Hozen et al. Int. J. Res. Chem. Environ. Vol. 4 Issue 4 (208-218) October 2014 208 ISSN 2248-9649 International Journal of Research in Chemistry and Environment Available online at: www.ijrce.org Research Paper Analysis of Local Community Adaptation to Climate Change in Semi Arid Areas of Dodoma region in Tanzania: Strategies and Challenges *Hozen K. Mayaya 1 , Grephas P. Opata 2 and Emmanuel C. Kipkorir 2 1 Institute of Rural Development Planning, P.O. Box 138, Dodoma, TANZANIA 2 University of Eldoret, P. O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, KENYA (Received 05 th August 2014, Accepted 30 th September 2014) Abstract: This article examines local community strategies and challenges to climate change adaptation in the semi arid areas of Dodoma region in Tanzania. The data for the article was collected using household survey, focus group discussions, and key informants interview to collect the required data from Kongwa and Bahi districts in Dodoma region. Responses from the household survey were analysed by multiple responses and chi-square of independence techniques using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences version 16 to determine frequencies, percentages and relationships of respective variables. Furthermore, content analysis was used in analysing focus group discussions and key informants responses. The findings indicate that the local community in Dodoma region use various climate change adaptation strategies. In addition, chi-square results indicated significant relationship between migration of household member(s) and district of residence (p value = 0.000), effect of drought (p value = 0.005), effects of unpredictable rainfall (p value = 0.007) and the status of Household food production in the past five (2007 -2011) years (p value = 0.001). Nevertheless, local community adaptation strategies were not effective enough to address the problem of climate change due to various implementation challenges such as lack of resources, weak institutional support, lack of needed technical support, high cost of adaptation technologies, and uncertain climatic conditions among others. In this regard, the article calls for the development of strong local institutions alongside strengthening the resources and assets of the local community so as empower the local communities to effectively deal with climate change challenges. Keywords: Climate change, Livelihoods, Adaptation, Climate Change Hazards, Local Community © 2014 IJRCE. All rights reserved Introduction Prior to industrial and green revolutions, the climate was relatively stable [1] . Nevertheless, the average temperature has varied close to 1 0 C since the beginning of the industrial period [2] . Recent analysis of the world average temperature records over the period 1861 – 1989 indicate that over the past century the earth as a whole has warmed up by about 0.3 – 0.6 0 C, making it higher than at any time ever recorded [1] . It is estimated that for the next 100 years, the planet could possibly warm to 5 0 C relative to pre-industrial period [2] . Such rise in temperature has been termed as climate change that consequently leads to global warming. According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), climate change is attributed directly or indirectly by human activities that alter the composition of global atmosphere and which are in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods [3] . Currently, climate change is one of the most challenging global problems facing humanity. Its adverse impacts are already being experienced globally and locally on the environment, human health, food security, tourism, natural resources, physical infrastructure and many other economic activities. As noted by the World Bank [2] , developing countries are the most vulnerable and it is estimated that they will bear some 75 to 80 percent of the costs of damages caused by the changing climate. This is due to the fact that developing countries lack financial and technical capacities to manage increasing climate risks and also they depend more directly on climate sensitive natural resources for income and well being [2] . Worldwide, there are inequities in the distribution of responsibility for the causes of climate change and the distribution of its impacts among the nations and across the world [4] . According to Mearns and