Context:
The East African region has shown a strong sensitivity to climate change such as recurrent droughts and floods, particularly in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs). These climate extremes have led to low agricultural production and affected other sectors of the countries’ economies. Agricultural and food system actions offer sustainable development benefits, such as increasing productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, and promoting healthy, sustainable diets—aligning with multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Successful policy responses depend on recognizing farmers as key change agents and ensuring comprehensive knowledge sharing among diverse stakeholders, including smallholder farmers, women, youth, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, governments, private organizations, and civil society.
Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN), in its mission of improving the livelihoods of communities in East Africa through the delivery of knowledge and skills on sustainable agriculture and adaptation to climate change using modern technologies, organized a knowledge exchange forum titled SmartAgriExchange: Nurturing Resilient Agriculture. The forum addressed the knowledge gap in the agricultural and food systems that impede the increase of food security and bring together women and youth in agriculture. It served as a learning exchange point on agricultural and food systems, advancing climate-smart agriculture initiatives to safeguard food security and combat hunger in vulnerable communities.
Participant countries: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania
Venue(s): Naivasha, Kenya
Goal
To reduce the knowledge gap in climate change adaptation actions in agriculture through joint stakeholders’ efforts to contribute to a reduction in the negative impact of climate change in the region.
Objectives:
• To bring together diverse knowledge, expertise, perspective and experience to collaboratively generate innovative climate change adaptation solutions in agriculture
• To recognize the active role that women and youth play in climate change adaptation action in the agricultural space.
• To provide a common platform for sharing best practices, innovations and technologies that increase resilience and sustainable production in agricultural systems according to national circumstances using an inclusive and participatory approach.
Summary of Exchange:
ALIN, with support from Climate Action Africa Project, funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented through Alinea International, Econoler and WSP organized the SmartAgriExchange: Nurturing Resilient Agriculture Forum from April 15 to 19, 2024, at Sawela Lodge in Naivasha, Kenya.
The forum brought together 51 agriculture stakeholders—33 women and 18 men—from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. It provided a platform for sharing best practices, innovations, and technologies to enhance resilience and promote sustainable agricultural production systems through presentations, panel discussions, focus groups, exhibitions, and role plays to foster dialogue on climate change adaptation in agriculture.
Experts from various sectors, including government, academic institutions, and organizations, presented research findings and innovative solutions. Panel discussions provided insights on emerging trends, while focus groups explored sustainable agricultural value chains for youth livelihoods. Exhibitions at the forum allowed participants to showcase their innovations, and the event was enriched by a farmer exchange visit to Charis Farm in Naivasha.
Outcomes
The outcomes include the following:
• Nine case studies on women and youth success stories related to climate change adaptation actions in agriculture developed
• Fifty-one (33 female and 18 male) agriculture stakeholders from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania equipped with skills to build and enhance resilience in food systems
• Fifty-one (31 female and 18 male) from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania shared knowledge, experiences, opportunities and challenges faced by smallholder farmers
• Video highlighting Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania farmer success stories and experiences developed
