ECOWAS
AGRICULTURE
A Boost to Agro-ecology in West Africa
The objective of the project is to support agro-ecological intensification in West Africa
and thus promote the emergence, adoption and diffusion of environmentally intensive
agricultural practices in family farming. The project covers initially four ECOWAS
member states. It could eventually be extended to 11 more.
OVERVIEW
15 Member States
Inhab : 308 million
in 2011
GDP/cap : 983 $ in
2010
CONTEXT
In the current context of climate change and
variability, scaling production techniques based on
agro-ecological approach for the use of resources
(land, water) is needed for countries in West Africa
to meet the challenge of adaptation, resilience and
productivity of agriculture. Once these agricultural
techniques are the basis of the economy of the
poorest, most vulnerable people and the most
affected by malnutrition, intensifying agro-ecology
which will boost productivity and net margins of
family farms, will contribute to the overall
development goals (SDGs 1 and 2, in particular).
Furthermore, France has joined in September
2014 the Alliance for a climate smart agriculture
(GACSA).
The 3rd Scientific Conference on "Climate Smart
Agriculture", which took place from March 16 to 18,
2015 in Montpellier, emphasized on the important
potential role of agro-ecological systems to meet the
challenge of food security in a context of change
climate, provided adequate public policies are
implemented. As an extension of this commitment,
France launched the 4p1000 Initiative and its
declaration was signed on December 1, 2015 at the
Agriculture Action Day at COP21 on climate. This
initiative aims to show that agriculture, especially
agricultural soil, can play a crucial role in food
security and climate change. ECOWAS signed this
declaration and committed to implement actions to
contribute to this goal of carbon sequestration in the
soil. This program thus constitutes one of the first
concrete operations of the 4p1000 Initiative.
DESCRIPTION
Component 1: Support to the agro-ecological increase (IAE). This component aims to develop field
projects as a support to groups of farmers and
herdsmen who commit to changing their practices
and their organizations to the IAE method.
www.afd.fr
Updated:
July 2016
AGRICULTURE
Component 2: Change, capitalization and
contribution to the development of public policy.
From the need to promote sustainable agriculture
and achievements of project of Component 1, a
process of capitalization of experiences will be
adopted.
Component
3:
Coordination
and
project
management. This will be done through a regional
coordination unit supported by a national
correspondent in each country.
IMPACT
PROCEDURE
The project has strong potential impact on
sustainable
development,
both
economic
development
dimensions,
reducing
social
imbalances of gender equality, preservation of
biodiversity, as that of sustainability. This project
should also have positive effects both in terms of
mitigation (carbon storage in the soil) and
adaptation to climate change.
The project is implemented by the ECOWAS
Commission
through
the
Department
of
Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources
(DAERE) and the Regional Agency for Agriculture
and Food (ARAA). It will be supported by a Project
Coordination Unit (PCU) to be recruited through
international tender, as well as a permanent
international technical assistance from the
Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development
(D / ADR) in Abuja, and by a non-permanent
international and regional technical assistance for
methodological and organizational support.
KEY POINTS
CONTACT
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT : Grant
Amount : 8.96 M €, of which 8 is from AFD
AFD Nigeria
[email protected]
PARTNERS : ECOWAS, ARAA
+ 234 (0) 703 249 4771
DATE OF APPROVAL: July 2016
www.afd.fr
CZZ 1848