Resilience to climate change in Togo: ethnography of endogenous knowledge and practices for preparing, protecting and adapting to the health impacts of flooding in the Lower Mono River Valley
The research is part of an effort to identify and use local knowledge to better prepare, protect and adapt to the health impacts of flooding, thereby helping communities become more resilient to climate change.
Context, humanitarian and social issues
The lower Mono River valley, on the border with Benin, is a region prone to flooding. These floods are exacerbated by climate change, which is increasing the frequency and intensity of rainfall. The area is often under water, causing severe disruption to the local population. These floods in the lower Mono River valley cause major health problems. The ethnography of the knowledge that these people have developed over time to prevent, prepare for and adapt to the health impacts of these floods will help us to understand this knowledge and make the best use of it. Secondly, it can be used by humanitarian organisations to ensure that their interventions are more appropriate and better accepted.
What positive endogenous knowledge and practices enable the people of Agbétiko Canton to prepare, protect and adapt to the health impacts of climate change?
Research area and methodology
This research is based on a qualitative ethnographic methodology. It takes place in the canton of Agbétiko, about 9 km from Afagan, the capital of the Bas-Mono prefecture, in the maritime region of south-eastern Togo. The study adopts a multi-site and comparative approach. The methodological framework focuses on several data collection techniques such as semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, participant observation, documentary research, participatory mapping and case studies.
The scientific benefits of research for humanitarian and social actors
Research on endogenous and community-based systems in the Agbétiko district is extremely useful for humanitarian actors. It not only enhances and strengthens local knowledge, but also improves the effectiveness of interventions, builds local capacity, creates solid partnerships and inspires public policy. By integrating endogenous knowledge and practices into their interventions, humanitarian actors can make a significant contribution to building community resilience to the health impacts of climate change. Analysing the endogenous knowledge and practices of local populations related to health in the context of climate change offers concrete benefits. It enables the development of more effective preparedness, protection and adaptation strategies based on local knowledge. This inclusive and participatory approach is respectful of local cultures. It also helps to build community resilience and empowerment in the face of the increasing health impacts of flooding.
Biography
Kossi M. KOUMI holds a PhD in Social Anthropology and Ethnology from EHESS since 2021. He is currently a lecturer at the University of Lomé and a member of the University Research Structure on Public Policies, Norms and Local Dynamics (PPNDL). He has participated in several research programmes. His scientific interests include public and private health service delivery, health policy, maternal and child health, climate change and health, and people’s endogenous knowledge and practices.