26 September - Smart partnerships and innovative collaboration are key if Africa is to effectively tackle the deleterious impact of climate change on the agricultural sector, delegates heard at a side-event held on the margins of the historic Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Summit in New York.

The high-level meeting, jointly convened by the NEPAD Agency, the Government of Senegal and members of the NEPAD-iNGO Climate Smart Alliance, aimed to engage a range of stakeholders on practical and grassroot-based action on agriculture and climate change.

In his opening remarks, H.E. Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Sudan Barnaba Benjamin stressed the importance of people-centred policies when tackling climate change on the continent. He said, “We have to look at the environment, at the climatic conditions, and at the people who live on the land and how they deal with these issues of climate change when policies are formulated.” The Minister added that while Africa had contributed very little to the negative impact of climate change, the continent is expected to bear the brunt of the fallout. “These policies that aim to deal with climate change must be translated into benefits for the citizens of countries most affected. It is important that we learn from the Millennium Development Goals as we move forward in implementing the SDGs,” he noted.

NEPAD Agency CEO Dr Ibrahim Mayaki (l) shares the podium with former President of Ghana H.E. John Kufour at the Climate Smart Agriculture Event in New York

In his message to delegates, former President of Ghana H.E. John Kufour stressed the importance of technological know-how. “The success of our efforts depends on sustained scientific knowledge. Africa knows what to do, but it must admit that it needs partnerships if it is to enter into and benefit from globalization. Without partnerships our efforts make take centuries to realize,” he said.  He added that, “Africa is looking for sustainable solutions, results and action.”

CEO of the NEPAD Agency Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki noted in his synthesis of the meeting that four clusters of issues had emerged during the deliberations. He underscored that there was a consensus that climate smart agriculture had to be mainstreamed. He added that it was also clear that there had to be greater empowerment of communities, especially during the formulation of polices. “The current emphasis on a top-down approach has to change. There needs to be a greater emphasis on working from the bottom-up. By combining these two approaches one is able to reach greater coherence.”

Dr. Mayaki further highlighted that it was important to integrate gender equity in policy-formulation.  Too often, he remarked, gender equity was seen as an

after thought. Finally, he concluded by highlighting that the new generation of farmers across the continent, referred to as ‘agripreneurs’, while keen on actively engaging policy makers on climate smart agriculture, have voiced concerns about profitability and affordability.

“The way forward is to ensure that we have knowledge. It is critical that we are constantly seeking out new knowledge so that we may progress,” Mayaki said.

Delegates agreed that climate smart agriculture should be main streamed

The NEPAD Agency supports the implementation of Climate Smart Agriculture in Africa through the Agriculture Climate Change programme and other related initiatives. These efforts will stimulate and galvanize multi-sectoral and transnational efforts to leverage political, policy, technical  and financing action for implementation and scaling up of CSA to achieve Vision 25 x 25.

Source - NEPAD