Climate change impacts and adaptation pathways in Sub-Saharan Africa

This doctoral project aims to measure weather impacts and understand drivers of adaptation to climate change across multiple Sub-Saharan African countries. Employing state-of-the-art econometric methods and leveraging a unique longitudinal dataset, this thesis first aims to identify the welfare implications of climate change across a broad range of contexts, before diving into specific adaptation dynamics. First, the analysis will examine the sectoral composition and labor dynamics within smallholder households to assess whether off-farm diversification serves as an effective adaptation strategy. Subsequently, it will investigate the impact of land tenure modalities on adaptation to climate change. The research will enhance understanding of how climate change impacts both micro- and macro-level welfare, as well as individual behavior and broader structural transformation processes.

This project is carried out by Thomas Bentze (2024 – 2028).