Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA)

Going into #COP29, our engagement priorities were focused on the connected roles of adaptation, finance and inclusion for building resilience. In case you missed it, here's a recap of what we got up to at COP29 Azerbaijan: ?? With Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF), we published a new report that highlights existing best practice examples of farmer-led adaptation across #Africa, shining a spotlight on the adaptation efforts already underway and identifying areas where more climate finance is needed. https://lnkd.in/e2h25HEX ???? We highlighted the development of Climate-Smart Agricultural Investment Plans (CSAIPs) for #Kenya, #Ethiopia, #Zambia and #Senegal - including the official launch of the Kenya CSAIP at our event with Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and AGNES Africa. https://lnkd.in/e_q9kFdS https://lnkd.in/eubjirhe ??? And showcased the AGNES Technical Guide for the Development of Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategies to African climate policymakers at the same event. https://lnkd.in/ezRXhtsU ?? We also participated in conversations on leveraging science for food systems finance, tools for climate-smart agriculture planning, and gender-responsive climate policy and action through vulnerability hotspot mapping exercises. https://lnkd.in/eFRCvZe2 https://lnkd.in/exczHAUb Explore more of AICCRA at COP29 here: https://lnkd.in/ex_ersVZ #ReadyToScale #ClimateSmartAgriculture | Laura Cramer, Robert Zougmore, Romy Chevallier, Todd A. Crane, Dorcas Jalang'o, Issa Ouedraogo, Lidya Tesfaye, Ena Derenoncourt, MBA, CGIAR, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Africa Rice Center, International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

In rural Mali, women play an important role in rice production, yet they often face barriers to accessing essential resources like land, equipment, and climate-adapted seeds. Women’s cooperatives, using climate-resilient seeds from AICCRA and AfricaRice, are harvesting higher yields with less fertilizer usage - improving their food security and incomes. ??In Siramana, the women’s cooperative uses seed profits to provide credit for women farmers, and in Blendio, the cooperative is diversifying into small livestock production. Together, these initiatives are ensuring sustainable rice production, reducing market dependence, and combating rural exodus. Empowering women in agriculture isn’t just about fairness—it’s about securing a resilient future for communities and combating climate change. With CGIAR CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform Africa Rice Center Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT ACAD-MALI MALI-METEO Elliott Dossou-Yovo, Ph.D. Neville Suh Jonathan Guindo Haissa Toure Marius Akpoffo

???? The climate is changing, and education systems must change too.? ? ???? Recently in #Zambia, higher?education institutions, inclusive of the country's network of agricultural training institutions (ATIs) and public and private universities, gathered to develop a national action plan for mainstreaming a practical, hands-on curriculum on climate risk management in agriculture in the education system. ? The curriculum—co-developed through?AICCRA with a wide range of more than 2??5?? organizations in Zambia who generate, tailor, communicate, and build capacity to use climate information at the grassroots level—responds to needs identified through a comprehensive national needs assessment for climate information services & climate-smart agriculture in higher education institutions conducted last year. ? ?? "My college trains extension workers," said Jessy Chisha, Vice Principal of Zambia College of Agriculture Mpika, one of more than 20 education and agricultural institutions which partook in the workshop. "This curriculum gives our graduates enough information to help the farmer make informed decisions that will help them in their agricultural activities, increase agricultural production, and— at the end of it all— improve the food and nutrition security of our country." Read more about the co-development of the curriculum and how it's being adopted in other countries too: https://lnkd.in/egBpcprF With Ministry of Green Economy and Environment - Zambia, The University Of Zambia (UNZA), Mukuba University, DMI St. Eugene University, Information and Communications University, Zambian Open University,?Rusangu University, Zambia Climate Change Network, Catholic Relief Services, iDE (International Development Enterprises), Community Markets for Conservation, Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA),?International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Columbia Climate School, Columbia Climate School, GIZ Zambia, Inga Jacobs-Mata, Evans Chinembiri, Mirriam Makungwe (PhD), Winnie Kasoma Pele, Amanda Grossi, Aniruddha Ghosh, Majambo Gamoyo, Tufa Dinku, Jim Hansen and more. ?

Conversations at #COP29 | Climate-smart agriculture investment plans (CSAIPs) and long-term low emissions development strategies (LT-LEDS) were the focus of our event hosted with AGNES Africa and Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT last week. Both are planning tools which help countries identify priority climate actions, streamline investments and ultimately build resilience. Our speakers shared lessons learned and insights from their experience - including from developing CSAIPs for #Kenya, #Ethiopia and #Zambia; answered the question about how to engage the private sector in these plans; and detailed how this connects to long-term climate action. ( ?? Swipe to see more of what they had to say) Our key takeaways: ?? C O L L A B O R A T I O N If we are not coordinated, implementation is complicated. Speakers emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration between governments, research institutions, private sector, development partners and local communities. In particular, the private sector should be involved in the early development of plans and strategies rather than only being included when it is time to fund and implement. ?? E N G A G E M E N T Mullti-stakeholder groups (for example the Climate-Smart Agriculture Alliance in Zambia, and the Climate-Smart Agriculture Multi-stakeholder Platform (CSA-MSP) in Kenya) create a strong national platform from which to bring together stakeholders, disseminate knowledge and build momentum for action. ?? A L I G N M E N T Climate-smart agriculture investment plans are useful tools for aligning sectoral priorities and policies with both national and private sector plans. By identifying clear and bankable opportunities for investment (and how these opportunities connect to long term climate goals), CSAIPs can encourage private sector involvement. Governments can also leverage this opportunity by providing CSA-related incentives for investment - for example, prioritizing low carbon commodities - that connect to national climate goals. Learn more, explore the presentations and playback the event: https://lnkd.in/e2wPt5bF ?? With a big thank you to our speakers: Patrick Kibaya, Addisu Negash, Bernard Kimoro, Lydia Kimani, Ignatius Juma, Berhanu Assefa, Morton Mwanza, Romy Chevallier, Ruth Nyamasege, David Awolala and Dorcas Jalang'o.

?? Climate-smart agriculture provides adaptive and sustainable solutions to climate-related challenges facing small-scale farmers in countries like Mali. Building capacity through trainings, knowledge sharing, and data-driven tools is crucial to scaling resilience in rice farming systems. ??In Bamako ???? this past week, we hosted a climate-smart agriculture training workshop for farmers, field technicians, and agricultural stakeholders to equip them with skills and explore implementation strategies that can improve productivity, food security, and sustainable practices. ?? We thank our partners and participants for their support in advancing sustainable agriculture and climate resilience in Mali. ?? More about the training: https://lnkd.in/e-kJUteK With Africa Rice Center CGIAR Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT WorldFish ACAD-MALI MALI-METEO Elliott Dossou-Yovo, Ph.D. Samuel Guindo Haissa Toure Isac DIARRA Jonathan Guindo and many more.

?? We've got your weekend viewing covered! Introducing a new video series from AICCRA's team in ???? #Zambia - highlighting stories from participants in our gender and social inclusion bundles on aquaculture, solar irrigation, seed systems and value chains. ?? After three years of working with communities in Luwingu District (Northern Province), Mansa and Samfya Districts (Luapula Province), Mkushi and Chibombo Districts (Central Province), Chikankata District (Southern Province), Chipata and Nyimba Districts (Eastern Province), Zambia, we visited some of the women and young people involved in the climate-smart bundles to capture their stories in their words. ?? Watch here: https://lnkd.in/eecZcxjF #ClimateSmartAgriculture #Inclusion #Farmers | Everisto Mapedza, Kgothatso Mophosho, Evans Chinembiri, Inga Jacobs-Mata, Winnie Kasoma Pele, Munyaradzi.Junior Mutenje, Agness Chileya, Consent Sibeso, casco mubanga????, Karen Nortje, Hauke Dahl, Sophia Huyer, Moses Kasoka, Baraka Aaron Banda, Netsayi Noris Mudege, Sushila De Silva, Community Markets for Conservation, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), WorldFish, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), ICRISAT and more

Engagements and high-level events at #COP29 today focused on gender equality as a priority for climate action. ?? ???? We're bringing the importance of this conversation back down to Makindu, a town in Makueni County, Kenya where women are leading the way in local climate action. Meet the women of the Kimatwa Women Savings and Credit Cooperative - a remarkable group who, with capacity-building support of AICCRA, have adopted –and are themselves scaling– climate-smart agriculture technologies in their communities, improving food security, income and resilience. ?? Read their story: https://lnkd.in/eTzYc6Bn #ReadyToScale #GenderDay #ClimateAction | Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, CGIAR, Esther Nzuki, Boaz Waswa. Sophia Huyer

Join us TOMMORROW at the IGAD Pavillion as we delve in Strengthening Gender-responsive Climate Policy and Action through Vulnerability Hotspot Mapping and implementation of Gender Action Plan in Africa Time: 10:00AM-11:30AM Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform

?? It was all smiles at our #COP29 event today where two key documents for African climate action were presented on the stage! 1. ???? The 'Kenya Climate-Smart Agriculture Investment Plan (CSAIP)' was officially launched by Bernard Kimoro with Patrick Kibaya on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock: "Today, I'm especially proud to launch the Kenya Climate-Smart Agriculture Investment Plan. A bold step forward in aligning our agricultural sector with the realities of a changing climate while unlocking opportunities for economic growth, food security and sustainable development." ?? https://lnkd.in/eERPmPnN 2. ?? African policymakers were excited to have a new planning tool in their hands! From AGNES Africa, UNFCCC Regional Centers and partners including AICCRA, the 'Technical Guide for the Development of Long-Term Low Emissions Strategies in Africa' will help African countries to develop their own long-term strategies. "These long-term plans set a policy direction and help us to coordinate an economy-wide response to climate change. The guide is a demand-driven document - countries requested ideas on how to progress, looking at some of the steps, phases and processes to use in developing their strategies," said Romy Chevallier, Climate Policy Expert as she presented the guide. ?? https://lnkd.in/e6fREdRQ Stay tuned, there is much more to come from the event, including updates on CSAIPs in #Ethiopia and #Zambia, and insights from the private sector on how country stakeholders can collaborate on implementing these plans. ?? If you missed it, you can catch-up here: https://lnkd.in/e2wPt5bF #ReadyToScale | Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, CGIAR, Dorcas Jalang'o, Laura Cramer, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), George Wamukoya, Festus Langat, Ruth Nyamasege, Lydia Kimani, Ignatius Juma, Morton Mwanza and more.

?? We will be LIVE in fifteen minutes from #COP29 in Baku! Join us in person at the Food and Agriculture Pavilion (F9) or follow the livestream: https://lnkd.in/e2wPt5bF #ClimateSmartAgriculture #Investment Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, AGNES Africa