The CGIAR Initiative on Diversification in East and Southern Africa also known as Ukama Ustawi” (UU) Initiative’s goal is to empower millions of vulnerable smallholder farmers to transition from maize mixed systems to sustainably intensified, diversified, and de-risked agrifood systems is well underway. The initiative is being implemented in 13 African countries using coordinated transformative change interventions driven by an understanding of the unique multidimensional challenges and the opportunities they present in the different local and national contexts. One of the research activities in Ukama Ustawi is Work Package 5 (WP5): Empower and Engage women and youth in agribusiness ecosystems. In implementing this work package in Malawi, the project commissioned a landscaping study to map out the multidimensional challenges faced by the youth in agribusiness, the current interventions that are addressing the challenges, and the unique opportunities for coordinated interventions. A design workshop was held in which key stakeholders in the agribusiness space discussed the opportunities for coordinated interventions to find the best way to use available resources and linkages in a project that furthers the goals of Work Package 5. This was supplemented by key informant interviews and follow-up design activities by the Equip Consulting Group team. The proposed intervention title is “Scaling Youth Innovations in Agribusiness.” The purpose is to identify innovations for scaling a youth organization called Associated Center for Agro-based Development and Entrepreneurship Support (ACADES). Specifically, the intervention will seek to increase youth participation in agribusiness by showcasing the benefits other young people have gotten from agribusiness and to promote the sustainability of youth ventures in agribusiness by outlining best practices that have led to ACADESapos;s continued growth. The project will be implemented over nine months, in Mchinji and Nkhotakota Districts in the central region of Malawi and will coordinate or partner with financial institutions, other youth networks, the National Youth Council of Malawi, and the private sector.

Jordan is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world and hosts the second-highest share of refugees per capita in the world. A fast-increasing population, rapid urbanization, and extreme weather-related hazards, such as drought and flash floods, compound the risks to already vulnerable refugee-hosting communities in Jordan. The Jordanian government as well as humanitarian and development organizations have committed to addressing these challenges by prioritizing the design and implementation of disaster risk management models which include early warning/early action and anticipatory action strategies for climate response and resilience. To design and implement disaster preparedness strategies that are sustainable and inclusive, research on the specific vulnerabilities of communities is needed. This research report provides data on climate- and water-related vulnerabilities in refugee-hosting communities in Northern Jordan to inform disaster risk management, anticipatory action, and emergency preparedness strategies that improve long-term adaptation and climate resilience. The project is titled Anticipatory Approaches in Host Communities for Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Mitigation (AHEAD), and is part of the CGIAR Initiative on Fragility, Conflict, and Migration, which aims to address challenges in livelihood, food and climate security for vulnerable populations in fragile and conflict-affected areas. Research for this report was conducted in Irbid and Ramtha municipalities in Irbid Governorate in Northern Jordan over the course of four months. The research included a desk review of relevant literature and national policies, as well as interviews with key informants and stakeholders. This study presents a qualitative analysis of how the specific vulnerabilities of refugee-hosting communities can impact the refugee-hosting community needs during an extreme weather-related disaster, such as flash flooding in this case. Specifically, the study analyzed how climate change and water scarcity, urbanization, and socio-economic risks compound vulnerabilities in refugee-hosting communities. Mapping out these risks is the starting point for designing more inclusive and sustainable disaster risk management models and anticipatory action approaches. Given the fact that only 18% of refugees in Jordan live in refugee camps (UNHCR 2024), and the rest live in urban areas, there is an urgent need to understand the differing needs and vulnerabilities of refugees and hosting communities living in cities. This study highlights two locations, Irbid Municipality and Ramtha Municipality and 1) the water and climate risks they face, 2) the effects of climate change on the city, 3) the existing refugee and hosting populations, 4) the available infrastructure and services, and 5) the humanitarian context. The two case studies demonstrate the challenges that these municipalities face in designing and implementing disaster risk management and anticipatory act