climate risks and enhance agricultural productivity.
Key activities
The ECREA project employs a multi-pronged approach to ensure climate information services are both accessible and actionable for smallholder farmers in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. By combining capacity building, partnerships, and innovative communication strategies, the project enhances farmers’ ability to make informed decisions in the face of climate variability.
- Climate Advisory Services & PICSA-lite Training: ECREA strengthens climate advisory services through Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA) training. This approach equips extension officers, local government officials, and farmer organizations with the skills to interpret and apply climate forecasts in agricultural decision-making. PICSA enables farmers to use historical climate data, seasonal forecasts, and participatory decision-making tools to adapt their farming practices.
- Strengthening Agricultural Advisory Committees (AACs): The project supports the formation and capacity building of Agricultural Advisory Committees (AACs) at the local level. These committees serve as bridges between farmers, meteorological services, and agricultural experts, ensuring that climate information is tailored to local farming needs and reaches the right audiences effectively.
- Expanding Community Engagement through Radio Listeners’ Clubs: Recognizing the power of community-driven communication, ECREA promotes Radio Listeners’ Clubs, where farmers gather to listen to climate-related programs, discuss forecasts, and share best practices. Partnering with community radios like Radio Huguka (Rwanda) and FADECO Radio (Tanzania) allows for localized, interactive climate discussions that improve understanding and uptake of climate-smart solutions.
- Leveraging Digital and Media Platforms: ECREA collaborates with Shamba Shape Up and iShamba, two widely followed agricultural media platforms, to disseminate climate-smart agriculture content via TV, SMS, and radio. This approach ensures climate advisories reach diverse audiences, from rural farmers to agribusiness stakeholders, enhancing engagement and knowledge retention.
- Building Institutional Capacity & Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: By working with National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS), IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Center (ICPAC), and other stakeholders, ECREA enhances institutional capacity to generate, package, and disseminate climate information more effectively. Through these integrated activities, ECREA empowers farmers with knowledge and tools to improve productivity, reduce climate risks, and strengthen agricultural resilience in East Africa.
Relevant blogs, stories, news coverage
Project leaders
Desire Kagabo
Project LeaderProject members
Livingstone Byandaga
Research Specialist
Mvuyibwami Patrick
Senior Research AssociatePublications
