Climate adaptation and resilience has mostly been shaped by western/scientific knowledge. Often information comes from people sitting in high-rise buildings with little knowledge of the local context. Whilst scientific information has its place in informing climate adaptation, it should not overlook Indigenous knowledge systems that have informed communities on adaptation practices for centuries and has sustained local populations’ livelihoods for generations.
What are Indigenous Knowledge Systems?
Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) is defined as a collection of knowledge, values, beliefs, traditions, practices and customs that shapes the relationship between people and their environment and that has evolved through an adaptive process over time and has been transmitted orally and through practiced traditions. Indigenous knowledge is situated in specific locales that reflect expertise and understanding of local phenomena. IKS refers to the shared social and cultural knowledge systems of Indigenous communities, representing deep, place-based understanding that integrates cultural, spiritual, and ecological insights into managing and conserving local environments to ensure the continued well-being and livelihoods of communities within those environments.
How Have Indigenous Knowledge Systems Informed Adaptation?
Across Africa, IKS have been used to inform decision making about fundamental parts of life, from day-to-day livelihoods to long-term actions. IKS has informed local communities on how to adapt to climate change through various mechanisms.
Agriculture
In agriculture, indigenous knowledge manifests through a range of adaptive techniques developed over generations of observation and practice. Farmers in northern Ghana, for instance, leverage rainwater harvesting, adjust planting times according to shifting rainfall patterns, and move farms closer to water sources in response to droughts and erratic rains (Dorji et al, 2024). They apply organic manure and neem leaf extracts to manage soil fertility and pests, and practice crop diversification by planting drought-resistant indigenous varieties alongside modern crops. Traditional mixed cropping and agroforestry—growing trees with crops—are widely adopted to increase soil moisture, reduce erosion, and spread risk. Over time, these methods have evolved as communities blend indigenous wisdom with modern inputs, such as combining organic with chemical fertilizers and integrating new seed varieties to maximize yields and buffer climate shocks. The continual adaptation and integration of practices highlight the dynamic, non-static nature of indigenous knowledge in agriculture.
Beyond Agriculture
Beyond agriculture, indigenous knowledge has been used to create tools and techniques for fishing. For instance, in Rwanda, fishermen practice conservation techniques through controlled fishing where only matured fish from identified spots are harvested, which assists in preservation of fish species. Additionally, IKS is used in water resource management. In Zambia, local communities refrain from cutting down trees around wetlands and river systems to prevent excess flooding, and they avoid building piggeries near water sources in Vanuatu (Chileshe et al, 2024). The use of Indigenous Knowledge in water conservation contributes to community resilience. Climate variability has been overcome by local communities in various ways (Dorji et al, 2024). Herders and pastoral communities tend to migrate to drier areas with water – an adaptation technique used for generations. It is often used as a way of avoiding droughts, famine and land degradation. Indigenous knowledge systems have informed communities on how to adapt to their constantly evolving environment.
The Importance of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Informing Climate Adaptation
For climate action to be inclusive and effective in local communities, indigenous and local communities need to be viewed as agents of change and not merely as victims. Current climate-change adaptation efforts primarily focus on western scientific knowledge, with only about 10% of African adaptation targets including IKS in national climate action plans (Zvobgo et al, 2022). This in turn risks alienating and marginalizing IKS as inferior or insignificant and consequently leading to IKS being excluded as a source of information that could inform effective climate action (Nyahunda, 2024).
A bottom-up approach that is participatory and people-centered ensures better uptake and utilization of adaptation information by indigenous communities compared to top-down approaches where strategies are developed by researchers and scientists using primarily scientific knowledge without including local perspectives. Co-production of knowledge—combining scientific and indigenous understanding—ensures that local people are included in the process and their needs and ways of life are considered when developing policies and adaptation strategies.
References
Chileshe, B., Milupi, I., Sakala, E., Kabaghe, W., Mwendapole, J. & Membele, G.M. (2024) The Role of Local and Indigenous Knowledge in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the Barotse Floodplain of Western Province-Zambia. International Journal of Research in Geography (IJRG), 10(1), pp. 1–11. doi: 10.20431/2454-8685.1001001.
Dorji, T., Rinchen, K., Morrison‑Saunders, A., Blake, D., Banham, V. & Pelden, S. (2024) Understanding How Indigenous Knowledge Contributes to Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience: A Systematic Literature Review. Environmental Management, 74 (6), pp. 1101–1123. doi: 10.1007/s00267-024-02032-x
Nyahunda, L. (2024). Integration of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) into climate change mitigation and adaptation endeavours: milestones and gaps in South Africa and Zimbabwe’s climate policy frameworks. Climatic Change, Vol. 177, Article 162. doi: 10.1007/s10584-024-03822-2.
Zvobgo, L., Johnston, P., Williams, P.A., Trisos, C.H., Simpson, N.P. & Global Adaptation Mapping Initiative Team. (2022). The role of indigenous knowledge and local knowledge in water sector adaptation to climate change in Africa: a structured assessment. Sustainability Science, Vol. 17, pp. 2077–2092. doi: 10.1007/s11625-022-01118-x
Author: Wassila Ibrahim
Research Fellow
