New report showcases best practice farmer-led adaptation across Africa
On Food, Agriculture and Water Day at COP29, the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF) and Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) have published a report presenting ten case studies that highlight existing farmer-led climate adaptation initiatives across Africa.
The report seeks to showcase innovative, farmer-driven solutions and to demonstrate their significant impact on climate adaptation and reslience building.
In 2024, as part of a long-term partnership, the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF) and AICCRA collaborated to document and showcase examples of farmer-led climate adaptation.
This initiative focuses on capturing and disseminating the diverse ways in which farmers across Africa are adapting to climate challenges through context-specific, locally relevant, and innovative practices. In collaboration with local communities, regional farmer organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and other stakeholders, this project identifies and documents farmer-centred adaptation initiatives across nine countries. The resulting case studies highlight local strategies, the challenges faced, and the factors that contribute to their success.
The case studies presented in this report were selected from diverse regions across Africa, representing nine different countries (with two studies selected from Rwanda).
Locally led adaptation in the agricultural sector refers to strategies designed and implemented at the grassroots level, empowering farmers and their communities to mitigate climate risks and build resilience. By combining traditional and scientific knowledge, innovative techniques, and local resources, farmers are developing solutions to address the unique environmental, climate, and societal challenges that threaten their nutrition, livelihoods, and income.
"As a federation dedicated to representing farmers’ interests, we have seen first-hand how farmers are already innovating to overcome the challenges posed by climate change. Whether it’s adapting their crops to unpredictable weather patterns or finding ways to conserve precious water resources, these actions underscore a vital truth: farmers are not just beneficiaries of climate adaptation; they are key drivers of change and action."
- Stephen Muchiri, CEO, Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF)
The featured case studies were selected from a pool of 55 submisisons responding to AICCRA and EAFF's call for examples of existing farmer-led adapation. The case studies vary across regions and communities but all share a foundation in farmer driven actions to address climate risks.
The selected case studies provide insights into various climate adaptation and resilient-building practices including:
- Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices and technologies, both modern and traditional
- Integrated water management, water efficiency, and conservation approaches
- Soil health conservation and sustainable farming methods
- Collaborative partnerships between farmers, farming organisations, government departments, protected area authorities, research agencies, NGOs, and the private sector
"Our work goes beyond simply cataloguing successful adaptations; it seeks to foster an enabling environment where science and local knowledge converge to tackle one of Africa’s most pressing challenges—climate change. This report highlights the critical role of co-development in informing and empowering local solutions, emphasising AICCRA’s commitment to making scientific advancements accessible and practical while ensuring inclusion of proven local knowledge."
- Robert Zougmoré, AICCRA Director
These case studies represent only a small fraction of the adaptation efforts underway across Africa. To address this, we intend this document to be a living report, continuously updated to include more initiatives and showcase the incredible work being done by farmers on the continent.
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Authors
Romy Chevallier, Amanda Gosling, Laura Cramer
The authors of this report extend their sincere gratitude to Stephen Muchiri and Norbert Tuyishime, the CEO and Programme Officer from the EAFF respectively, for their invaluable support in the development of this farmer-led adaptation report.
We also would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the founders, owners, managers and programme officers of the featured case studies.
