Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) supports millions of smallholder farmers across Africa to access and use proven innovations in climate information services (CIS) and climate-smart agriculture (CSA).

We believe that with better access to innovative technology and advisory services—linked to information about effective response measures—farmers are enabled to better anticipate climate events and take preventative action that helps their communities safeguard livelihoods and the environment. 

AICCRA will reach five million people with such innovation by the end of 2023, building on five decades of CGIAR innovation - the world’s largest research partnerships for food security.  

But AICCRA sets a new path for CGIAR, spearheading new work that’s focused on scaling tested innovations developed by CGIAR and its partners over many years of research. 

Moreover, AICCRA seeks answers to fundamental questions of the economic, social and institutional contexts in which innovation can flourish. We discover how innovation can be packaged with complementary actions and policies which together deliver impact beyond the sum-of-the-parts of any one innovation alone, offering transformative opportunities to smallholder farmers in Africa.

AICCRA is led by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and supported by a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank. AICCRA has teams in six countries—Senegal, Ghana, Mali, Ethiopia, Kenya and Zambia—and a number of regional initiatives that complement national activities to deliver benefits for a broader range of stakeholders across East, West and Southern Africa.

AICCRA works with national and regional partners to scale CIS and CSA, increasing access to and use of CGIAR innovations for millions of smallholder farmers in Africa.

What is CGIAR?

CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future dedicated to transforming food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis. Read more. 

Through AICCRA, a broad coalition of CGIAR partners work with over 70 organizations to strengthen the agriculture research architecture in Africa and to build the capacity of thousands of African climate and agriculture leaders.

Based on its experience to date, AICCRA offers insights to major research institutions and donor agencies about partnership-based scaling.

AICCRA's message at COP28

CGIAR has played a critical role in global agricultural development for five decades, promoting food security and raising living standards for smallholder farmers.  

But it lacks resources to deliver innovations in challenging agro-ecological conditions across Africa on the scale needed to address climate change. 

Strong national and regional partners are essential, but African institutions remain dependent on international research organizations.  

International partners must undertake serious stocktaking to develop a greater appreciation of how their own effectiveness depends on the performance of Africa’s national and regional and continental institutions, and efforts to build their capacities must be prioritized.  

So - how can we sustainably support truly African-led research, innovation, and scaling? 

AICCRA is building partnerships to scale climate-smart agriculture and transform climate services, through capacity development, innovation ‘bundling’ and technology transfers. It has developed a vision for scaling action based on its experience from its first phase of operation.  

AICCRA wants a clear ‘exit strategy’ that enables African partners to take forward their own agendas for action independently, with action aligned to the ambitions of the African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2032).  

Many of AICCRA’s engagements at COP28 will focus on how to deliver African-led agriculture research systems fit for the challenges of now and the future.

Read some of our highlights from Week One and check out what's still to come!

Policy insight

At COP28, it is imperative for African countries to foster unity and collaboration with other developing nations to realise successful outcomes for the continent’s food systems transformation agenda.

Key resources for the Africa Group of Negotiators and other stakeholders include the African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy (2022-2032) (African Union Climate Strategy) and the Nairobi Declaration to identify concrete priorities and actions for climate-resilient agriculture in Africa. The Eastern Africa Farmer’s Federation (EAFF) has issued a Call to Action for COP28, outlining priority action areas crucial for advancing Africa’s food systems.

These priorities include:

• Advocating for significant progress in the agricultural negotiating track of climate negotiations;
• Ensuring that adaptation remains a focal point in all COP28 decisions and initiatives; 
• Promoting the inclusion of agricultural targets in the Global Goal on Adaptation; 
• Substantially increasing financing to support climate action in agri-food systems; 
• Guaranteeing the Loss and Damage Fund provides adequate support to frontline communities and secures financial pledges; and, urgently enhancing ambition and increasing the overall global collective effort to climate change.

Our latest policy insight draws upon these priority action areas and other cross-cutting issues, describing the relevant commitments and intervention areas given in the Nairobi Declaration and the AU Climate Strategy, to support and strengthen the case for Africa's climate resilient food systems transformation agenda at COP28.

In the spotlight at COP28

Taking stock of climate adaptation in West Africa 

Enhanced CIS and the technologies, practices and services that make up CSA are the backbone of climate adaptation efforts in agriculture across West Africa. But barriers remain with poor access to technologies, extension services and credit, all often compounded by insecure land tenures.

AICCRA’s vision in West Africa is to build multi-actor partnerships of existing scientific and educational networks and centers to achieve outcomes that cannot be achieved easily by engaging with individual partners at country level.

Several initiatives in the region are working to improve access to CIS and CSA, including AICCRA and the World-Bank funded Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP). They are supporting fruitful collaboration between regional institutions such as the AGRHYMET Regional Centre, West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF), Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) and West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL).

At COP28, we assess progress in climate adaptation in West Africa’s agricultural sectors, taking stock of initiatives from the regional institutions and showcasing effective adaptation initiatives and success stories in the region. Our hope is to spur action across more countries in West Africa and lay foundations for strengthened partnerships between more regional institutions.

Climate-smart, One-Health innovations in Ghana 

A new series of films The Climate and Us produced for CGIAR by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions and presented by the Global Climate and Health Alliance will be shown at COP28 in Dubai on 3 December. The first film explores how rising temperatures create the perfect climate for pests to thrive and attack crops on Ghana's farms. It spotlights AICCRA’s work with yam farmers, using an affordable natural solution derived from the Neem tree to protect their crops. 

Fertilizer and Soil Health in Africa

The forthcoming Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit, to be held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2024 will see African Heads of State deliberate on a Plan of Action to acceleration investments in building soil health. So with our partners at COP28 we discuss creative solutions to support Africa’s ambitions in promoting soil-health and fertility.

Gender-smart tools for climate action

AICCRA's work with the data collection methodology used in Gender and Climate Vulnerability Hotspot Mapping currently being implemented through key partner African Group of Negotiators Expert Support (AGNES) in Kenya, Botswana and Uganda. At COP28, we will exchange ideas and best practices that advance just, gender-smart climate action with more accessible data.

All AICCRA events

The AICCRA team will be engaged in a number of side event and speaking engagements during COP28. The details on this page are subject to change and will be updated on an ongoing basis. Follow @CGIARAfrica for the latest information.

Tuesday 28 November

Counting on a Sustainable Future: Global Conference on Gender and Environment Data

• Date: Tuesday 28 November
• Time: 14:30 – 15:45 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Location: Meeting Room 3 in DEC South Hall, Expo City

As part of existing global efforts to expand the understanding of the gender-environment nexus, the Offices of the President of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP 28) and the UN High-Level Climate Champion, UNFCCC, UN Women, IUCN, and WEDO, will convene a global conference on gender and environment data.

AICCRA's Gender and Social Inclusion lead, Sophia Huyer, will be joining an expert panel titled: From Data to Impact: Translating gender and environment data to feminist action on climate justice. Sophia will be sharing on AICCRA's work with the data collection methodology used in Gender and Climate Vulnerability Hotspot Mapping currently being implemented through key partner African Group of Negotiators Expert Support (AGNES) in Kenya, Botswana and Uganda.

This session will aim to exchange best practices around advancing gender-just climate policy action at all levels through improved accessibility, understanding and application of gender-environment data.

More information.

Watch the conference livestream

Download: aiccra-at-cop28_un-gender-and-environment-data-conference.pdf

Saturday 2 December

The NDC Delivery Lab: An Innovative Approach Towards Unlocking Finance For Climate Action In The Most Gender And Climate Vulnerable Hotspots of Kenya ​

• Date: Saturday 2 December
• Time: 8:00 – 9:30 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Location: Kenya Pavilion, Blue Zone

Kenya has set out ambitious NDC commitments to address climate change, however, there is a gap and a need for investment towards adaptation particularly for the conditional commitments that have been made in its NDC. This side event aims to bring together key scientists, policymakers and finance experts to unpack the increasing transboundary climate and adaptation risks, their impacts on the region's natural resource dependency and more importantly discuss the enabling environment and investment opportunities to target for climate finance towards climate adaptation action.

Organizer: African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES), AICCRA

AICCRA Contact: Laura Cramer

Livestream link to be added if available

Advancing gender and inclusive climate policy and action through sub-national vulnerability hotspot mapping​

• Date: Saturday 2 December
• Time: 11:40 – 12:50 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Location: Uganda Pavilion, Blue Zone

Showcasing the digital Gender and Climate Change Vulnerability Maps of Uganda with a panel discussion. Sophia Huyer and Patricia Bamanyaki will share on behalf of AICCRA's work with AGNES on the Gender and Climate Vulnerability Hotspot mapping.

Organizer: African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES), Uganda Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, AICCRA

AICCRA Contact: Sophia Huyer

Livestream link to be added if available

Pioneering evidence-based blended finance instruments for food systems transformation

• Date: Saturday 2 December
• Time: 14:00 – 15:00 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Location: Food and Agriculture Pavilion, Blue Zone

This event will explore strategies for expanding and replicating such pioneering mechanisms, including in fragile contexts. Together with our partners, we will showcase innovative and scalable financing solutions that can help bridge the gap between climate and environmental goals and food systems’ realities. Godefroy Grosjean will share from AICCRA's perspective of developing innovative finance models with the private sector to roll out climate-smart agriculture solutions for farmers. We will draw invaluable insights from ground-breaking funds co-designed by the CGIAR, responsAbility’s Climate Smart Food System Fund and Convergence’s sponsored Ag Waste Climate Fund and other examples.

Organizer: CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance (ImpactSF)

Watch the livestream

Monday 4 December

Advancing gender equality and nutrition through climate action and monitoring progress ​

• Date: Monday 4 December
• Time: 9:30 – 10:30 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Location: Food and Agriculture Pavilion, Blue Zone, Expo City

This session will present frameworks and tools integrating gender and nutrition metrics into climate policies, actions, and monitoring efforts. The session will also highlight the results of sub-national-level gender and climate change vulnerability hotspot mapping exercise for the agriculture, energy and water sectors conducted in Uganda, Kenya and Botswana during 2023. The session will provide policymakers and practitioners with evidence and tools needed to design and monitor climate actions that build the resilience of communities, considering the disproportionate needs and priorities of the most vulnerable groups.

Learn more here

Organizers: CGIAR Gender Platform​, USAID, AGNES​, Kenya State Department for Gender, and Affirmative Action

AICCRA Contact: Sophia Huyer

Watch the livestream

Advancing gender integration for climate resilience in Africa: Insights from Kenya's Climate Change Vulnerability Mapping

• Date: Monday 4 December
• Time: 11:30 – 13:00 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Location: Kenya Pavilion, Blue Zone, Expo City
• Organizers: AGNES
• AICCRA Contact: Sophia Huyer
• Livestream link to be added if available

Unveiling the Transformative Impact of the AGNES Climate Leadership Program ​

• Date: Monday 4 December
• Time: 18:00 – 19:00 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Location: Africa Pavilion, Blue Zone, Expo City

The side event will showcase the remarkable impact and valuable lessons from the AGNES Climate Leadership Programme in moulding African negotiators in climate policy and climate action. This will be achieved through the presentation of an impact study, and an exciting panel discussion consisting of the faculty and the alumni of the program.

Organizers: The African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES), Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA)

AICCRA Contact: Laura Cramer

Download the presentation: Outcomes of the Climate Leadership Program

Wednesday 6 December

Evidence Generation to Inform Policy and Practice for Scaling Soil Health for Resilient Food Systems ​

• Date: Wednesday 6 December
• Time: 16:00 – 17:30 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Location: Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet (GASP) Pavilion, Blue Zone, Expo City

The objectives of this side event are to: 1. Showcase evidence and examples of the impacts of enhancing soil health on food nutrition and security climate change mitigation and adaptation, ecosystem restoration, and improved livelihoods; 2. Raise awareness of soil health within the climate agenda; 3. Inspire actors to include soil health in negotiations and policies; and 4. Showcase multi-stakeholder action for achieving soil health objectives and galvanise collaboration

Learn more here.

Organizers: Coalition of Action for Soil Health (CA4SH)

AICCRA Contact: Laura Cramer

Livestream link to be added if available

Friday 8 December

Educating for a Sustainable Future: Bridging Climate Action, Development, Inclusivity and Resilience

• Date: Friday 8 December
• Time: 10:00 - 11:30 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Location: Ethiopia Green Legacy Pavilion, Blue Zone

Acknowledging the multifaceted impacts of climate change, Ethiopia has embarked on a strategic journey to embed climate change education (CCE) within its formal education system. This initiative aligns with Ethiopia's commitment to the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy and international frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Kyoto Protocol. This event will showcase educational strategies that promote understanding and action on climate change, sustainable development, and resilience; and highlight the role of education in empowering communities, more particularly those parts of the community that are proportionately impacted by climate crises, such as young women, particularly in the context of climate-smart practices in agriculture, transportation, and urban planning.

Organizers: CGIAR, World Food Programme, African Development Bank

AICCRA contact: Dawit Solomon

Livestream to be added if available

Read more on AICCRA's work on Climate Education in Ethiopia here: 

Inclusion of ‘Climate Basics’ Course into Ethiopia Undergraduate Program is Critical to Build Climate Resilient Economy and Society

Partnerships that mobilize investments for climate-resilient food systems in fragile and conflict-affected regions

• Date: Friday 8 December
• Time: 18:30 - 19:30 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Location: Food and Agriculture Pavilion, Blue Zone

This event explores the role that SME accelerators can play in scaling innovations for climate-smart agriculture in Africa, looking at the impact of AICCRA projects in Zambia and Senegal, as well as affiliated initiatives across CGIAR network. Additionally, CGIAR and the World Food Programme (WFP) will launch a new partnership that will support food systems innovators in fragile contexts through science-driven entrepreneurship support and invite public and private stakeholders to collaborate. This event aims to mobilise new, additional partners to join the partnership and scale its ambition for communities in fragile and conflict-affected regions.

Learn more here.

Organizers: CGIAR, World Food Programme.

Watch the livestream

Saturday 9 December

Strengthening NDCs for Soil Health: Learning from practical experience

• Date: Saturday 9 December
• Time: 09:00 – 10:00 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Location: Land and Drought Resilience Pavilion, Blue Zone, Expo City

The event aims to highlight opportunities for the inclusion of soil health and soil organic carbon (SOC) into the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It will present concrete policy measures for soil health in NDCs based on the NDC guidance tool for food systems. It will showcase concrete examples from countries and discuss challenges and opportunities.

Organizers: CIFOR-ICRAF, WWF

Playback the event

High-level Panel: Accelerating Action on Soil Health for climate-resilient food systems in Africa

• Date: Saturday 9 December
• Time: 13:00 – 14:30 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Location: Africa Pavilion, Blue Zone, Expo City

Building on global, regional and national exercises around the national agrifood systems pathways, the Africa Common Position on Food Systems, Dakar 2 Summit and related compacts, this session will discuss creative solutions to support Africa in its efforts to build resilient food systems.

Organizer: AUDA-NEPAD

Livestream link to be added if available

Implementation Lab: Breakthrough Innovations for Climate-friendly Food Systems

• Date: Saturday 9 December
• Time: 15:30 – 16:30 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Location: Al Shaheen (Lab 1), Blue Zone, Expo City

This event will focus on policies, investment opportunities to create an enabling environment for priority technology areas and incentivize the transition to sustainable agrifood systems and boost international climate finance for global emissions, adaptation, resilience, and food security.

Phoebe Mwangangi, a Kenyan farmer joining the AICCRA team at COP28, will be sharing her perspective on factors that are hindering the effective distribution of financial support to farmers and other producers, and what kind of support is needed.

Organizers: Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT/CGIAR, COP 28 Presidency of the United Arab Emirates, FMO-NL (Dutch Development Bank), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action - Land Use Action Group, NDC Partnership, WWF

AICCRA Contact: Rhys Bucknall-Williams

Livestream link to be added if available

Sunday 10 December

Creating a new livestock narrative for Africa – the role of resilience in livestock systems

• Date: Sunday 10 December
• Time: 9:00 - 10:00 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Location: Resilience Pavilion, Blue Zone

In this session, we will introduce a new narrative for sustainable and resilient livestock development in Africa, exploring challenges and opportunities for greater resilience of diverse livestock systems. We will also look at some of the factors that support and obstruct resilience such as governance, land tenure, attitudes towards livestock keepers, etc. The session will provide recommendations for greater investment in resilience of sustainable livestock systems in Africa.

Organizers: International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), AICCRA, AGNES 

AICCRA Contact: Laura Cramer

Watch the livestream

Using a multi-stakeholder approach to support community-led climate actions

• Date: Sunday 10 December
• Time: 11:30 - 13:00 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Location: Kenya Pavilion, Blue Zone

The event will explore: How is policy supporting the multi-stakeholder approach? We'll explore the gaps between policy and implementation and how to bridge them. The conversation will also explore how the research community fits into the activities of the multi-stakeholder platform and how its approach can facilitate the use of available/mobilized financial resources to support climate action.

Phoebe Mwangangi and Ana Maria Loboguerrero will contribute on behalf of the AICCRA team.

Organizers: Kenya Ministry of Agriculture and LIvestock, FAO

AICCRA Contact: Laura Cramer

Livestream link to be added if available

Mobilizing Global Support for Food Security and Climate-Responsive Agriculture

• Date: Sunday 10 December
• Time: 14:00 - 15:30 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Location: COP28 Parliamentary Pavilion, Zone B7, Blue Zone

This event will delve into the crucial intersection of agriculture, climate adaptation, ag-tech, and legislative policy modelling. In a world grappling with the effects of climate change, securing food independence while aligning with environmental needs has become a top global priority. You will hear from the experts on: Climate Adaptation for Better Agriculture and Livestock; The Role of Legislators in Policy Modelling that Supports Sustainable Farming; How Farmers Can Gain Access to Technologies and Advanced Practices; and more.

Organizers: Coalition for Conservation

AICCRA Contact: Laura Cramer

Livestream link to be added if available

Download to learn more

Adaptation stocktaking to foster climate action in West Africa: regional organizations work hand to hand for large-scale uptake of climate information services and climate-smart agriculture innovations

• Date: Sunday 10 December
• Time: 15:30 - 17:00 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Location: West African Development Bank (BOAD) Pavilion, Blue Zone

This event aims to showcase regional efforts for adaptation progress assessment and stocktaking with a focus on climate-smart agriculture and climate information services in West Africa. It will showcase effective adaptation initiatives, lessons learned and success stories in the region that require spillover actions and lay the ground for strengthening regional institutional partnerships to foster climate actions in West Africa.

Learn more here.

Organizers: AGRHYMET, RUFORUM, WASCAL and AICCRA

AICCRA Contact: Alcade Segnon

Livestream link to be added if available

Monday 11 December

Bridging the "missing node": linking research-based innovation and action for African climate-smart agriculture

• Date: Monday 11 December
• Time: 14:00 - 15:00 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Location: Senegal Pavilion, B2, Building 14

The objective of this event is to explore strengthening the technical, institutional, financial, and human capacities needed to improve the scaling-up of climate information service and CSA innovations in Africa's agricultural sector face to climate change.

AICCRA's Ana Maria Loboguerrero will be contributing to the conversation with insights from AICCRA's activities in scaling CIS and CSA.

Organizers: AGRHYMET​, Agence Nationale de l'Aviation Civile et de la Météorologie (ANACIM)

Livestream link to be added if available
 

By Africa, for Africa: A new approach to collaboration between Africa’s institutions and CGIAR for climate action in agriculture​

• Date: Monday 11 December
• Time: 15:30 - 16:30 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Location: Food and Agriculture Pavilion, B7, Building 89

CGIAR has played a critical role in global agricultural development for five decades, promoting food security and raising living standards for smallholder farmers. But it lacks resources to deliver innovations in challenging agroecological conditions across Africa on the scale needed to address climate change. Strong national and regional partners are essential, but African institutions (especially National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems - NARES) remain dependent on international research organizations.  

This event will explore how we can sustainably support truly African-led research, innovation, and scaling and ways to transition to a “twenty-first century African-led agricultural research system”.

Learn more here.

Organizer: Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA)

AICCRA Contact: Rhys Bucknall-Williams

Watch the livestream

Tuesday 12 December

Enhancing sub-national climate resilience-learning from best practices in the global south ​

• Date: Tuesday 12 December
• Time: 9:00 – 10:30 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Location: Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet (GASP) Pavilion, Blue Zone

Sub-national level climate change adaptation is a key to achieving the NDCs, and hence, the existing mechanisms of sub-national adaptation need to be strengthened. This dialogue facilitates identifying gaps and barriers in implementation of the actions and exchange of the best practices from the developing countries. The session will help learn from the best practices of sub-national climate resilience in the developing countries.

Organizer: Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW)

AICCRA Contact: Laura Cramer

Livestream link to be added if available