sustainable development
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Strengthening livestock GHG inventories in Africa 
Strengthening livestock GHG inventories in Africa  848 244 Jamie

Strengthening livestock GHG inventories in Africa: Lessons from the NZ CSA Initiative 

Under the New Zealand Climate-Smart (CSA) Initiative technical work in ten countries has moved beyond default emission estimates to full Tier 2 approaches.  

Held on the 11th of June 2026, the session focused on “Strengthening livestock Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventories in Africa: Lessons from the NZ CSA Initiative”.  The session showcased key capacity building activities in Africa, centered on improving agricultural GHG inventories and the role of the African Climate Action Partnership (AfCAP) Livestock Community of Practice (CoP). 

The webinar highlighted the practical benefits and challenges of Tier upgrades, their policy relevance, the value of regional collaboration through AfCAP Livestock CoP and insights from the Zimbabwean government.  

“One of the first lessons is that it’s about people, we now have a group of people in each country who are now able to engage in a more informed way on livestock GHG inventories, low-emission development policies, investment and practice.” – Andreas Wilkes (Independent Consultant, Values for development Ltd.)

The session was moderated by Dr Sinead Leahy, the Livestock Research Group Cochair of the Global Research Alliance (GRA), and featured speakers including: 

  • Andreas Wilkes (Independent consultant, Values for development Ltd), who presented on NZ CSA inventory improvement approach and impact across 10 countries 
  • Walter Svinurai (University of Zimbabwe, LRG Co-chair, GRA) who presented on Zimbabwe’s progress, policy relevance and regional connections 
  • Sega Ndao (Director of ISRA/CRZ de Dahra – AfCAP/Livestock CoP) Regional Inventory improvement and bilateral exchanges in West Africa 
  • Roy Bouwer (Programme Lead, SouthSouthNorth) Regional collaboration in Southern and Eastern Africa and the AfCAP Livestock CoP 

Access the presentations below: 

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Watch the recording to discover how countries moved beyond the default emission estimates to full Tier 2 approaches:
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Soil Organic Carbon as the Foundation of Climate-Resilient Food Systems
Soil Organic Carbon as the Foundation of Climate-Resilient Food Systems 848 244 Jamie

Soil Organic Carbon as the Foundation of Climate-Resilient Food Systems: Turning Evidence on Regenerative Agriculture into Policy Action 

Soil organic carbon is increasingly recognised as a critical component of climate-resilient food systems. Although strong scientific evidence exists on sustainable agriculture and soil restoration, this knowledge is not always reflected in policies, investments, or land‑use planning. As a result, soil health remains undervalued in national food security and climate strategies. 

The African Climate Action Partnership (AfCAP) launched its online webinar series, From Soil Health to Climate Action: Unlocking the Power of Soil Organic Carbon, through the Soil Organic Carbon Community of Practice (SOC-COP). 

Held on the 9th of June 2026, the first session focused on “Soil Organic Carbon as the Foundation of Climate-Resilient Food Systems: Turning Evidence on Regenerative Agriculture into Policy Action”.  

The webinar explored how evidence on soil health and regenerative agriculture can be translated into policy-relevant messages, measurable targets, and compelling investment cases. During the webinar, participants gained practical insights into its role in strengthening food security and learned why it should be more deliberately integrated into national policy frameworks. The session was organised in two parts: Why Soil Health Matters and From Evidence to Policy Action.  

The webinar set the stage for continued dialogue on how soil organic carbon can inform more effective agricultural and climate policies. It also highlighted the value of collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in advancing sustainable food systems. 

The session was moderated by Nina Pretorius, Junior Project Manager for the African Climate Action Partnership, and the featured speakers including: 

  • Dr. Leigh Ann Winowiecki, Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH), who presented on, Why soil and regenerative agriculture evidence often fails to shape policy and how this can lead to Co-creation between researchers and policymakers  

Dr. Guillermo Peralta drew examples from the RECSOIL project to illustrate the importance of soil and agriculture in climate resilience and food systems. Building on this foundation, Dr. Leigh Ann Winowiecki examined the policy and financial dimensions of soil, reinforcing the need to connect scientific evidence with policy action and investment priorities. 

Watch the recording to discover how evidence on soil health and regenerative agriculture can be translated into policy-relevant messages:
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Pathways for Implementing Livestock NDC commitment in Africa 
Pathways for Implementing Livestock NDC commitment in Africa  848 244 Jamie

Pathways for Implementing Livestock NDC commitment in Africa 

Strengthening the alignment between NDC commitments and robust livestock GHG inventory methodologies is essential for transparent reporting, accessing climate finance, and informing effective mitigation planning. 

Held on the 28th of May 2026, the African Climate Action Partnership (AfCAP), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), co-convened a session on “Pathways for Implementing Livestock NDC Commitment in Africa”.  

This session provided an overview of the current state of livestock‑specific targets in African countries’ latest NDCs and examined how many countries include mitigation and adaptation measures, the types of measures being prioritised, and where critical gaps and opportunities remain. The session concluded by outlining practical ways countries can translate enhanced inventories into credible NDC targets that unlock new pathways for climate action and implementation. 

“We need credible NDC targets but we also need strong MRVs. This is very important and this can be achieved through coordination, what we call institutional arrangement, but also through engaging many countries on this as most countries tend not to commit because they cannot analyse. It makes sense because you cannot reduce what you cannot measure.” – Aimable Uwizeye (FAO)  

The session was moderated Sihle Poyo, Project Manager for the African Climate Action Partnership and featured speakers including: 

  • Aimable Uwizeye (FAO) who presented on how national policy frameworks can support effective NDC implementation 
  • Roy Bouwer (Programme Lead, African Climate Action Partnership) who presented on the status of livestock measures in African NDCs 

Access the presentations below: 

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Watch the recording to discover practical ways countries can translate enhanced inventories into credible NDC targets:
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Livestock and Climate Action in Africa’s NDCs
Livestock and Climate Action in Africa’s NDCs 1600 900 Jamie

Livestock and Climate Action in Africa’s NDCs

As the impacts of climate change become increasingly evident, the urgency of global climate action continues to grow. Countries are being called upon to raise their ambition to both mitigate Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and adapt to the impacts of a warming climate. For many African countries, however, the central challenge is not ambition alone, but the need for evidence-based actions with clear implementation pathways and viable financing models.

For the livestock sector, evidence based climate action is particularly critical. Global climate discourse has often portrayed livestock as a major contributor to climate change due to its emissions profile. While some stakeholders advocate for reducing cattle numbers, such approaches are neither feasible nor appropriate in most African contexts. Livestock plays a vital economic, social, and cultural role across the continent, supporting livelihoods, food security, and poverty reduction. In a region already facing significant development challenges, climate action in the livestock sector must therefore focus on improving efficiency and resilience, rather than reducing herd sizes.

Through improved feed and feeding practices, better animal genetics, and expanded access to veterinary services, it is possible to reduce emissions intensity while simultaneously increasing productivity and resilience. These climate smart livestock interventions can deliver adaptation and mitigation benefits alongside broader development outcomes.

This brief provides an overview of the climate ambitions outlined by African countries for the livestock sector within their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Drawing on a review of NDC submissions up to April 2026, the brief highlights progress made in integrating livestock into national climate commitments, as well as key gaps in mitigation target setting, implementation pathways, and financing.

Gain more insights and download the brief below:

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Pathways to Accelerate Resilient Rice in Africa 
Pathways to Accelerate Resilient Rice in Africa  1600 900 Jamie

Defining Pathways to Accelerate Climate-Smart, Resilient Rice Systems in Africa 

Over the past three years, the African Climate Action Partnership (AfCAP) has created a valuable platform for researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and local stakeholders to exchange knowledge and reflect on the state of climate-smart rice systems across Africa. These discussions uncovered shared priorities, including the need to accelerate adoption of climate-smart practices, strengthen enabling conditions for innovation, and enhance collaboration across regions. Building on this momentum, AfCAP convened a joint regional meeting from 17–19 February in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing together researchers, scientists, local stakeholders, policymakers, and representatives from key public and private rice organisations from both Anglophone and Francophone countries.

Photo: AfCAP Secretariat with participating delegates 

The meeting aimed to shift from identifying priorities to defining actionable pathways to scale climate-smart and resilient rice systems across Africa. It provided an opportunity for stakeholders to outline next steps, share best practices, and identify areas for coordinated action that can support countries in achieving both climate and agricultural development objectives. 

Photo: Delegates during group discussion 

Across the workshop sessions, participants examined current mitigation approaches and techniques to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, while also unpacking regional efforts to advance Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) through the East African Community (EAC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). In addition to this, the meeting provided space for organisations and country teams to share how CSA is being implemented in local contexts. Presentations covered a range of themes—from opportunities supported by the African Development Bank to mechanisms for national policy coordination. Building on earlier AfCAP engagements that focused on identifying existing CSA technologies and methods, this meeting went a step further by exploring pathways to scale solutions through thematic working groups. 

Photo: Delegate providing insights during one of the sessions 

The agenda was structured to support progressive planning over three days. The first day focused on co-defining climate-smart outcomes, including sessions on technical capacity for mitigation and on regional and national efforts to promote climate-smart agriculture. Day two shifted to implementation, with sessions showcasing innovation and best practices, examining enabling environments, and co-creating pathways for climate-smart rice. The final day focused on defining steps to accelerate adoption, giving delegates an opportunity to co-develop a regional action plan for climate-smart rice.   

Photo: Delegate during the Q&A session

Over the three days, delegates from across Africa engaged in rich discussions, technical exchanges, and collaborative planning to advance climate-smart rice production and strengthen Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems. The joint regional meeting highlighted both the challenges and the opportunities ahead, while underscoring a shared commitment to building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural systems. The meeting concluded with a strong consensus: Africa’s rice sector can become a cornerstone of climate-resilient agriculture if countries invest in capacity building, embrace inclusive practices, and strengthen regional collaboration. By aligning technical expertise, policy frameworks, and financial resources, delegates committed to transforming rice production systems into drivers of food security, economic opportunity, and environmental sustainability. 

Download the outcome report below to explore the detailed insights on the challenges and opportunities discussed:

Outcome Report
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African Rice & Climate Action:
African Rice & Climate Action: 1666 940 Jamie

African Rice Paddies and Climate Action: New Frontiers in Emission Reduction 

Rice is a key staple crop and major source of food security in many African countries. However, practices such as continuous flooding and suboptimal nitrogen management result in rice cultivation having a significant contribution to global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, particularly Methane (CH₄) and Nitrous Oxide (N₂O). 

Recognizing this challenge, the African Climate Action Partnership’s (AfCAP) Rice Community of Practice (CoP) has released a working paper titled “African Rice Paddies and Climate Action: New Frontiers in Emission Reduction.” 

This paper reviews technological, agronomic, genetic, and policy innovations aimed at reducing GHG emissions from rice cultivation while maintaining or enhancing productivity. Key mitigation practices include water-saving irrigation techniques such as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) and Mid-Season Drainage (MSD), optimized nitrogen application, biochar amendments, and crop-livestock integration. Additionally, advances in plant breeding, including the development of low-emission rice cultivars and improved root traits, offer complementary strategies to curb emissions. The role of microbiome manipulation is also examined as a frontier area in sustainable GHG reduction.  

The paper further analyses the integration of rice mitigation strategies into national climate policies, the challenges of Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV), and the potential of incentive-based mechanisms such as carbon credits. Drawing from African and Asian case studies, the paper emphasizes the importance of enabling environments, particularly policy alignment, capacity building, and inclusive institutional support, to scale climate-smart practices. The findings underline the need for integrated approaches that combine technological innovation, farmer engagement, and climate policy frameworks to transform rice systems into engines of climate resilience and sustainability. 

Download the full paper below to explore the detailed insights and recommendations:

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Powering Progress: Practical Insights for Mini-Grid Development
Powering Progress: Practical Insights for Mini-Grid Development 1600 900 Jamie

Powering Progress: Practical Insights for Mini-Grid Development

The Growing Government Engagement in Energy Access (GGE-EA) Project has launched six new knowledge briefs to strengthen understanding of key themes in energy access and governance across Africa.  

The knowledge briefs showcase the core insights and learning in terms of the crucial aspects of planning and implementing mini-grid projects. The briefs are intended to provide governments, policymakers, and practitioners with accessible overviews of the critical topics shaping the energy sector. They serve as practical guides for decision-makers seeking to expand reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy access in Africa. 

The six knowledge briefs focus on: 

  1. Economic and Financial Analysis – tools for evaluating and financing energy projects. 
  1. MV & LV Electrical and Mechanical Study – technical foundations for grid and off-grid systems. 
  1. Regulation – frameworks for compliance, innovation, and consumer protection. 
  1. Policy & Governance – strategies for effective governance and alignment with development priorities. 
  1. Enabling Private Sector Collaboration in Energy Access – partnership models to mobilise investment. 
  1. Productive-Use of Energy and Job Creation – linking energy access to livelihoods and economic growth. 

These knowledge briefs highlight the interconnected nature of energy access, from the economics of project financing to the technical design of electrical systems. This underscores the role of regulation and governance, the importance of private sector engagement, and the transformative impact of energy on livelihoods and job creation. 

These knowledge briefs were created using content from a series of Small Private Online Courses (SPOCs) developed under the GGE-EA project. These SPOCs hosted as part of the project run periodically throughout the year offering participants with a unique blend of learning materials specific to the context of rural electrification in Africa. If you are interested in attending future occurrences of the SPOCs contact us here.  

These knowledge briefs have been funded by UK Aid via the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) Platform; however the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.
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Leveraging Productive Use of Energy for Economic Growth and Employment
Leveraging Productive Use of Energy for Economic Growth and Employment 2560 1058 Jamie

Leveraging Productive Use of Energy for Economic Growth and Employment

Overview:

Solar mini-grids are expanding reliable, affordable electricity access in rural areas, supporting local businesses, households, and essential services. Their long-term success depends on strong community engagement, flexible financing models, and supportive policies that attract private investment and promote local ownership. Coupling these systems with the Productive Use of Electricity (PUE) transforms energy access from a basic service into a catalyst for inclusive economic growth and social development. PUE refers to activities that utilise energy (electric or non-electric) to improve income and overall well-being. In rural settings, these activities commonly occur in sectors like agriculture, small-scale enterpreises, healthcare, and education. By powering irrigation, milling, refrigeration, and small enterprises, PUE boosts productivity, creates jobs, and improves livelihoods, especially for women and youth. This brief explores how integrating PUE within mini-grid projects can unlock economic potential, strengthen system sustainability, and drive rural transformation. It highlights practical strategies, financing innovations, and partnership models that enable communities to turn electricity access into long-term, low-carbon prosperity.

Download the brief here

This material has been developed by the GGE-EA project and funded by UK International Development from the UK Government; however the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.

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