Are you an African CSO working to advance the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices in the region? Join us for an online policy and issue briefing session on February 7, 2025, where you can share your perspectives, assess the coverage of the key theme on extension and advisory services in the region, and suggest priorities for philanthropic investments. This session will be attended by a select group of researchers and practitioners from across Africa. We also hope this will pave the way for future collaboration.

Background

Agriculture is arguably the economic mainstay of Africa, providing livelihoods and employment for more than half of the continent’s population. However, it remains the most vulnerable sector to climate change, with smallholder farmers particularly susceptible due to their reliance on rain-fed production systems and limited adaptive capacity. As Africa faces ongoing food security challenges, the compounded effects of climate change and environmental degradation demand urgent action to transform food systems.

To address these challenges, systemic shifts are necessary, shifting beyond mere reform to the actual transformation of Africa’s food systems. This transformation requires enhancing inclusivity, resilience, and adaptive capacity within agricultural systems to meet the needs of a growing population.

Agroecology presents a promising approach to sustainable agricultural development, as it restores and protects vital environmental resources such as water, soil, and biodiversity through sustainable practices. However, to fully realize agroecology’s potential, it is critical to equip farming communities with the necessary knowledge and skills. Extension and advisory services (EAS) are central to this process acting as key conduits for education and capacity building, facilitating the transfer of innovative knowledge and practices, and fostering resilient, sustainable agricultural systems.

The African Climate Foundation (https://africanclimatefoundation.org/), through AFSTC, has partnered with research consultants to develop issue briefs aimed at informing philanthropic investments in Africa’s sustainable food system transformation. This initiative seeks to build a multi-disciplinary network of experts to identify key intervention areas and address critical research gaps. A research team has been formed to explore the role of extension and advisory services in scaling agroecology across Africa, and has completed a literature review that highlights some promising initiatives in this field. If you work in this field, we believe that your organization’s expertise and work in the region positions you as a key stakeholder in this area, and we would greatly value your insights. Do well to join us.