Before closing a productive season in 2022, AICCRA (Accelerating the Impact of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa) co-organized a three-day dialogue in Mombasa, Kenya, on gender-responsive climate-smart agriculture science policy for Eastern, Central and South Africa.

The continental conference created a dialogue for knowledge, experience and evidence sharing amongst relevant stakeholders, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and private sector entities.

The hybrid event was held in October and recorded 120 participants from 19 Central, Eastern and Southern African countries. 

The conference was held in collaboration with ASARECA (Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa), CRAFT East Africa (Climate Resilient Agribusiness for Tomorrow) and Kenya CSA-MSP (Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Multi-Stakeholder Platform).

Due to a large number of participants from different countries and sectors, it was possible to cover the main topics comprehensively and from different angles. The focus hereby was on “innovations and inclusive strategies to improve agricultural productivity, food security and agribusiness incomes” regarding climate-smart agriculture (CSA).

This is aimed to be achieved “through policy interventions in technology transfer, access to resources, services and markets”.

Therefore, gaps and barriers in policy implementations and reforms in these sectors were identified and addressed during the dialogue, and necessary solutions were discussed among the stakeholders. 

The participants worked out a proposal and a detailed list of gaps and barriers to be presented to key policymakers with strong action points to overcome gender and social exclusion.

A great emphasis was put on gender-responsive and socially inclusive answers with a specific focus on CSA further to address the needs of the most vulnerable societies.

Furthermore, proposed intervention areas for each stakeholder category along the CSA value chain were evolved collaboratively.