Date: 31 October 2024
Time: 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM (Kigali Time, GMT+2)
Registration Link: CLICK HERE
Introduction
In the current global climate crisis, the impacts of climate change are particularly felt in African agriculture, a crucial sector for food security and rural livelihoods. African Farmers’ Organizations (FOs), as key players in agricultural production, face the necessity of strengthening their resilience to these changes while actively participating in global decision-making processes, such as climate negotiations at the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). To enhance the capacity of FOs to engage in COP negotiation processes, the Pan-African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO), in partnership with AHA, is leading two important initiatives:
- Webinar Series on UNFCCC Negotiation Processes: The project is a partnership between the Pan-African Farmer’s Organization (PAFO), Andreas Hermes Akademie (AHA) and Food and Forest Development Finland (FFD). It aims to strengthen the participation of elected representatives and technical staff from Farmers’ Organizations and their members, as well as those from PAFO. It also targets representatives of national Farmers’ Organizations (FOs) in Africa to play a greater role in UNFCCC negotiations and other climate-related issues while assisting their members in engaging nationally.
- Pan-African Exchange Platform for FOs: This platform is a hub for enhancing FOs’ skills and facilitating peer exchange and learning. It enables FOs to share lessons learned across various domains to develop their capacities effectively.
Within the framework of the exchange platform, a joint session with the UNFCCC will be organized on the theme “African Farmers’ Organizations, Climate Resilience, and the COP.” This session will allow FOs to better understand climate issues and navigate international funding and advocacy mechanisms. The 2.5-hour session will focus on the practical knowledge and tools necessary to strengthen FOs’ resilience and effectively engage in COP processes.
Context:
Climate change poses an increasing threat to African agriculture, an activity highly dependent on climatic conditions. FOs, often the first to be affected by these disruptions, play a key role in the transition to sustainable and resilient agricultural practices. However, their participation in climate negotiation processes, such as those conducted under the UNFCCC, remains limited. Moreover, access to international funding for climate change adaptation and mitigation poses challenges for many FOs. It is, therefore, essential to strengthen their skills so they can play an active role in combating the impacts of climate change and seize opportunities offered by international processes like the COP.
Session Objectives
General Objective: Strengthen African Farmers’ Organizations’ capacity to participate in international climate processes, promote agricultural adaptation, and access climate financing.
Specific Objectives:
- Train FOs on the key mechanisms of the COP.
- Raise awareness among FOs about available climate financing mechanisms and how to access them.
- Equip FOs with effective advocacy strategies to influence national and international decision-making processes.
Topics Covered: The session will be structured around three key topics:
- Introduction to the COP: Issues for African agriculture.
- Access to climate financing for Farmers’ Organizations.
- Advocacy strategies for effective participation of FOs in climate processes.
Expected Outcomes
- Improved understanding of COP processes and mechanisms among FOs.
- FOs better prepared to integrate climate-smart agricultural practices into their activities.
- Enhanced skills for FOs to access available climate financing.
- Strengthened advocacy capacities of FOs and increased participation in climate negotiations, with a stronger commitment to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Target Audience: The target audience includes:
- African Farmers’ Organizations (FOs) members of PAFO.
- Leaders involved in local, national, and continental advocacy and agricultural
development processes.
Methodology: The session will be conducted online via a video conferencing platform (Zoom). The methodology will include:
- Presentations: Experts in climate change, climate financing, and sustainable agriculture will present key themes.
- Case Studies: Concrete examples of successful projects in climate-smart agriculture and climate advocacy by FOs.
- Interactive Discussion: Q&A sessions will be integrated to encourage active participation from FOs.
- Documents and Resources: Educational materials (presentations, guides) are distributed for in-depth learning.