One of the key organizing principles within AICCRA is the importance of partnerships at all scales. While it’s easy to talk about how critical partnerships are, bringing them together is hard work and requires plenty of resources.

AICCRA’s partnership with Africa Group of Negotiators Expert Support (AGNES) is a cornerstone of our project implementation. Supporting top-notch network building allows us to contribute to building common African positions on topics requiring submissions to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Ahead of last year’s COP26, scientists and senior government officers facilitated dialogue to develop Kenya's position on Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA) under the auspices of Kenya's Climate Smart Agriculture Multi-Stakeholder Platform (CSA MSP). This meeting was carried out with AGNES and AGN negotiators attending the COP26 negotiations in Glasgow.

Following this virtual meeting, a 3-day in-person workshop was held in Naisvasha, Kenya in March 2022. Forty-four people from 20 African countries attended the workshop to review key highlights of the outcomes the KJWA Roadmap and to consolidate the AGN position on the way forward for KJWA.

During the workshop, experts discussed emerging issues such as:

• farmers’ voices in the KJWA and issues related to agriculture in general—now and in the future
• strengthening agri-food systems approaches based on agroecology principles in the UNFCCC
• climate security in the context of Africa
• cascading climate risks/impacts in Africa
• soil organic carbon in Africa
• integrating agroecology in regional and national policy processes.

The workshop reviewed, acknowledged and reiterated the lessons detailed in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). This report shows that agriculture is negatively impacted by climate change, thus hindering the ability of populations to meet human needs, notably in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Small Islands and the Arctic. The report further shows that increases in the frequency and intensity of extremes have reduced food and water security, hindering efforts to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and decreased agricultural productivity, mainly in mid- and low-latitude regions where most of the developing countries lie.

Experts also discussed the existing gap in coordination and in implementation of issues related agriculture in the UNFCCC process, as well as opportunities in intensifying the work on issues related to agriculture and enhancing synergies within the relevant spaces under the UNFCCC. Workshop participants recommended integrating and strengthening issues related to agriculture in existing mandates and work plans, depending on national circumstances.

There was deep discussion around issues related to soil carbon, soil health, soil fertility, soil and nutrient management practices, and the optimal use of nutrients, including organic fertilizer and enhanced manure management, as well as sustainable soil, land and integrated water management. Workshop participants noted that these issues are context-specific and that they should be dealt with in a holistic and inclusive manner to realize their full potential for increased productivity and food security, adaptation and adaptation co-benefits, as well as to enhance carbon sinks.

One of the key elements of the African position discussed by the experts is the great need to scale up the implementation of best practices, innovations and technologies in an inclusive, participatory approach that includes farmers, indigenous people, local and vulnerable communities, especially women and youth, and that combines scientific and traditional knowledge.

The experts reiterated the vulnerability of agriculture and livestock management systems to the impacts of climate change. Long-term investments for dealing with climate change in agriculture, livestock and food systems are critical, and the enabling environment for mobilizing resources to implement action at the local, national and international level needs to be improved, taking into account different agricultural systems and national circumstances.

The outcome of the meeting was a draft position statement that will be discussed by the African Group of Negotiators and will form common ground for the negotiators at COP27 in Egypt in November this year.

Authors

Joab Osumba, Research Officer at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

Laura Cramer, Leader, AICCRA's Innovation theme

George Wamukoya, Team Leader at the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES)