How Lahj Communities Used Participatory Planning to Identify Climate Risks and Local Solutions

Eitiraf heads Al-Amal Association in Tuban District, Lahj Governorate, one of the parts of Yemen where climate pressure is felt most sharply. Flash floods tear through irrigation channels. Wells run dry. Agricultural productivity declines. For years, her village and neighboring ones responded to each shock as it came, without a shared plan or coordinated action to address the risks.

“In the past, our response was isolated and limited, lacking clear planning or collective coordination, which weakened the effectiveness of our solutions,” Eitiraf recalls, reflecting on the community’s past struggles.

That is beginning to change. Through the EU-funded project implemented by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Eitiraf and fellow community leader Abdullah, who heads the Al-Arayes Association, joined a Community-Based Participatory Planning (CBPP) process. The approach brought together community members, both men and women, to apply participatory data collection and analysis tools, including natural resource mapping, trend analysis, and institutional mapping. Supported by the DRC team, the process aimed to ensure that development planning was inclusive, evidence-informed, and grounded in community priorities.

Using participatory tools such as community asset and service mapping, hazard analysis, natural resource trend analysis, and priority setting, communities identified the main risks affecting their villages. Climate risks were no longer discussed in general terms; they were tied to specific agricultural lands, irrigation channels, flood pathways, roads, water sources, and basic services

For Eitiraf, the process reshaped how she sees the future of her village.

Bringing women and young people into the discussions was not easy at first. Some residents hesitated to speak openly. Through awareness-raising, trust-building, and safe dialogue, women and youth gradually came forward, helping to identify risks, set priorities, and shape possible solutions.

“At first, women’s participation was a challenge, but once trust was built, their contributions became important to understanding the real risks facing families,” Abdullah explains.

The mapping exercise helped residents see their village with fresh eyes. It made clear where resources are located, where hazards occur, and which areas need urgent attention, shifting the conversation from broad concerns about problems to concrete, locally owned solutions.

Among the key priorities identified were improving water management, rehabilitating irrigation channels, clearing blocked waterways, removing sediment, and addressing invasive trees affecting water flow and agricultural land.

“Clearing the channels and removing accumulated sediment will help us direct more floodwater to irrigation and reduce damage to crops and land,” Abdullah notes.

Through this process, Eitiraf and Abdullah grew into stronger community leaders, better equipped to facilitate dialogue, mobilise residents, and connect local risks to practical priorities. The planning exercise also gave communities a shared understanding of their challenges and a solid foundation for future climate-resilient micro-projects.

Looking ahead, Eitiraf hopes to see her village better able to plan ahead, protect its assets, and manage its natural resources. Abdullah hopes that his village and neighboring communities will strengthen food and water security through improved water management and stronger collective action.

The experience of Eitiraf and Abdullah shows the value of investing in local capacities. With practical planning tools and support from the EU-funded project, communities in Lahj are taking locally led steps to define their priorities, protect their resources, and strengthen long-term climate resilience.