Climate Change Adaptation through Tacit Knowledge: Exploring the Invisible Pillars of Socioeconomic Resilience in Rural Africa

Abstract

Climate change is still putting the lives and ecological stability of rural Africa at risk. Poor communities are dealing with more and more droughts, unpredictable rain, and lower agricultural productivity. Although formal adaptation frameworks typically prioritize scientific and technological interventions, this study investigates the often-overlooked significance of tacit knowledge; locally embedded, experiential, and orally conveyed practices enhance climate change adaptation and socioeconomic resilience. Guided by resilience theory and an interpretivist framework, the study employs a qualitative methodology, utilizing 20 in-depth interviews and four focus group discussions in rural communities of Northern Ghana and Eastern Uganda. The results indicate a diverse array of tacit strategies, encompassing ecological forecasting, conventional water harvesting, crop diversification utilizing indigenous seeds, and resilient social reciprocity frameworks. The paper backs call for recognising and including tacit knowledge in formal policy planning and program design. The study adds new empirical evidence and a strong theoretical framework to the conversation about climate change in the developing world by focussing on the “invisible pillars” of adaptation.