Agroecological Solutions for Resilient Farming in West Africa
Bringing Agroecology Closer to Communities
We are pleased to share with you exciting news from the project and interesting initiatives, developments, and events happening related to agroecology and West Africa. This issue highlights how agroecology is being put into practice by more communities across the globe.
Thank you for following CIRAWA’s journey towards more resilient and sustainable farming systems. Enjoy the read!
Deadline for abstract submissions extended to 15 March 2026
From 1-3 July, the CIRAWA Agroecology Conference – Agroecology and Nature-Based Solutions for Sustainable Food Systems in Africa will take place in Accra, Ghana.
The conference will bring together researchers, farmers, NGOs, policymakers, civil society, and development actors to exchange knowledge, experiences, and innovations that can support the transition towards agroecology and nature-based solutions across Africa.
Would you like to submit your abstract, poster, or workshop proposal? Register now for the conference and find more information in the Submission Guidelines available on our website.
All submissions should be relevant to agroecology and Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and aligned with the conference themes.
CIRAWA’s locally tailored awareness campaign materials are now available on our website. Developed in close collaboration with partners in Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana and Senegal, these posters and illustrated postcards bring agroecology closer to communities by reflecting each country’s local environmental, cultural and agricultural realities.
Designed for use in schools, markets and community events, the materials highlight locally significant crops, trees and varieties, promoting climate-resilient and agroecological practices in accessible ways.
Now available on our website by clicking the link below.
School gardens supported by CIRAWA at Jimbala Kerr Malick and Njawara Lower Basic Schools are already making an impact. Beyond serving as hands-on learning spaces for Climate Resilience Smart Agriculture (CRSA), the gardens are improving school meals, strengthening nutrition, and generating modest income from surplus produce.
The initiative reflects CIRAWA’s wider goal of introducing young learners and their communities to agroecology and climate-resilient practices, with invaluable support from partners NATC, NARI and NSS in farmer training, soil management and community engagement.
When we talk about farming, we usually focus on the part of the crop that we harvest. But what happens to everything else? The stalks, husks, shells, and leaves?
From groundnut residues used as animal feed, to composting strategies that restore saline soils, farmers across Senegal and West Africa are turning agricultural by-products into valuable resources that improve soil health, reduce costs and strengthen livelihoods.
Read the article linked below and discover three real-life examples of how Senegalese farmers are rethinking waste and building more secure and sustainable food systems.
Agroecology Debates on the Island of Santo Antão, Cape Verde
Last December, the CIRAWA project hosted two roundtable discussions on the island of Santo Antão, bringing together local actors to explore agroecological practices and policies, as well as smart and sustainable agriculture.
The exchanges highlighted agroecology as a pathway towards farming systems that are more resilient to climate change, profitable, and better aligned with environmental protection and public health. The sessions also provided a space to share and reflect on CIRAWA’s results to date on the island.
Agriculture in the Sahel needs to become more intensive, but it cannot follow the model of conventional agriculture. With fragile soils, a semi-arid climate, and limited storage and transport infrastructure, farming in these areas must also be managed with stability and resilience in mind. In Senegal, Burkina Faso and Mali, the agroecological transition promises to enhance current agricultural production without compromising that of the future.
Accelerating agroecology and organic farming for a more sustainable agri-food system
CORDIS
By working more with nature and ecosystem services, agroecology and organic farming have the potential to increase the circularity, diversification and resilience of farms, and drive a full transformation of farming systems. This new CORDIS Results Pack highlights 12 EU-funded research and innovation activities focusing on how agroecological approaches and organic farming can be a key enabler to boost more sustainable farming in Europe.
Faced with land degradation, Senegal is preparing its scientific response
ISRA
Like its Sahelian neighbors, Senegal faces numerous challenges related to soil health: depletion of essential nutrients, water and wind erosion, salinisation, low organic matter content, not to mention the increasingly pronounced effects of climate change. Faced with these threats, the availability of reliable and up-to-date data on soil quality at the national level is a strategic lever for developing effective, evidence-based agricultural policies.
The University for Development Studies (UDS), founded in 1992, is Ghana’s first public university in the northern region. It is committed to accessible higher education, research that responds to national priorities, and strong links between academic work and community development. Guided by a pro-poor philosophy, UDS focuses on practical, field-based learning to help reduce poverty and support rural development.
Within CIRAWA, UDS leads farming systems needs valuation, stakeholder and baseline assessments, socio-economic and environmental evaluations of agroecological practices, cost–benefit analyses, and piloting activities.
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