The new Fertilizer and Soil Health Hub for West Africa and the Sahel is a collaborative initiative designed to improve soil health, fertility, and agricultural productivity in the region. 

To be launched in 2024 as a sub-program of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Hub is primarily funded by the World Bank through the Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project and by OCP Africa, and brings together a diverse coalition of stakeholders, including the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI), and University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P).

The vision of the new Regional Hub is for nations in West Africa and the Sahel to improve long-term soil health and fertility for enhanced yield and profitability, efficient resource use (nutrients, water, labour), and climate resilience, thus contributing to the sustainable transformation of African smallholder agriculture for food security, poverty reduction, and environmental sustainability. 

This launch event at AFSH24 marks the beginning of the Hub's activities and investments, in alignment with the ECOWAS Roadmap for Fertilizer and Soil Health.

About the event

This side event will offer insights into the Hub's mission to facilitate the delivery of agronomic gains at regional, national, and sub-national levels through fertilizer and soil health management practices, capacity development, and stakeholder collaboration. 

Further details on program, speakers and livestream to be added soon!

Note:

If you'll be joining us in person at the launch, please let us know by completing this short RVSP form by 3 May 2024.

In-person attendance at the launch event also requires prior registration for the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit, which must be completed by April 25, 2024. 

About the Fertilizer and Soil Health Hub for West Africa and The Sahel

The Hub's mission is to promote sustainable agricultural practices by facilitating the delivery of agronomic gains through efficient resource use, enhanced climate resilience, and the adoption of best practices in soil health management. 

By focusing on information dissemination, capacity development, policy support, and resource mobilization, the Hub aims to make a tangible impact on food security, poverty reduction, and environmental sustainability.

The Hub headquarters is located at the IITA campus in Ibadan, Nigeria, with a subsidiary hub at the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) in Ben Guerir, Morocco.

For further information or media inquiries, please contact Barbra Muzata (b.muzata@cgiar.org)