Current policy is driving renewed impetus to restore forests to return ecological function, protect species, sequester carbon and secure livelihoods. Here we assess the contribution of tree planting to ecosystem restoration in tropical and sub-tropical Asia; we synthesize evidence on mortality and growth of planted trees at 176 sites and assess structural and biodiversity recovery of co-located actively restored and naturally regenerating forest plots. Mean mortality of planted trees was 18% 1 year after planting, increasing to 44% after 5 years.

This report examines the motivation and willingness of Village Civil Protection Committees (VCPCs) and communities to mobilize resources at community level for Disaster Risk Management (DRM). To do this, a participatory action research (PAR) approach was utilized, facilitated by SWOT analyses, in combination with focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs). The findings revealed that communities had prepositioned resources to prepare for disaster response as part of risk reduction.

The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa
(CCARDESA) is a SADC subsidiary mandated by Members States to coordinate regional cooperation
in agricultural research and development. It is implementing the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture
Development Programme EX Pillar 4 (CAADP-XP4) Programme on Gender. The CAADP-XP4
Programme is financed through the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for four
years, between 2019-2023.

The report documents the institutional meetings and discussions taking place between 26-30 November 2023 when a delegation from Lao PDR visited Vietnan. Overall aim of the visit was to enhance institutional cooperation between policy researchers and policy makers for more effective policy formulation. The Lao team learnt about options to strengthen policy implementation, like through formulating specific strategies, supporting farmers to adopt suitable technologies/innovations, and bringing research evidence into the policy formulation process.

A new review report concludes that seed (related) policies and laws in 14 African countries acknowledge to some degree that farmer-managed seed systems exist, but most of them do not provide concrete support for farmer-managed seed systems.

The adoption and use of climate-smart agricultural practices are critical for improving the productivity and sustainability of smallholder farming systems. However, the gendered dimensions of access to and use of climate-smart agriculture in common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production remain unexplored among smallholder farmers in Burundi. A mixed methods research design was employed to investigate gender dynamics in common bean production among smallholder common bean farmers in the communes of Kirundo, Bwambarangwe, and Muyinga in Burundi.

Building on the Reclaim Sustainability! (RS!) programme’s baseline studies and the Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) Reports, and in partnership with CGIAR Initiative on Diversification in East and Southern Africa (Ukama Ustawi) through International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Solidaridad facilitated commodity specific voice amplification dialogues in Zambia focused on cotton and fruits and vegetables farmers.

This report presents field activities carried out in the period 2019-2022 in support of farmer-managed seed systems in South Africa, in particular the conservation efforts and participatory variety selection (PVS) carried out by the community seed banks of Gumbu, Jericho and Sterkspruit.

Objectives of the manual:
i. To provide farmer trainers/facilitators with relevant knowledge and skills to identify and manage pig diseases, pests/parasites for improved productivity and marketing of pigs and pig products.
ii. To refresh trainers’ and farmers’ knowledge and skills to diagnose and manage important animal diseases, pests/parasites affecting pig productivity.
iii. To provide trainers with knowledge and skills on safe handling and use of veterinary drugs, vaccines and acaricides to ensure food safety and environment conservation.

The study on satisfaction of experts and farmers with the advisory service on Site-Specific Fertilizer Recommendations (SSFRs) and climate information services (CIS) was conducted to assess the level of satisfaction of these partners with the various training, SSFRs advice, and climate forecast information services. Primary data were collected from 27 experts and 202 farm households from 10 districts in the Amhara, Oromia, and SNNP regions. All of the experts and 95.5% of the farmers received training on SSFR.