Institutional Synergy in Climate Risk Adaptation among Smallholder Livestock Farmers in Ethiopia

Smallholder livestock farmers in Ethiopia face significant risks from climate change. Their ability to adapt largely relies on how well institutional support systems work. This study looks at the role of public, private, and civil society institutions in helping farmers deal with climate risks in North Wollo, Ethiopia. The data were collected from 41 smallholder livestock farmers and 29 experts using FGD and KII. By analyzing 25 institutions and 116 connections through social network analysis (SNA), the research examined partnership patterns, resource flows, and the significance of each institution. The findings show that partnerships varied, including cooperation, coordination, service provision, and resource sharing. Public-private and public-civil relationships were mostly mutual, while private-civil connections were mainly one-sided. The network was moderately sized, but its connections were weak, with a density of 0.193. This indicates missed chances for collaboration. Smallholder farmers had the highest in-degree centrality, showing their dependence on multiple institutions for direct support. The Livestock and Fishery Resource Development Agency acted as the central broker, with high out-degree and betweenness centrality values. However, this heavy reliance on a few institutions limited overall efficiency and resource flow, and leaving farmers exposed to climate shocks. Thus, improving institutional cooperation, diversifying partnerships, and increasing farmer participation is crucial in decision-making for building resilience to climate risks. The study underscores the need to create climate adaptation strategies that actively promote institutional teamwork, skill development, and inclusive governance to provide lasting support for smallholder livestock farmers.