DARAJA (Developing Risk Awareness through Joint Action)
The purpose of the DARAJA project was to co-produce weather and climate information services, which are particularly relevant to urban informal settlement communities in Tanzania (Dar es Salaam) and Kenya (Nairobi).
Project Overview
The project also assessed the availability and access to climate information in the target communities.
The project was delivered by Resurgence and aims to address vulnerability to extreme weather and climate impacts in rapidly-growing informal urban settlements. Resurgence worked with intermediaries in Nairobi (Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI)) and Dar es Salaam (Centre for Community Initiatives (CCI)) to build their expertise and the range of tools available to them. Together they created a framework and toolkit to underpin a new communication system for the creation, flow and use of weather and climate information in East African urban centres.
DARAJA aimed to improve the climate resilience of 20% of residents of informal settlements (approximately 800,000 people), and to achieve a 5-10% reduction in measurable avoidable losses caused by extreme weather events in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi through the improved use of climate information services.
Resources
Blogs
Defining and Looking Beyond Weather and Climate Information Services (WCIS) for residents of informal settlements - January 2019
Forging a common understanding: Q&A with Vera Bukachi - March 2019
Creating a shared platform for forecasters, community, media and city governments - April 2019
Helping national forecasters gain critical insights - April 2019
DARAJA: reflections and observations blog - January 2022
Other news and resources from DARAJA
River dig social media post and photos - September 2019
How Kigogo has benefitted from TMA’s severe weather forecasts - September 2019
Improving weather and climate information in informal urban settlements - December 2019
Weather forecasting in Nairobi - December 2019
Building bridges in East Africa - December 2019
Forecast based action video - fire and electrocution risk - January 2020
Weather Mtaani website - March 2020
Plan your business according to the weather - March 2020
Weather Mtaani video - May 2020
DARAJA in the news - August 2020
Meet Kenya’s new ‘weather forecasters’ in Nairobi slums - August 2020
How Youth Activists Are Averting Weather Crises In Slums - August 2020
Meet Kenya’s new ‘weather forecasters’ in Nairobi slums - August 2020
Residents turn into entrepreneurs through improved weather services - September 2020
DARAJA outcomes : African leaders highlight weather service achievements - September 2020
DARAJA: Development of locally accurate weather forecasts - October 2020
Street Art inspires communities to take climate action in Kenya - October 2020
Resurgence wins at the British Expertise International Awards 2020 - October 2020
DARAJA: Development of locally accurate weather forecasts - October 2020
DARAJA study: Co-designing Weather and Climate Information Services - November 2020
Resurgence recognised for collaborative weather communication project - November 2020
The Story of DARAJA: Resurgence and KDI commission top African creative - November 2020
DARAJA climate ambition videos - December 2020 - Emmah, James, Joseph, Patricia, Philip, Prisca
DARAJA impact results - December 2020
Released: Impact results from Africa’s most inclusive city climate, weather & early warning service - December 2020
Kenya: Slum Weather Data Project Wins Praises - December 2020
Weather warning and forecast service brings benefits to East African nations - December 2020
The Story of DARAJA and James - January 2021
Film on pioneering weather service for African communities premieres globally - January 2021
DARAJA climate ambition – Stella - February 2021
DARAJA climate ambition – Dr Tim - February 2021
We need cash to adapt, Kenyan slum dwellers tell COP26 president - March 2021
Bridge the Gap - page 10 - April 2021
DARAJA Project Infographic - Impacts - July 2021
DARAJA Project Summary - July 2021
You may also be interested in the following websites:
African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC)
Building Resilience & Adaptation to Climate Extremes & Disaster (BRACED)