Launch of the AVACLIM project

The AVACLIM project was developed by Drynet member CARI in collaboration with Both ENDS, EMG and other members. Its full title is “Agroecology, ensuring food security and sustainable livelihoods while mitigating climate change and restoring land in dryland regions”, but that is a mouthful, so we are happy to use the shortened version AVACLIM. After years of seeking support from funders, in 2019 this was finally secured and as a result in January this year the project was able to get started with its important work.

The launch workshop for AVACLIM was held in Saint Martin de Londres in the south of France between 20^th and 22^nd January this year. Thirty-two partners met to launch this collaborative project, including Drynet member organizations Both ENDS, CARI, EMG, Caatinga and GBS.

The project aims to create the necessary conditions for the deployment of agroecology in arid zones by highlighting agroecological initiatives in seven countries: Brazil, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, India, Morocco, Senegal and South Africa.

AVACLIM is funded by the FFEM (French Global Environment Facility) and the GEF (Global Environment Facility), and its implementing agency is the FAO. Our ambition for this three-year project is to create an inventory of agroecological initiatives in the seven partner countries, and to conduct scientific evaluations that will assess the value of these initiatives for their members as well as for the wider society and the planet. The intention of the scientific validation of the socio-economic impact of agroecology and its role in adaptation to climate change is to help convince national and international policy makers to include agroecology in their agricultural development strategies.

This project initiated in 2014 is innovative because it is based on a multi-stakeholder approach combining practitioners, scientists and decision-makers. It was developed on the basis of the observation of major shortcomings in agroecological practices:

• A lack of capitalization of agroecological initiatives;
• A lack of investment in agroecology by scientists, a theme that remains more widely supported by civil society;
• A lack of collaboration and exchange between civil society and scientists;
• The absence of a scientifically validated reference system on the benefits of agroecology and on the success factors for its implementation, on which decision-makers (international institutions, donors and politicians) could rely.

It is a known fact that agroecology enables the improvement of agricultural production through the enhancement of local natural resources and traditional know-how. It contributes to maintaining biodiversity and restoring land in drylands in these generally poor regions, where physical constraints are significant, and which are particularly threatened by global warming and food insecurity. However, despite the success of many agroecological initiatives at the local level, the reality is that they are not taken up on a wider scale and are often ignored by decision-makers. To respond to this, the project incorporates several strategies based on these components:

1. A capitalization different agroecological initiatives and the linking of different actors and practitioners of agroecology – more information
2. Evaluation of these initiatives by a consortium of scientists, from an agronomic and      socio-economic point of view, in order to create a repository on which decision-makers can rely  – more information
3. Advocacy with national political actors but also with donors and international institutions  – more information
4. Wide distribution existing experiences, an evaluation grid usable by all and a scientifically validated reference system – more information

We will keep you updated on progress of the project in News from Drynet. For more information about AVACLIM you can contact the Communications person at CARI, Stéphanie Dubois de Prisqueat communication@cariassociation.org or visit the AVACLIM website