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Launching on 14 June 2016, the Montpellier Panel briefing paper ‘Set for success: Climate-proofing the Malabo declaration’ explores the climate change-related targets set out by the Malabo Declaration, which was adopted in 2014 with the aim to improve nutrition and food security across Africa, and to increase agricultural productivity by 2025 while building resilience to the effects of climate change.

Despite continuous positive economic growth at an average of 5% per year, Africa needs accelerated economic development if it is to cope with the increasing demands for food, water and energy challenged by a rapidly growing population, rapid urbanisation and climate change. The pressure on African countries to boost productivity and accelerate growth is now higher than ever, and is being further complicated by the potential adverse impacts of climate change and extreme weather events, such as the 2015-16 El Niño.

The briefing paper argues that in order to achieve the targets set out in the Malabo Declaration, African governments must support programmes that will contribute to strengthening smallholder farmers’ resilience and improving their livelihoods. To do so national investment plans are increasingly taking up climate-smart agriculture objectives and while this is a good start, more action has to be taken to scale-up programmes that have proven impactful and scalable. The briefing paper highlights 15 success stories that have had substantial impact and can be taken to scale or replicated in other contexts.

Blogs and articles relating to the report:

Protecting Africa’s Backbone: transforming agriculture in the face of climate change, Can We Feed The World

Camilla Toulmin talks to Voice of America

African hunger policy silent on climate risks, SciDevNet

Why partnerships are key to boosting smallholders’ resilience to climate change, World Farmers Organisation

Climate-Proofing Agriculture Must Take Centre Stage in African Policy, Inter Press Service

Katrin Glatzel: Why Partnership is Key to Boosting Smallholders’ Resilience to Climate Change, Farming First

New Report Urges African Governments to Increase Sustainable Agricultural Practices, FoodTank