Alice Van der Elstraeten’s Post

🌾 At #CIMMYT, we're leading innovative research on #ConservationAgriculture (CA) systems in Southern Africa. Through strategic partnerships, we've successfully expanded CA practices, impacting over 65,000 farmers in Malawi and 50,000 in Zambia. Our findings reveal CA systems yield 30-60% more than conventional methods, save 25-45 days of labor per hectare, and increase net benefits by 20-100%. Additionally, these systems are better adapted to climate variability, enhancing moisture conservation and sustainability 🌍🌱 #SustainableFarming #ClimateAdaptation #AgricultureInnovation #FarmersFirst #SustainableDevelopment USAID CGIAR

🌍 Highlights from West Africa: June 2024 Practical Action in West Africa has made significant strides this month: 1. Empowering Women in Burkina Faso: The Laaguem Taab La Panga cooperative, with over 500 women shea butter processors, has doubled their income through the REAL program. This has improved their living conditions and supported their families. https://lnkd.in/gkGUfiHK 2. Advancing Early Warning Systems in Senegal: The EWAC project has completed data collection in Kaffrine to integrate complex risks into early warning systems, enhancing food security and climate resilience. https://lnkd.in/grjN2J2h 3. Training Farmers in Burkina Faso: We trained poultry farmers and fishers in Pabré on productive energy use, demonstrating innovative methods to optimize energy use, reduce costs, and increase profitability. https://lnkd.in/gdY7xE6t 4. Flood Resilience in Senegal: The Resalert project, in partnership with JOKALANTE, will deploy an early warning system in Thiès Nord and Est, reaching 30,000 people with climate information in local languages. https://lnkd.in/gVbAv9XE Thank you to all participants and partners for your dedication and hard work. Together, we are making a difference! #SustainableDevelopment #RenewableEnergy #FoodSecurity #ClimateResilience #CommunityEmpowerment #PracticalAction #BigChangeStartsSmall Practical Action in West Africa Practical Action in Kenya Practical Action in Rwanda Practical Action

African Development Fund awards $46 million to enhance water and sanitation access in Ethiopia. 💧 The African Development Fund allocated $46.02 million to Ethiopia for the Borana Resilient Water Development for Improved Livelihoods Program Phase 2 in the southern region. 💧 The initiative aims to provide sustainable water supply and sanitation services to pastoral communities in Borana's arid lands. 💧 With a population of 1.2 million, facing water scarcity due to climate change, the project will enhance water infrastructure, including reservoirs and distribution systems, benefiting 36,000 new users and 109,000 livestock. 💧 It addresses rising water demand, drought impacts, and climate risks while promoting peace-building efforts. 💧 The program also focuses on upgrading sanitation facilities, raising awareness, and capacity building. 💧 Targeting rural and peri-urban communities, especially women and youth, it aims to improve water access for 35,816 individuals and enhance sanitation services for around 21,000 people. 📄For more exclusive news in water industry follow the link 👇 https://lnkd.in/dAKqKc5P #Aqua_energy_expo_magazine

#Malawi’s Agricultural Productivity and Marketing Program has received a shot in the arm with the approval of $22.7 million in budgetary support from the African Development Bank. The programme will promote efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the country’s agricultural sector spending. The programme will also reinforce disaster preparedness and climate resilience measures. Macmillan Anyanwu, African Development Bank Country Manager for Malawi, emphasised the significance of this timely support. “This budget support operation is timely, as it comes when Malawi is facing unprecedented macroeconomic challenges. We encourage the government to ensure effective implementation of the program to help tackle some of the binding constraints to commercialization of agriculture and increasing agricultural productivity.” Learn more: https://bit.ly/3V5Hklq #FeedAfrica

In Sub-Saharan Africa, over 60% of the population are smallholder farmers and over 55% live in informal settlements. Locally Led Adaptation can unlock a variety of responses tailored to risks faced by local communities, particularly where there are governance challenges. Find out more about how locally-led adaptation can accelerate adaptation action in Africa in our "Factsheet for young people: Locally Led Adaptation": https://lnkd.in/eeAjEyUG

Understanding the paradox of Water and Peace in the Somali Region of Ethiopia Did you know? In the Somali Region of Ethiopia, approximately 43% of the population lacks access to clean drinking water, fueling tensions and conflicts. (Source: UNICEF) According to recent data, 17 conflicts have erupted due to water scarcity in the region. (Source: International Crisis Group) The impact? It's devastating. Many families rely on agriculture, but erratic rainfall patterns and dwindling water sources lead to crop failures, pushing communities into displacement and migration. (Source: World Bank) But there's hope! The government, Local NGOs and international organizations are stepping up, implementing water management projects and fostering dialogue to promote peace. We need sustainable solutions! By investing in water infrastructure and promoting international cooperation, we can build resilience and pave the way for lasting peace in water-stressed regions. Let's join hands and work towards a future where everyone has access to clean water and where water becomes a source of unity rather than conflict. Together, we can make a difference! #WaterForPeace #SomaliRegion #Ethiopia #SustainableFuture

Humbled to have been able to present last week about #NatureBasedSolutions at preparatory meeting towards a high-level dialogue on the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (#WASAG) for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Water scarcity is already an enormous challenge, and is only growing, especially for the rainfed and small-scale agriculture that underpins livelihoods and food security. USAID - Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) is funding excellent work across the globe to reduce humanitarian needs by building water security before, during, and after crises. In the talk, I was able to feature one BHA-funded program in Niger that relies on #WatershedRestoration through soil- and water-conservation structures such as demilunes/half-moon bunds and zai pits - see the attached photo for how much of a difference this can make. Among other benefits, crop yields increased for participant communities by anywhere from 50% to 500%. You can see the talk here (I speak at 25:20): https://lnkd.in/e_xwEXTw And you can find out more about the event here: https://lnkd.in/eciB22Gc

In a new report, #FISH4ACP analyses the Lake Tanganyika sprat and sardine value chain in Zambia, providing solutions to enhance the sector and improve the livelihoods of those who depend on it. 🐟   Read the report 👉 bit.ly/3Am82OT   European Union, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Secretariat of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS)

#𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 #𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐒𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐜𝐭 𝟎𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐚-𝐍𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 The new Executive Director of the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority, John Deng has announced plans to hold a donor conference aimed at securing funding for the redesign and development of the Juba-Nadapal road. Speaking at a meeting in Juba, he highlighted the importance of infrastructure development, explaining that resources are being mobilized to support this project, which he sees as a milestone for South Sudan. Deng also emphasized ongoing efforts to automate the country’s customs system to ensure the uninterrupted flow of goods from Mombasa to Juba, enhancing regional trade. 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢, 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚 Authorities in Pageri Boma, Nimule Payam, report that a herd of elephants has destroyed crops in the area, worsening the already dire situation caused by recent floods. Felix Maku-Moi, the Chief of Pageri Boma, explained that the destruction of gardens, including cassava, has severely affected the local food supply. Brigadier General Okeny George Lam of the SPLA-IO also confirmed that farming activities at the Ashwa cantonment site have been impacted by elephant raids, which have destroyed crops needed to support both soldiers and their families. 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚 A delegation of religious leaders, led by Bishop Santo Laku Pio of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, met with the Governor of Central Equatoria to discuss issues of peace, unity, and reconciliation. The discussions covered land grabbing, food security, and resettlement, with the goal of promoting peaceful coexistence in a state that hosts many communities with various conflicts, including disputes over cattle and land. 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 South Sudan’s Minister of Information, Michael Makuei, has reassured the public that the Tumaini Initiative, a peace process aimed at bringing stability to South Sudan, is still ongoing despite rumors of its collapse. He also emphasized the importance of the recent extension of the transition period to allow proper preparation for the 2026 elections. 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐦𝐧𝐡𝐨𝐦, 𝐑𝐮𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚 Authorities in Abiemnhom, Ruweng Administrative Area, report that heavy rains have submerged many villages, displacing thousands of people. The County Commissioner, Ador Manyiel , described the situation as critical, with displaced communities facing multiple challenges.

Today at the #WorldWaterCongress, IWA specialists Ed Smeets and Teodor POPA are chairing a session entitled Water Tariffs in a Challenging World.  If this topic is of interest, we have a range of #REACH research exploring water tariffs and climate resilience in the rural water context, across Ghana, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Mali:  🚰 Is volumetric pricing for drinking water an effective revenue strategy in rural Mali?     🌧️ Intra-seasonal rainfall and piped water revenue variability in rural Africa  ⚙️ Performance and prospects of rural drinking water services in Francophone West Africa.   🪙 Piped water revenue and investment strategies in rural Africa     Head over to the REACH Resources page to find out more https://lnkd.in/e4FM3miT   ✍️ Johannes Wagner | Johanna Koehler| Mikael DUPUIS| Rob Hope | Andrew Armstrong | Ellen Dyer    #WaterSecurity | School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford | Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment - University of Oxford | University of Oxford | RWSN - Rural Water Supply Network | International Water Association