Impact of Climate Change Risk Management Strategies on Child Protection Systems in Zambia. A Case Study on Mansa District of Luapula Province

Rural communities are subjected to impact of climate change and children are the most vulnerable. Adaptation to climate change poses, great challenge to Zambia, planners and decision makers need to appreciate application of strategic management. The study desired to establish the extent and impact of climate change on realization of children’s fundamental rights in rural agriculture dependent households, management and child protection systems in Zambia as well as to assess key factors of climate change and how it has contributed to inabilities of rural agricultural dependent households to fulfill fundamental rights of children. Contribute to the body of knowledge through proposing some measures that can address climate changes, with strategic management approach, community engagement, integrated with child rights approach. National Climate Change Policy sets two objectives with immediate relevance responding to climate change, public health and need strategic management, decisions: “To promote, strengthen implementation of adaptation and disaster risk reduction measures to reduce vulnerability to climate variability and change.” “To strengthen, institutional and human resource capacity, to effectively and efficiently address all aspects of climate change at, national, provincial, district and local levels.” There is need to strengthen, policies, promote application of prediction models and technologies to determine vulnerability sectors to climate change, support higher learning and research institutions on climate related research that supports child rights governance and protection. The study used combined methodology, action and explanatory. Much of the study methodology was explanatory in nature as it attempted to identify circumstances surrounding the extent and impact of climate change on realization of children’s fundamental rights in rural households. Key results includes Stakeholders, have not appreciated the application of strategic management in their planning and implementation of interventions on climate change with a child right’s lens. Climate change and environmental degradation are creating various crisis situations for children and rural households including social and economic crisis hence increasing vulnerability and poverty.