AICCRA Working Paper

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/117336

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Gender in Agriculture and Climate Response in West Africa
(Working Paper, 2024-12) Partey, Samuel T.
While women constitute at least 40% of the agriculture labour force they often lack substantial access to agricultural inputs, financial credits, labour and land, which are critical for their activities and livelihoods. This situation poses a major threat to food security due to the substantial contributions of women to food production at multiple scales in West Africa. With high aridity and sporadic rainfall patterns, women farmers especially in the Sahel of West Africa become more vulnerable to droughts and suffer high risks of productivity failure due to lack of irrigation facilities.
Gender and Climate Smart Agriculture in East Africa: Trends and Impacts
(Working Paper, 2024-12) Omolo, Nancy
"Women and men have different roles, responsibilities, and decision-making authority on farms in East Africa. Women are almost exclusively responsible for childcare and household maintenance and thus need to undertake more tasks in a working day. At the same time women often have very different off-farm income-generation opportunities to men, are usually paid less as casual labourers than men, and in general their work is less secure. Women and men in the region are experiencing climate change differently, given gender based inequalities in access to and control of productive and financial resources that inhibit agricultural productivity and reduce food security. Women in rural areas are more vulnerable to climate change and variability as a result of their natural resource- and environment-based activities, including agriculture."
Évaluation des effets de la Communauté de Pratiques (CoP) AICCRA-Sénégal dans le renforcement des capacités et des réseaux sociaux des acteurs institutionnels membres
(Working Paper, 2024-08) Diallo, Abdoulaye Moussa; Houéssionon, Prosper; Thiaw, Moussa; Worou, Nadine; Wane, Abdramane
En 2023, le projet AICCRA-Sénégal a mis en place une Communauté de Pratiques (CoP) pour coproduire des conseils agro-climatiques destinés aux agro-pasteurs, en s’appuyant sur les services d’informations climatiques (SIC) et la promotion de l’agriculture intelligente face au climat (AIC). Cette initiative a permis de connecter des acteurs publics, privés et communautaires, facilitant le partage d’expériences et la collaboration à toutes les échelles. En intégrant les SIC dans la planification des activités agro-pastorales, la CoP a renforcé les capacités des organisations et amélioré la diffusion des conseils tout en établissant un cadre d’apprentissage pour les acteurs de l’élevage. Les résultats montrent que la CoP contribue à décloisonner l’action publique, à adresser de manière inclusive les défis agricoles liés aux variations climatiques et à instaurer un climat de confiance entre agro-pasteurs, experts agricoles et acteurs locaux, grâce à une communication en langues locales adaptée. Toutefois, des limites subsistent, notamment un désengagement progressif des parties prenantes lorsque les attentes en matière de publication, financement ou formation ne sont que partiellement satisfaites. Ces moments de rupture, souvent liés à la fin des financements, créent des incertitudes dans la collaboration. Pour assurer la pérennité de cette initiative, il est essentiel de favoriser une coordination horizontale, d’assurer un transfert des activités à des institutions capables de mobiliser les acteurs et de garantir leur financement, et d’automatiser les conseils pour assurer une continuité à moindre coût tout en répondant aux besoins émergents.
Climate information systems (CIS) for aquaculture
(Working Paper, 2024-10) Stander, Henk; Greengrass, Catherine; Oladejo, Sunday; Watson, Bruce; Nel, Aldi; Salie, Khalid; Noris, Netsayi; Kakwasha, Keagan; Lundeba, Mary; Peerzadi, Rumana; Siamudaala, Victor
The AICCRA project developed an air-water temperature relationship algorithm used to forecast pond water temperatures for integration with the data hub of the Intelligent Agricultural Systems Advisory Tool (iSAT) and an early temperature warning decision tree matrix. The project team will develop the matrix into a dashboard based on input data and water quality parameter thresholds for critical scenarios for tilapia and catfish (Clarius Gariepinus). When predicted temperatures approach their thresholds, this activates a color-coded alarm corresponding with a specific action protocol to regulate pond temperatures. The purpose is to mitigate the impact of high-risk (24°C for minimum and 32°C for maximum) and emergency (12°C for minimum and 40°C for maximum) temperature scenarios on cultured stock.
Diffusion de technologies en agriculture climato-intelligentes (AIC) et état de l’autonomisation des femmes au Sénégal
(Working Paper, 2024-06) Basse, Blaise Waly; Worou, Nadine
This article identifies the impact of climate-smart technology (CST) adoption on women's empowerment in Senegal. Using data collected by AICCRA (2023) from 473 farming households in the Thies, Louga and Kaffrine regions, we used the index of Alkire et al. (2013) to apprehend the level of women's empowerment considering the five domains. The results of the propensity score inverse matching method reveal that the adoption of at least one AIC technology improves women's level of empowerment by 9.11%. Thus, the adoption of AIC technologies can be an effective economic policy instrument in the fight against poverty and the empowerment of women for inclusive development.
Climate Change and Gender Based Violence: Overview of Current Research
(Working Paper, 2024-02) Garance, Garance; Huyer, Sophia; Seager, Joni
UN Women has identified violence against women and girls (VAWG) and climate change as the two most pressing global emergencies and sustainable development challenges. “With devastating social, cultural, economic, health and human rights impacts, affecting women and girls disproportionately, especially the most marginalized groups” (UN Women and IUCN, 2022, 1), climate change presents threats to global sustainability (UN Women and IUCN, 2022; Turquet et al, 2023).
Dryland Agriculture and Climate Change Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Case of Policies, Technologies, and Strategies in Ethiopia
(Working Paper, 2024-03) Kidane, Georgis; Makonnen, Brook Tesfaye
Dryland agriculture is becoming increasingly important due to its economic and social significance. This working paper focuses on urgent issues related to improving agricultural production sustainably while also enhancing the dryland ecosystem. Firstly, it examines the challenges faced by dryland agricultural production systems in relation to climate change patterns in the dryland areas and their impact on Ethiopia's rural population. It also documents some useful experiences from East African countries that can be shared to enhance the production systems. This working paper is expected to offer practical solutions for developing drylands.
Understanding the dynamics and identify entry points to build resilience in groundnut value chain in Senegal: A group model building approach
(Working Paper, 2024-01-16) Kumar, Shalander; Das, Abhishek; Yessoufou, Adjani Nourou-dine; Beye, Assane; Gueye, Fama; Worou, Omonlola Nadine; Whitbread, Anthony
This working paper focuses on analyzing the dynamics of the peanut value chain in Senegal and identifying entry points to enhance its resilience. Using an innovative Group Model Building approach, the study explores the complexities of the chain, which is central to Senegalese agriculture, covering 40% of the total cultivated area. The groundnut value chain, largely in the hands of smallholders, is a crucial income source for the rural population. However, it faces challenges such as climate pressures, aging infrastructure, and unregulated trader entry, exacerbating vulnerability despite stakeholder efforts. Supply complexities include factors like production systems, climatic conditions, and access to essential inputs. Seeds and fertilizers are critical, but farmers struggle with insufficient quantities, ineffective governance, and limited access to mechanization. This results in low productivity, unstable yields, and high production costs. Climate risks, compounded by low access to climate information services (CIS) and climate- smart agricultural practices (CSAP) training, further impact yields and increase vulnerability. Land degradation adds another dimension to climate risk, affecting both yield and land use for peanut production. The study recommends an innovative Group Model Building approach to gain insights into the groundnut value chain dynamics through causal loop diagrams. The objective is to formulate policy recommendations to strengthen the sustainability and resilience of the peanut value chain, addressing challenges related to inputs, climate risks, and training.
Gender Smart Agriculture for Equality and Empowerment
(Working Paper, 2023-12) Huyer, Sophia; Gondwe, Therese; Diabate, Fatoumata; Kwaw, Adams; Mujawamariya, Gaudiose; Mapedza, Everisto; Mudege, Netsay; Adamaa, Faustina; Worou, Nadine
A detailed guide to the gender smart agriculture framework, including design, implementation, and assessment. A Gender-Smart Agriculture (GSA) approach takes into account women’s priorities and access to technology, resources, and information to facilitate climate resilience through equality and agency.
Information as a Source of Empowerment: The Role of Climate Information Services
(Working Paper, 2023-12-20) Kramer, Berber; Trachtman, Carly; Zuze, Linda
Quantifying the welfare benefits of climate information services (CIS), which provide farmers with weather forecast information and advice can be empirically challenging, given farmers' agricultural investment may increase or decrease depending on the content of the forecast and their levels of risk aversion. In this paper, we quantify the benefits of CIS in terms of the extent that forecast information is able to align a farmer's agricultural investments to those that they would have chosen if they had known the weather realization with full certainty. Specifically, we invite farmers in Zambia to play an app game which asks them to make simulated agricultural investment decisions, with and without CIS information. Additionally, we invite couples to play the game both as individuals and jointly to test whether CIS information can help align individuals' preferred investment choices with jointly made investment decisions.
Unraveling the Climate-Macro Conundrum: The Macroeconomic Impact of Climate Change in Eastern Africa
(Report, 2023-08) Geda, Alemayehu; Yimer, Addis; Demissie, Teferi Dejene; Radeny, Maren A.O.; Kassie, Girma; Tesfaye, Abonesh; Belay, Berhanu; Solomon, Dawit
This study has empirically examined the macroeconomic impact of climate change in the East African region by focusing on Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. It dealt with this effect comprehensively by focusing on economic growth, agricultural output, exports, and food security (using food supply and inflation). This is done using a suite of theoretical models from macroeconomic and macro-econometric literature. The analysis confirms that the effects of climate change in the region are real and present a macroeconomic danger to the economies of the five countries in the region. Specifically, the study found that climate change negatively affects the region's economic growth (total output), agriculture output, exports, food production and supply, and inflation dynamics. The study found several empirically specific effects of climate change. It, for instance, found climate change to reduce the annual GDP of the region by an average of about 7% (which varies from 2.5 in Tanzania to 15 in Ethiopia) by 2050, compared to a no-climate change scenario. The latter is found to have implications for food security in the region. The findings call for authorities in these economies to develop climate change coping and adaptation strategies not only for their own sake but also as part of their macroeconomic policy.
Sex-disaggregated Data in Climate, Agriculture and Food Security: An assessment of current trends and gaps
(Working Paper, 2023-12) Partey, Samuel T.; North, Hanna; Huyer, Sophia
This report reviews trends and availability of sex-disaggregated data on various aspects of gender and CSA, including agricultural innovation, decision-making, time use and access to resources. It uses data collected by the CGIAR and other organizations to analyse gender trends at global, regional and national levels.
Identification and Prioritization of Context-Specific Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices in Major Agro-ecological Zones of Ethiopia
(Report, 2023-08-14) Adimassu, Zenebe; Tamene, Lulseged D.; Tibebe, Degefie; Ebrahim, Mohammed; Abera, Wuletawu
Ethiopian agriculture generates about 36% of GDP and 66% of employment. It is deeply affected by climate change, uncertainty, and extremes, all of which significantly reduce GDP. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) can reduce the risks and impacts of climate change. The CSA concept calls for meeting three key objectives or pillars: i) sustainably increasing food security through productivity increases (productivity, P); ii) building resilience and adapting to climate change (adaptation, A), and iii) reducing greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation, M) There are many site-specific CSA options available across various agro-ecological zones in Ethiopia. Identifying best-bet CSA options is crucial for planning and implementing CSA for spatial targeting areas and scales including agro-ecological zones. Planning and implementing CSA at plot, farm, or landscape level must be considered in relation to the three CSA pillars (P, A and M). Farmer adoption of such practices is affected by their economic feasibility. The study objectives were therefore to i) identify and prioritize CSA practices across major agro-ecologies of Ethiopia in relation to the three CSA pillars, and gender-equity parameters, and ii) assess the costs and benefits of selected CSA practices. To achieve this, the study identified, analyzed, and ranked CSA practices in the five production-system areas of: i) Crop production and management (CPM); ii) Erosion control and water management (ECWM); iii) Forestry and agroforestry (FAF); iv) Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM); and v) Livestock production and management (LPM). The study applied the CCAFS-CSA Prioritization framework for identifying and prioritizing CSA practices. A participatory approach i) compiled a long list of CSA practices, characterizing them based on productivity, adaptation, mitigation, gender equity, and social-inclusion indicators), ii) identified best bet CSA practices, and iii) conducted a cost-benefit analysis of the selected CSA practices. Each step was informed by literature review and experts’ knowledge. A workshop identified and prioritized CSA practices in nine Ethiopian agro-ecological zones (AEZs) The cost-benefit analysis assessed the economic feasibility of each identified CSA practice for each of AEZ. The results show that CSA practices related to agroforestry/forestry management practices, rangeland/forage improvement, and exclosure and water management addressed the goals associated with the three pillars (productivity, adaptation, mitigation) simultaneously. Also, most of the CSA practices addressed productivity and adaptation goals of CSA practices. This is mainly due to tradeoffs among the three pillars. Hence, these CSA practices should be integrated with other CSA practices to increase complementarity and achieve the pillars simultaneously. Prioritizing CSA practices based on AEZ provides opportunities to develop context-specific CSA packages across different AEZs and farms, and farmer types. Based on the types of farms/farmers, it is possible to develop CSA packages across the various agro-ecologies by considering the selected CSA practices in the five categories. Since this prioritization is based on experts’ knowledge at national level, it is also crucial to test and validate the CSA practices with various types of farmers in selected agro-ecologies. The economic feasibility (cost-benefit analysis) of CSA practices based on experts’ estimation and a literature review showed selected prioritized CSA practices are economically viable. However, due to limited information on the costs and benefits of CSA practices, CBA was conducted for only a limited number of CSA practices. This implies that detailed and exhaustive CSA practices should be conducted for the various CSA practices. The authors therefore recommend field validation in any future study.
Indicators of site-specific climate-smart agricultural practices employed in Ethiopia
(Working Paper, 2023-04-19) Adimassu, Zenebe; Tamene, Lulseged D.; Tibebe, Degefie; Abera, Wuletawu
Indicators of CSA practices/technologies are crucial to measure the performance of CSA practices/technologies and use as a guideline for data collection on the evaluation of CSA practices and technologies. Various indicators of CSA practices under the five categories including crop production, livestock production, integrated soil fertility management, erosion control, water management, and forestry/agroforestry management were identified using experts knowledge and literature review. The result showed that the number of indicators across the three pillars namely productivity and income, adaptation/resilience and mitigation (M,) and with additional indicators for gender equity and social responsiveness. The result also showed that higher numbers of indicators were found in integrated management, agroforestry systems, exclosure management, use of non-timber forest products, forage crop improvement, water harvesting, drip irrigation, river diversion, and promotion of low-carbon emitting animals. The study showed that CSA practices related to forestry and agroforestry management addressed the three pillars of CSA simultaneously. These indicators developed by experts and literature review can be used locally and globally since international system (SI) units are employed in their development. Although this study identified various indicators at practice/technology levels, further assessment is needed to identify result- and policy-level indicators of CSA practices/technologies in Ethiopia.
Addressing Gender Inequalities and Strengthening Women’s Agency for Climate-resilient and Sustainable Food Systems
(Working Paper, 2023-04-15) Bryan, Elizabeth; Alvi, M.; Huyer, Sophia; Ringler, Claudia
Climate change affects every aspect of the food system, including all nodes along agrifood value chains from production to consumption, the food environments in which people live, and outcomes, such as diets and livelihoods. Women and men often have specific roles and responsibilities within food systems, yet structural inequalities (formal and informal) limit women’s access to resources, services and agency. These inequalities affect the ways in which women and men experience and are affected by climate change. In addition to gender, other social factors are at play, such as age, education, marital status, and health and economic conditions. To date, most climate change policies, investments, and interventions do not adequately integrate gender. If climate-smart and climate-resilient interventions do not adequately take gender differences into account, they might exacerbate gender inequalities in food systems by, for instance, increasing women’s labor burden and time poverty, reducing their access to and control over income and assets, and reducing their decision-making power. At the same time, women’s contributions are critical to make food systems more resilient to the negative impacts of climate change, given their specialized knowledge, skills and roles in agrifood systems, within the household, at work and at the community level. Increasing the resilience of food systems requires going beyond addressing gendered vulnerabilities to climate change to create an enabling environment that supports gender equality and women’s empowerment, by removing structural barriers and rigid gender norms, and building equal power dynamics, as part of a process of gender -transformative change.
Review of Existing Platforms, Gaps and Challenges in CIS delivery in Zambia
(Report, 2022-12-31) Amarnath, Giriraj; Alahacoon, Niranga; Koppa, Nisha; Sharma, Tarul; Ngowenani, Nohayi; Jacobs-Mata, Inga
Understanding the information about the organizations that provide the data helps to identify the problems and challenges that arise in the generation and distribution of data in those organizations and help them to better solve and make them more efficient. The impotent issue identified through this survey is the low trend in the use of satellite-based data in information generation. Therefore, to avoid this, and strengthening the geospatial literacy, it is important to develop training programs on the use of Earth observation data. The respondents of this questionnaire survey also expressed the need for such training. On the other hand, it was shown that the use of social media is very low in the dissemination of data and information, so it is timely important to take measures to increase it uses because the majority of people have a high tendency to use social media. As the highest percentage of end-users of CIS are farmers and agricultural sector, successful CIS system can ensure food security through increasing agricultural production. Floods and droughts dominate Zambia's climate-related hazards. Similarly, Diarrhea, Flu epidemics and malaria are major among the diseases and epidemics caused by climatic hazards. One of the most striking findings from the study is the increased focus on forecasting, early warning and mitigation in the providing of flood-related services. Even in the provision of drought-related services, considerable attention has been paid to warning and mitigation. However, it is noteworthy that monitoring and mapping based on satellite data is low in both flood and drought disasters. According to the perception of the respondent, more than 97% of the respondents to the study expressed their willingness to collaborate with the Accelerating the Impact of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) initiative on procuring any of the CIS. Organizations that responded to the questionnaire indicated below how CIS could be improved through the AICCRA program.
A new approach for cost-benefit analysis of innovations to enhance smallholder farmers' resilience
(Working Paper, 2022-12) Kramer, Berber; Timu, Anne G
Enhancing smallholder farmers’ resilience has become an important objective for innovations in agricultural development. Cost-benefit analyses (CBA) of such innovations are essential in guiding future investments in agricultural development, but existing CBA methods often face challenges embedding non-monetary outcomes related to resilience. Resilience-enhancing innovations typically not only increase average incomes, but may also affect the variance of that income, and related welfare benefits depend on a beneficiary’s risk preferences. In addition, CBAs are typically unable to quantify costs and benefits in terms of gender-related outcomes such as women’s empowerment, or time use for women and men. This paper introduces a new approach to quantify costs and benefits related to such outcomes and demonstrates the approach using a case study of climate information services in Ghana. We argue that this is a more comprehensive method for impact assessment of innovations to enhance smallholder farmers’ resilience, enabling evidence-based investment prioritization.
Evidence and processes for mainstreaming peacebuilding in climate adaptation efforts. A framework and a safeguard approach for peace-responsive climate action: the Climate Security Sensitiveness Tool (CSST)
(Working Paper, 2022-12) Sarzana, Carolina; Melgar, Adriana; Meddings, George; Läderach, Peter R.D.; Pacillo, Grazia
This paper aims to provide a theoretical and conceptual framework to distil the complex problem around linking climate adaptation, conflict sensitivity and peacebuilding, with the final goal of operationalizing it into a practical tool. By linking such fields of practice, it provides a scheme for climate action practitioners to better identify and address contextual drivers of conflict and insecurity while advancing peacebuilding processes. This paper lays the theoretical groundwork for this model and presents an actionable ex-ante tool for prioritizing mechanisms to address contextual conflict and insecurity drivers when designing climate adaptation interventions.
Understanding gendered access and uptake of climate services to develop socially inclusive programming in Kenya
(Working Paper, 2022-12-30) Bullock, Renee; Katothya, Gerald
Climate information services (CIS) can inform and assist farmers in decision-making processes to manage climate-related risks. However, access and uptake of CIS has been generally low in Kenya. We use qualitative methods to better understand social dimensions of CIS access and uptake in three locations classified as arid and semi-arid (ASALs) counties. We collected information to understand women’s and men’s sources of climate information, perceptions of access and reliability, and decision-making processes. We also solicited recommendations from FGD members and generated guidelines to inform the development of more socially inclusive climate services and a strategy for implementation in 2023. We suggest developing more inclusive co-production processes by increasing collaboration with climate service providers and tailoring content for women and youth in pastoralist contexts. Recommendations to support CIS access and uptake in local communities include developing more CIS dissemination channels, expanding learning networks, facilitating access to resources and increasing women’s agency in CIS uptake.
Capacity Building Opportunities for Climate Risk Management in Senegal
(Working Paper, 2022-06-09) Diop, Mbaye; Grossi, Amanda; Hansen, James; Konte, Oumar; Lecuyer, Anais; Tall, Thierno; Trzaska, Sylwia; Whitbread, Anthony M.; Worou, Nadine
Capacity development is an important part of the Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) strategy to make climate services and climate-smart agriculture more accessible to millions of smallholder farmers across Africa. To inform planning towards AICCRA-Senegal capacity development objectives, this paper reviews capacity gaps that currently limit the farm-level benefits of climate services in Senegal, and presents opportunities for competency-based curriculum and training to strengthen capacity to incorporate climate knowledge into agricultural decision making from farm to national scales. Although Senegal has a strong foundation for agricultural climate services, current delivery strategies leave a gap in farmers’ capacity to use probabilistic information at a climate variability time scale. A gender plan that incorporates the channels that rural women use can help ensure that agricultural climate services reduce existing gender-based inequalities. Short-term training for the network of organizations (ANCAR, NGOs, producer organizations) that provide extension and advisory services provides a promising opportunity to improve the use of climate services at the farm level. Other promising targets for building capacity to utilise climate information include university agriculture programs and local level multi-stakeholder engagement platforms. Ongoing curriculum development activities in Ethiopia offer useful lessons, and an agricultural extension short course curriculum that offers a potential starting point for efforts in Senegal.

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