World Bank Commits $40m Grant to Promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture in Africa

Gilbert Ekugbe

The World Bank has approved $40 million in its quest to advancing Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies and addressing critical gaps in climate resilience and food security in Africa.

Indeed, CSA is an approach that aimed at transforming agri-food systems towards green and climate-resilient practices.

It focused on sustainably increasing productivity, adapting to climate change, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The $40 million grant in International Development Association (ISA) is a new financing allocated to Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) centers through the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and would facilitate the validation and dissemination of CSA technologies and methods in four countries in Africa which include, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Senegal and Zambia, which represented various agro-ecological zones vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

In a statement obtained from its website, with this operation, farmers and livestock keepers would be equipped to predict and prepare for climate-related events more effectively, along with improved access to climate advisories directly connected to actionable response measures.

It stated, “This will enable communities to protect their livelihoods and the environment more successfully,” World Bank stated.

The World Bank Regional Director for Sustainable Development, Chakib Jenane, said that the bank is committed to working closely with its partners to ensure that farmers and other stakeholders benefit from innovative solutions to address the challenges posed by climate change.

Jenane stressed that climate-smart agriculture is essential for enhancing food security and economic development in a sustainable manner.

The World Bank said that the aim of its Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project is to strengthen the capacity of governments, regional organisations, farmers, and other relevant stakeholders and enhance access to and use of climate information services and validated climate-smart agriculture technologies in Africa.