SahelClim: Co-creating evidence for AE climate solutions in the Sahel

Lead Organization:

Imaan Research

Partner Organizations:

The Farmer Federation Mooriben; The research-development NGO IFDC (International Fertilizer Development Center); The National Agronomical Research Institute of Niger (INRAN); Agrhymet (Regional organization for climate and meteorology in Sahelian countries); Tabou Production (Communication organization led by a young female cineast)

Community of Practice:

West Africa

Countries:

Niger (Sahelian countries)

Duration:

1/2025—1/2028

Overview:

Agroecology provides major potential for impacts on climate problems. In Sahelian countries, and particularly in Niger, global climate change produces local perturbations, in particular by increased temperatures, greater variation in rainfall and land and vegetation degradation. The opportunities of agroecology through co-construction with farmers and public actors provides local responses to global climate change. These opportunities are not well shared and communicated. But it constitutes a source of sustainable and efficient solutions locally implemented and with global potential. This includes options for the restoration and enhancement of agrobiodiversity, agroecological management of soil fertility and pests, and more generally inclusive strengthening of socio-economic resilience. Innovative dynamics in terms of gender-sensitive environmental educational and organization of rural communities engaged in agroecology represents also great opportunities that need to be communicated to public authorities and global actors of sustainable development to support food system transformation in the context of climate challenges.

SahelClim project is proposed by a consortium composed of academic and non academic partners (see partnership section for details). This project aims to implement evidence-based communication and action research activities addressing climate change and food systems transition through participatory processes of agroecological co-innovation to sustainably intensify production and agricultural value chains, while strengthening the resilience of family farms and communities.

We will take advantage of key results and outcomes from projects our consortium implemented (including CRFS projects) such as PAIE (ECOWAS, West Africa), TAE Niger (Agropolis Foundation), CowpeaSquare (CRFS), TAG (CRFS) and EQUITAE (CRDI, Canada). Agroecological options developped through these projects will be revisited and re-analyzed with explicit link to climate factors to provide bold evidences about the contribution to climate solution. 

Grant Aims:

The main aim of the SahelClim project is to co-create and communicate evidence-based solutions for climate adaptation in agriculture, grounded in agroecological practices. The project will help scale agroecological solutions as effective climate actions, particularly in relation to drought management, soil fertility, agrobiodiversity, and socio-economic resilience.

Outputs and Outcomes:

Outputs

  1. Co-constructed local climate scenarios and adaptation options – through the re-analysis and synthesis of data from past participatory action research projects and the co-interpretation of this data with local stakeholders.
  2. Agroecological field trials – Set up in farmers’ fields to test innovative solutions for managing climate risks, including drought and soil degradation.
  3. Valorization and marketing of organic inputs – Such as seeds, biopesticides, and organic fertilizers, focusing on fair value chains that benefit local communities, particularly women and youth.

Outcomes

  1. Local climate adaptation knowledge – The co-construction of local climate scenarios with communities, based on agroecological practices and climate data analysis.
  2. Testing of innovative climate adaptation solutions – Integrative agroecological options for water and soil management, agrobiodiversity, and fertility management.
  3. Improved socio-economic resilience – Through the sustainable production and marketing of organic inputs, with a focus on increasing the income of local communities, particularly women and youth.
  4. Educational and awareness-building initiatives – Gender-sensitive environmental education for students, disabled individuals, and young people.