CAADP: Adaptation of agriculture to climate change in Africa (completed)

Context

Climate change and resulting extreme weather events are already decreasing agricultural productivity and food security in many African countries. According to new forecasts by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, agricultural yields in sub-Saharan Africa are expected to decline by 15 per cent by 2050. At the same time, the continent will have to feed around 9 billion people. In the face of increasing population growth and the rising standard of living, food production would have to increase by an estimated 60 per cent by 2050. Adaptation to climate change must therefore be brought into the focus of Africa’s agricultural development.

The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) has served as the framework for action for agricultural transformation across Africa since 2003. As an African Union (AU) initiative, CAADP supports member states in increasing investment and productivity in the agricultural sector. The aim is to achieve annual agricultural growth rates of more than 6 per cent as a means of promoting food security and economic development.

The development of National Agricultural Investment Plans (NAIPs) is at the heart of CAADP implementation. These plans do not yet sufficiently consider or implement adaptation to climate change.Objective

The CAADP agenda for adaptation to climate change is successfully implemented. The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) and the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission (AUC-DREA) have established the necessary framework for this.

Objective

The CAADP agenda for adaptation to climate change is successfully implemented. The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) and the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission (AUC-DREA) have established the necessary framework for this.

Approach

The technical body of the African Union Commission (AUC), the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA), coordinates the implementation of CAADP in AU member countries. On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GIZ supports AUC and NPCA in fulfilling their mandate.

The project has four modules:

1. Policy Advice
2. Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture
3. Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ATVET)
4. Women in ATVET

The climate module promotes adaptation to climate change in order to secure a productive and climate-resilient agricultural sector in Africa. The project is building capacity at AUC and NPCA to support the African Union member states in developing climate-friendly NAIPs and applying climate-smart agricultural methods. In addition, the project will raise awareness among CAADP institutions on climate change and disseminate knowledge and lessons learned across the continent.

In the United Nations Paris Agreement (2015), countries committed themselves to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). These lay down binding climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. Together with NPCA, the project supports AU member states in developing financing and implementation strategies that contribute to achieving climate targets in agriculture.

Results

More than 15 African countries have included adaptation to climate change in their National Agricultural Investment Plans and are implementing climate-smart measures, for example soil and water management, agroforestry and improved pasture management.

The NEPAD Climate Change Fund (volume: EUR 3.6 million) finances 22 projects across Africa with these priority areas:

• implementation of climate change adaptation measures
• assessment of agricultural policies and promotion of dialogue on access and benefit sharing (ABS), which is the fair sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources worldwide

The continent-wide exchange platform ‘Africa Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance’ promotes the regular exchange of lessons learned and knowledge on climate change and agriculture.

The topic of agriculture is currently accorded high priority in international climate negotiations. The project is harnessing the prevailing dynamic and supports entities such as agricultural ministries with training measures so that they can implement the NDCs in agriculture and thus achieve the climate objectives. In addition, the project supports and coaches ministries in the development of grant applications to international funds for climate-related agricultural projects.