Agriculture and forestry

Virtual preparatory training for Tier 2 livestock GHG quantification in Zimbabwe

Virtual preparatory training for Tier 2 livestock GHG quantification in Zimbabwe 1346 960 KM

Virtual preparatory training for Tier 2 livestock GHG quantification in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s livestock sector contributes significantly to its socio-economic development through providing employment to 65% of rural (smallholder) livelihoods and contributing up to 20% of GDP. Zimbabwe is currently producing its Fourth National Inventory Report and its first Biannual Update Report (BUR) using a Tier 1 method. There are ongoing collaborative relationships between the agriculture and environment ministries and data providers in the livestock sector on the harmonization of data collection and reporting tools. This provides a strong basis for preparing to transition from a Tier 1 to a Tier 2 inventory method. The Tier 2 method is a more elaborate method that enables farm-level assessment of mitigation potential. 

The AfLP responded to requests from the Zimbabwe Climate Change Management Department (CCMD) for technical assistance (TA) to complement the ongoing and future planned support by other partners. In collaboration with stakeholders, the AfLP and LEDS GP Climate Help Desk assisted by hosting a three-day webinar series and training, from the 30th of November to the 2nd of December, to better understand the requirements for a transition from a Tier 1 to a Tier 2 method. The objective of the technical assistance was to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders from the livestock sector to better understand how to implement the IPCC Guidelines for quantification of livestock GHG emissions using the Tier 2 method in order to strengthen the national MRV system. In addition, the TA aimed to identify the data needs and gaps, and to co-create a list of key actions that could form the basis for a roadmap to progressing to Tier 2. The sessions were convened by Mr Lawrence Mashungu (CCMD) and facilitated by Dr Walter Svinurai (Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology) and Prof. Farai Mapanda (University of Zimbabwe), with technical inputs by Andreas Wilkes (UNIQUE forestry and land use).

The technical discussions were orientated around how to implement the IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (the livestock-specific guidance can be found here). In addition, The FAO, the GRA and CCAFS have produced specific guidance on how to compile activity data required to implement the Tier 2 method for livestock, and can be found here. The IPCC method for more advanced quantification of livestock emissions appears complicated, and the workshop broke down the main data needs and tasks into easy-to-understand and manageable components, so that all stakeholders – including those without in-depth knowledge on GHG emissions – could clearly see what needs to be done to compile an improved inventory.

The first day focused on an introduction to the IPCC Tier 2 method and its requirement, as well as Zimbabwe’s progress to date and institutional arrangements. Participants noted that the application of the Tier 2 method could result in more consistent, comparable and robust estimates of livestock GHG emissions. There was strong agreement that the Tier 2 method provides a valuable opportunity to improve basic livestock data, leading to effective mitigation policies being identified. It was further emphasised that it is important for national stakeholders to be clear on what the intended benefits are for Zimbabwe’s livestock sector (e.g. leveraging investments, GHG mitigation co-benefits of adaptation etc). This event was subsequently noted as an important step in the transition process.

The second and third day focussed on group discussions on livestock population data needs and options for tier 2 GHG quantification. The Tier 2 method requires only total population data for dairy cattle and other cattle, subsequently using data on cattle sub-populations. In Zimbabwe’s inventory, non-dairy cattle are the main source of GHG emissions. Although IPCC Guidelines make recommendations for livestock characterization countries have different ways of defining dairy and non-dairy cattle. 

Group discussions took place about the categorization suitable for Zimbabwe and possible data sources and data gaps. A major challenge is that when the Tier 2 method is adopted, it must be applied to the whole time series for cattle enteric fermentation emissions back to the initial year of the inventory (i.e., 1990 in the case of Zimbabwe). Despite this challenge, there are methods to fill gaps if some data is not available (eg. proxy indicators, data from neighbouring countries, expert judgement, amongst others). The key point emerging from these discussions is that it is important that all agencies involved understand each other’s’ methodologies, and that there is a common understanding and awareness of the benefits of collaborating moving forward. 

The event culminated in a number of feasible actions that stakeholders can take in the short-term to prepare the Tier 2 inventory compilation process. Notable actions include clarifying the institutional arrangements for coordination amongst stakeholders, developing a join step-by-step action plan, and mobilising the resources to implement the action plan. Stakeholders in Zimbabwe have already begun to plan follow-up actions, some of which can be implemented in the framework of ongoing MRV capacity building projects supported by UNDP and UN FAO. Proposals for the additional support required will be drafted and communicated with other international partners supporting low-emission livestock development. 

Download the workshop report and presentations here

INVITATION! Inaugural Meeting of the Revived AfLP AFOLU CoP

INVITATION! Inaugural Meeting of the Revived AfLP AFOLU CoP 2560 1709 aflp

INVITATION!
Inaugural Meeting of the Revived AfLP AFOLU CoP

DATE: Wednesday 09 September, 2020 TIME: 15h00 – 16h30 (SAST)
Registration link

We would like to cordially invite you to our inaugural meeting of the revitalised AFOLU CoP. As stated in our previous communication to you, this session will be an opportunity introduce the AfLP Secretariat and the Unique Forestry and Landuse teams as well as get to know you and hear from you all as members. 

We will consult and agree on the work programme and CoP priorities for the rest of 2020-2021.

This CoP is expected to be interactive and demand-driven to meet members’ needs, therefore participants also play a big role in agenda and priority setting and are encouraged to engage early in discussions and share their experiences, especially in this first meeting. We look forward to hearing more about your background, experiences, challenges and possibly  ideas for this CoP. 

Please click the link below to register for the discussion to be held on September 09, 2020 at 15h00 SAST

Registration link

Concept Note: AFOLU Community of Practice 2020

Concept Note: AFOLU Community of Practice 2020 2344 1304 aflp

Concept Note: AFOLU Community of Practice 2020

Countries in Africa are championing efforts to catalyze low emission climate-resilient development. As a key aspect of their efforts, countries are leading work in the AFOLU sector that align with key socio-economic development goals. To further these efforts and enable peer learning and application of learning to key policy measures and actions, the Africa LEDS Partnership and the AFOLU Working Group are partnering to re-launch an Africa AFOLU Community of Practice (CoP). The Africa AFOLU CoP is intended to be an interactive network comprised of national and subnational governments, technical institutions, businesses, non-profits and other international organizations addressing real-time policy and technical challenges and solutions related to the AFOLU sector. It is a platform for ongoing collaboration to allow for deeper learning and sustained participation, continuous access to tools and expert assistance, and to foster champions that will serve as role models for other countries in the regions. The AFOLU CoP is designed to be demand driven to meet members’ needs and will offer support and solutions to early movers as needs emerge. Objectives of the CoP are highlighted below.

The AFOLU CoP is designed to be demand-driven to meet members’ needs and offer support and solutions to early movers. Objectives
of the CoP are highlighted below.

Download the concept here

AFOLU CoP Relaunches, with Focus on Livestock Sector in Africa

AFOLU CoP Relaunches, with Focus on Livestock Sector in Africa 2560 1707 aflp

AFOLU CoP Relaunches, with Focus on Livestock Sector in Africa

The Africa LEDS Partnership  is proud to  relaunch its  Agriculture, Forestry and Land Use (AFOLU) CoP  in collaboration with the AFOLU Working Group and  UNIQUE forestry and  land use. The CoP will initially cover learning and technical collaboration related to common topics and challenges in the livestock sector in Africa.

As the nature of CoPs is demand-driven and highly participatory, members will formulate specific needs and demands for priority topics under this CoP related to for example:

  • Integrating livestock and climate change policies
  • Accounting and emission factors for GHG and NDC reporting 
  • Rangeland management, with a view to mitigation and adaptation
  • Addressing enteric methane emissions
  • Strategies for small-scale producers and large-scale commercial production 

The CoP with take a two-stream approach to the work in 2020: 

  • Stream 1: will focus on polices & governance, including options and needs for a more effective integration of livestock actions into their NDCs, LTS and other implementation strategies and action plans; and
  • Stream 2: will focus on technical challenges & implementation, i.e. innovative approaches and upscaling proven solutions for specific implementation bottlenecks.

Interested parties can write to us if they have any questions or need additional information, and also refer to the Africa AFOLU CoP concept note.

Webinar recording: Formulating long-term, climate-resilient development strategies for agriculture

Webinar recording: Formulating long-term, climate-resilient development strategies for agriculture 3000 2250 aflp

Duration: 60 minutes

This webinar introduced participants to the programme established by the African Group of Negotiators Expert Support (AGNES) – under AfLP co-chair Dr George Wamukoya – together with its partners, to support four countries, namely: Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia to formulate agricultural LTS/updating of agricultural component of NDCs. A guideline will be developed to help countries in aligning LTS and successive NDCs.

Watch the recording here:

Facilitator

Josh OgadaSecretariat Lead, Africa LEDS Partnership (AfLP) – SouthSouthNorth

Download Josh’s presentation HERE.

Speakers

Dr George WamukoyaAfLP Co-Chair, and  Team Leader, Africa Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES)

Download George’s presentation HERE.

Kingsley Amoako – Kingsley has worked with the Directorate of Crop Services, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana, since February 1989. He has been the head of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Management Unit of the Directorate of Crop Services, Ministry of Food and Agriculture since 2016. The Unit is responsible for coordinating climate change issues in Ghana’s agriculture sector. Kingsley led the development of the agriculture component of Ghana’s NDC and the third and fourth National Communication to the UNFCCC.

Download Kingsley’s presentation HERE.

Veronica Ndetu – Veronica works for the Ministry of Agriculture, livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives as the coordinator of the Climate Change Unit. Holds a BSc degree in Agriculture and MSc degree in Seed Science and Technology. She coordinates the Multi-stakeholder Platform for CSA, which facilitates partnerships among state and non-state actors at both National and County levels in areas of CSA research. She is also a member of the Kenyan and African Climate Group of Negotiators and is involved in the Koronivia Joint work on Agriculture (KJWA) discussions and coordinates the drafting of the Kenya submissions.

Download Veronica’s presentation HERE.

Mr Stephen Muwaya – With a background in agricultural and environmental sciences Stephen Muwaya is a senior range ecologist responsible for sustainable land management and climate smart agriculture in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries of Uganda. He is the Uganda national focal point for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and a member of the Uganda Climate Change Policy Committee and participates actively in the Agriculture Climate Change Negotiations under the UNFCCC and he led the agriculture component of the Second National Communication to the UNFCCC.

Morton Mwanza – Morton Mwanza currently works as a Principal Vegetables Production Officer. He is the Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Focal Point Person in the Ministry of Agriculture, coordinates all activities related to CSA in Zambia. From 2013 to date, he has represented the Zambian Government at the UNFCCC Conference of Parties following negotiations on issues related to Agriculture. He is a member of the Africa Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES) network.

Download Morton’s presentation HERE.

Download the list of Q&As HERE.

Concept Note: AFOLU Community of Practice 2019

Concept Note: AFOLU Community of Practice 2019 2178 1224 aflp

Concept Note: AFOLU Community of Practice 2019

Countries in Africa are championing efforts to catalyze low-emission climateresilient
development. As a key aspect of their efforts, countries are leading work
in the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector that align with key socio-economic development goals. To further these efforts and enable peer learning and application of learning to key policy measures and actions, the Africa LEDS Partnership, Africa LEDS project team, and the AFOLU sector partnered to launch an African AFOLU Community of Practice (CoP).

The Africa AFOLU CoP is an interactive network comprised of national and
subnational governments, technical institutions, businesses, non-profits and other international organizations addressing real-time policy and technical challenges and solutions related to the AFOLU sector. It is a platform for ongoing collaboration to allow for deeper learning and sustained participation, continuous access to tools and expert assistance, and to foster champions that will serve as role models for other regions. The AFOLU CoP is designed to be demand-driven to meet members’ needs and offer support and solutions to early movers. Objectives of the CoP are highlighted below

The AFOLU CoP is designed to be demand-driven to meet members’ needs and offer support and solutions to early movers. Objectives
of the CoP are highlighted below.

Download the concept here

REDD+ Academy E-course

REDD+ Academy E-course 2560 1920 aflp

REDD+ Academy E-course

The UN-REDD Programme is the “United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) in Developing Countries”. The Programme was launched in 2008 and builds on the convening role and technical expertise of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The UN-REDD Programme supports nationally-led REDD+ processes and promotes the informed and meaningful involvement of all stakeholders, including indigenous peoples and other forest-dependent communities, in national and international REDD+ implementation.

The REDD+ Academy is a comprehensive response to capacity building needs identified by the countries receiving support from the UN-REDD Programme. The main aim of the REDD+ Academy is to empower potential “REDD+ champions” with the requisite knowledge and skills to promote the implementation of national REDD+ activities. This e-course is free and open to all. Upon successfully passing the final exam, a certificate will be issued.

To view the course material and register, visit the website here

Photo: Geran de Klerk 

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