AFSA Launches a New Study Calling for Integration of Agroecology in Africa’s Climate Commitments
The report examines how key agroecological principles like biodiversity, soil health, and community participation are often referenced in policy documents without being fully recognised or supported
KAMPALA, April 3, 2025 – The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa [AFSA] is happy to officially launch its new report, Integration of Agroecology in Nationally Determined Contributions [NDCs] and National Adaptation Plans [NAPs] in Africa. As the continent faces intensifying climate impacts, this timely report calls on African policymakers to embrace agroecology as a cornerstone of climate action.
Based on a comprehensive review of policy documents from 53 African countries and insights from 56 experts across 24 nations, the study reveals that only 22 percent of African NDCs and a mere 19 percent of NAPs explicitly mention agroecology, despite its proven role in building climate resilience, ensuring food sovereignty, and restoring ecosystems.
“Agroecology is not just a farming method—it is a bold climate solution rooted in African realities. This study exposes a critical gap in policy integration and calls on all stakeholders to act with urgency,” said Dr. Million Belay, AFSA General Coordinator. “We cannot talk about climate adaptation and mitigation in Africa without talking about agroecology. It’s time we stop treating it as an afterthought.”
The report examines how key agroecological principles like biodiversity, soil health, and community participation are often referenced in policy documents without being fully recognised or supported. Through in-depth desk reviews, expert interviews, and a regional stakeholder workshop, the study highlights major barriers, including limited policy support, weak institutional capacity, and the dominance of industrial agriculture models.
Hakim Baliraine, Chair of AFSA, emphasised the importance of political will: “This report is a wake-up call. If Africa is serious about climate justice, food sovereignty, and sustainable development, we must root our climate policies in the lived experiences of smallholder farmers, women, and youth, those who are already practicing agroecology.”
The study also provides concrete recommendations for governments, donors, and civil society to operationalize agroecology in climate strategies. These include aligning national policies with agroecological principles, investing in farmer-centered research and extension, and leveraging climate finance to scale locally rooted practices.
“As the impacts of climate change become more severe, African countries must look inward—to our cultures, ecosystems, and indigenous knowledge—for solutions,” said Simon Bukenya, Lead of AFSA’s Climate Change Working Group. “This report offers a blueprint for how we can integrate agroecology in climate action frameworks and deliver on both adaptation and mitigation goals.”
The release of the report comes at a critical time, as countries prepare to update and submit their climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. AFSA urges policymakers, development partners, and financial institutions to seize this moment and embed agroecology in the heart of Africa’s climate agenda.
https://thecooperator.news/serere-farmers-equipped-with-knowledge-in-agroecology/
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