Adaptation of African Agriculture: From Science to Action
A high level event alongside the UN Climate Talks in Marakkesh focused on the implementation of the Adaptation of African Agriculture initiative launched by the Moroccan Government.
Final outputs
Read the outcome statement from the event
Press release: Experts Launch Action Plan to Help African Agriculture Adapt to Climate Change
The conference provided a platform for national governments, local practitioners, farmer organisations and civil society to present, reflect upon experiences, and share success stories and approaches to enhance food security, resilience and productivity in the agricultural systems. It provided an opportunity to inform the AAA initiative, which aims to transform agriculture in Africa.
Background
The Paris Agreement has opened the door for action by including food security in the text, and the international community has acknowledged that urgent attention is needed to address the future of those who are on the frontline of climate change threats and impacts.
African Countries have presented their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and agriculture is well represented in their commitments. This underscores the importance of agriculture for African economies and societies. The willingness by countries to address agriculture and food security finally appears to be having some impact and Parties must now show their ability to follow through.
Hosted by the CGIAR Research Programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) in collaboration with the host country partners, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Morocco and the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Morocco, the event will focus on the implementation of the Adaptation of African Agriculture ("AAA"), an ambitious new initiative launched by the Moroccan Government to transform African Agriculture by mobilizing climate finance to support sustainable management of soils, agricultural water and climate risks projects as well as innovative policies, financial mechanisms and capacity development at multiple scales.
Outcome
Key policy recommendations from each of the sessions were captured and compiled into a summary document: click to read the outcome statement from the event.
Programme
09.00-10.00 | Registrations and coffee | |
10.00-11.00 | Opening plenary | |
| Video: African innovations in action, addressing the three pillars of AAA, from across the continent. |
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| Welcome, aims of the day and introductory remarks | Moderator:
Speakers:
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11.00-12.30 | Agriculture in Africa: Challenges and Solutions under Climate Change | |
| Dealing with the climate challenges faced by African Agriculture | Aida Diongue, Director, Agence Nationale de l'Aviation Civile et de la Météorologie (ANACIM) - 15 mins |
| How AAA can advance the implementation of NDCs | Mohamed Ait Kadi, President, General Council of Agricultural Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Morocco - 15 mins |
| Implementing African NDCs: Challenges and opportunities | Martin Frick, Director of Climate, Energy and Tenure Division, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) - 15 mins |
| Adapting to climate change in Africa: From science to farmers | Rob Bertram, Chief Scientist, USAID Bureau for Food Security - 15mins |
| Introduction to the breakout parallel sessions | James Kinyangi, Chief Climate Change & Policy Adviser, African Development Bank (AfDB) – 10mins |
12.30 – 14.30 | Networking and Lunch (Sofitel Hotel) | ||
14.30 – 16.00 | 3 Breakout Parallel Sessions The Pillars of Adaptation of African Agriculture | ||
| Sustainable and Resilient Soil Management | Improved Agricultural Water Management | Climate Risk Management |
Chair: Mohamed Badraoui, Director General, National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) Morocco; Aly Abousabaa, Director General, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) | Chair: Rudolph Cleveringa, Executive Secretary, Global Water Partnership (GWP) | Chair: Arame Tall, Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) Regional Coordinator for Africa | |
Speakers:
| Speakers:
| Speakers:
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16.00 – 16.30 | Coffee Break | |
16.30 – 17.00 | Video – AAA
Report Back Session: Rapporteurs to present summary of discussions, followed by Q&A
| Moderator: Sonja Vermeulen, Head of Research, CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)
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Sustainable and Resilient Soil Management | Andrew Noble, Deputy Director General, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) | |
Improved Agricultural Water Management | Jerome Delli Priscoli, Chair, Global Water Partnership (GWP) Technical Committee | |
Climate Risk Management | Arame Tall, Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) Regional Coordinator for Africa | |
17.00 – 17.30 | Closing session: Closing message on way forward and closing remarks |
Mohamed Ait Kadi, President, General Council of Agricultural Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Morocco Ann Tutwiler, Director General, Bioversity International |
17.30 – 19.00 | CGIAR Hosted Reception | |
More information
Information about the event will be updated regularly at this page.
View the full list of CCAFS events at COP22 in Morocco.
Partners
Sponsoring partners: CGIAR, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), International Fertilizer Association (IFA), Groupe Crédit Agricole du Maroc, Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA), Agriculture and Climate Risk Enterprise (ACRE) Africa, CTA - Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Co-operation ACP-EU
