ICARDA and SAHARA & Sahel Observatory: Building Resilient Pastoral Systems

Abstract

ICARDA scientists recently met with The Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) team of experts to discuss the potential of collaboration in research on pastoral systems and adaptation to address climate change impacts on rural farmers. The OSS initiates and facilitates partnerships on common challenges related to the management of shared water resources and the implementation of international agreements on desertification, biodiversity, and climate change in Africa.

The meeting focused on adopting an innovative knowledge-sharing approach to take ICARDA's research to a higher policy level for advocacy, change and impact among dryland farmer communities. The two organizations can potentially speed up adaptation actions and measures to help modernize dryland pastoral systems while informing and improving the agricultural sector policies by growing and innovating knowledge management and exchange.

In line with its research mandate, ICARDA partners with knowledge institutions such as OSS to support rural agro-pastoral farmers under climate pressures in Central, and West Asia, North Africa (CWANA), and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Through policy engagement, advocacy, dialogues, and scaling of proven technologies and methodologies, ICARDA aims to transform pastoralism systems towards climate change adaptation and resilience.

This meeting is one of ICARDA's many activities implemented under the Livestock, Climate, and System Resilience (LCSR) Initiative, one of OneCGIAR 17 food systems transformation initiatives from its Global Research Portfolio. LCSR addresses the nexus of climate change impact and livestock production across Africa and Latin America. CGIAR researchers work with public and private actors across the globe to identify existing solutions and to co-create and deliver innovations that help producers, businesses, and governments adapt livestock agri-food systems to the impact of climate change while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.