Within the context of global challenges of food insecurity, climate variability, urbanization and population explosion, Africa continues to have its own peculiar challenges particularly within the rural space. Africa faces unique challenges for the next decades in securing decent livelihoods and employment for young people in both urban and rural areas, but in particular in the latter.

Additionally, climate change is a serious risk to poverty reduction and could undo decades of development efforts. While climate change is global, its negative impacts are more severely felt by poor people and poor countries. Small Holder Farmers are more vulnerable because of their high dependence on natural resources and limited capacity to cope with climate variability and extremes. Restoring and maintaining key ecosystems can help communities in their adaptation efforts and support livelihoods that depend upon the services of these ecosystems. Therefore, moving towards low-carbon societies can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve human health and well-being and create green jobs within the agriculture.

Significantly also, there is no definitive understanding of the amount of climate or development finance that reaches local actors. According to the International Institute on Environment and Development (IIED), a preliminary estimate of the finance channelled to local climate activities puts the flow below ten per cent (US$1.5 billion) from international, regional and national climate funds between 2003 and 2016.