2022 Resilient Food Systems Knowledge Exchange and Learning Workshop

After two years of mostly virtual interactions, we are happy to have hosted the 2022 RFS regional workshop as an in-person event. Key country project representatives, partners and Consultative Committee members were invited to exchange experiences, take stock of lessons learned, and jointly plan for the final steps of this regional initiative. In particular, the workshop provided opportunities to:

• Aggregate learning experiences across all RFS projects through Learning Labs: short interactive sessions primarily led by country teams and intended to maximise learning and exchange on specific topics of interest.
• Facilitate practical learning and peer exchange through field trips hosted by the RFS Malawi project team – Enhancing the Resilience of Agro-ecological Systems Project (ERASP).
• Stocktake progress, discuss achievements and address programmatic challenges.
• Hold the final Consultative Committee meeting (for designated representatives only).

Workshop Agenda

Tuesday, September 20th

Introductions and Objectives

• Marie Parramon Gurney, Facilitator
• Download the presentation

Welcome and opening

• Jean-Marc Sinnassamy, Senior Environmental Specialist, GEF Secretariat
• Geoffrey Mamba, Principal Secretary - Irrigation Services, Malawi
• Hon. Lobin C. Lowe, MP, Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Malawi
  

Overall progress and results

• Jonky Tenou, IFAD
• Download the presentation

Brief on the study assessing RFS impact on resilience

• Tom Kiptenai Kemboi, Conservation International
  
• Download the presentation

Resilient Food Systems impacts and lessons: interactive evidence and experience wall

• Amélioration des moyens de subsistance des populations rurales par l’exploitation durable des ressources naturelles (Senegal, Download)
• Awareness and capacity development on Responsible governance of tenure as a vehicle to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality, combat drought and desertification (Component 1.1, FAO, Download)
  
• Benue beekeepers thriving against all odds (Nigeria, Download)
• Diversified agricultural production is a vehicle to food systems resilience (Ethiopia, Download)
• Enhancing programmatic impact, visibility and coherence through effective knowledge management (Component 4, ICRAF, Download)
• Etudes de capitalisation sur les bonnes pratiques du programme Niger-FIDA (Download)
• Farmers Enjoying multiple benefits of beekeeping (Malawi, Download)
• Greening Food Value Chains in Burkina Faso, Malawi and Tanzania (Component 2, AGRA, UNDP, Download)
• Integrated soil management; a major step towards food security (Ghana, Download)
• Les populations se nourrissent bien grâce à une exploitation durable de leurs terres (Burkina Faso, Download)
• Role of rural financial services in improving gender relations and stimulating investments into sustainable alternative livelihoods for improved food security in sub-region of Uganda (Download)
• Sikhunyane Land Rehabilitation and Re-use Project: A response to the 3 RIO Conventions and more... (Eswatini, Download)
• Structuration des Champs Ecoles des Producteurs: une voie incontournable pour le Développement Durable des communautés rurales au Burundi (Download)
• Taming the headwaters of River Tana - Water Fund as a tool for sustainability (Kenya, Download)
• The Global Farmer Field School Platform - strengthening provision of advisory services for integrated natural resource management of smallholder systems (Component 2, FAO, Download)
• The use of MBEGU TISA (Nine Seeds) pits for Water and soil Conservation as practiced by Raha Leo Farm Field School in Mafai Village of Kondoa District Council (Tanzania, Download)
• Training in monitoring and assessment (land degradation analysis) for Uganda country project team (Component 3, Conservation International, Download)

Preparation for Learning Labs

Learning Lab 1: Multi-stakeholder engagement processes

• Co-led by Ethiopia and Uganda in collaboration with UNEP, FAO, ICRAF & UNDP-AGRA
• Download the presentation

Learning Lab 2: Bridging science-policy gaps for enhanced resilience

• Led by Burkina Faso in collaboration with UNEP and African Union Commission

Wednesday, September 21st

Learning Lab 3: Best practices on Sustainable Land Management for achieving Land Degradation Neutrality

• Co-led by Eswatini and Niger, in collaboration with FAO and ICRAF
• Download the presentation

Learning Lab 4: Building resilient value chains

• Co-led by Nigeria and Senegal in collaboration with UNDP-AGRA
• Download the Nigeria presentation
• Download the Senegal presentation
• Download the Tanzania presentation
• Download the AGRA presentation

Learning Lab 5: Advisory services supporting community innovations: integrated landscape management through Farmer Field Schools and Agro-Pastoral Field Schools

• Co-led by Burundi, Uganda and Tanzania, in collaboration with FAO
• Download the presentation

Learning Lab 6: Addressing learning and adaptive management at the RFS

• Co-led by Malawi and Kenya in collaboration with IFAD and ICRAF
• Download the presentation

GEF Secretariat interactions with country projects and partners

• Led by GEF Secretariat, focused on the added value of the RFS programmatic approach
• Download the presentation

Regional Hub Planning Meeting (Hub partners only)

Thursday, September 22nd

Field trips to irrigation schemes in Phalombe and Zomba Districts

• Briefed by District Planning and Implementation Support Teams on ERASP & PRIDE 
• Traveled to irrigation schemes
• Visited and appreciated progress on the construction of irrigation schemes
• Visited catchment management sites

Friday, September 23rd

Interactive Panel: Reflections on Programme learning and successes

Next steps and closing

• Jean-Marc Sinnassamy, GEF Secretariat & Jonky Tenou, IFAD

Consultative Committee meeting (CC representatives only)