In a significant step towards strengthening West Africa’s response to the global climate crisis, the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), in partnership with ClimateWorks Foundation and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT through the AICCRA project, successfully convened a pivotal regional workshop. Held from 15th to 16th May 2025 in Lomé, Togo, the event gathered over 35 in-person and 5 online participants, including UNFCCC and NDC Partnership National Focal Points from 14 West African countries, iGST WA Hub’s Focal Points from seven countries, young research fellows, and experts from partner institutions like the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and UNDP.
The two-day workshop served as the official launchpad for a comprehensive, youth-led technical report analyzing the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of West African nations. The report is a core deliverable of the Independent Global Stocktake (iGST) West Africa Hub’s Young Fellowship Program.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Kehinde Ogunjobi, Deputy Executive Director of WASCAL, highlighted the strategic importance of the report, stating that the “iGST West Africa Hub has amplified the voices of women, youth, and vulnerable groups in climate governance.” He emphasized that the release of the findings is “both timely and strategic” and provides “essential inputs to help raise national climate ambition across West Africa.”
Participants universally acknowledged the report’s high relevance for shaping the ongoing development of their third-generation NDCs (NDCs 3.0), praising its potential to inform policies, sharing best practices, and promoting more inclusive and evidence-based planning.
This workshop underscores WASCAL’s unwavering commitment through the iGST WA Hub, alongside its partners, to ensuring that West African voices are heard and supported on the global stage. The region is poised to continue leading the charge for inclusive, science-based climate action as it moves towards the submission of enhanced NDCs and the pivotal COP30 in Brazil.
The “Le Vélo à l’École” project, supported by the iGST West African Hub, promotes cycling as a safe, healthy, and eco-friendly transport solution to combat climate change in Senegal. In Dakar and Rufisque, dense traffic and lack of cycling infrastructure discourage cycling, despite its potential to reduce CO2 emissions, air pollution, and traffic congestion. This project, which was successfully piloted in 2023-2024 with funding from the Dutch Embassy, aims to expand across Senegal, educating students aged 10-16 on cycling safety, climate change, and sustainable living while encouraging cycling as a daily transport alternative.
Specific Objectives
Educate students on climate change and the benefits of cycling as a sustainable transport solution.
Teach safe cycling techniques, road rules, and environmental awareness.
Promote cycling as an eco-friendly alternative to cars and public transport for school commutes.
Key Activities
Establish school cycling/environment clubs.
Conduct workshops on climate change and cycling benefits.
Organize practical cycling sessions, maintenance workshops, and eco-friendly bike rides.
Host creative activities like art workshops and sustainability weeks to engage students.
Outcomes
Increased awareness of climate change and sustainable transport among students and their families.
Formation of functional cycling/environment clubs in schools.
Greater adoption of cycling as a daily transport mode, reducing CO2 emissions and traffic congestion.
Empowered youth advocating for sustainable lifestyles and cycling infrastructure in Senegal.
The PReCaP – Ouèssè project, supported by the iGST West African Hub, addresses the growing environmental and socio-economic crisis in Ouèssè, Benin, driven by unsustainable practices such as deforestation for charcoal production and wood-fueled food processing, which exacerbate climate change and threaten biodiversity. Unsustainable agricultural practices, including excessive chemical fertilizer use and reliance on fossil fuels, further degrade the environment and increase community vulnerability. To tackle these challenges, the project empowers local farmers and women through sustainable agriculture, innovative technologies like biodigesters, and community engagement, fostering climate resilience and sustainable development.
Specific Objectives
Organize local dialogues on the Global Stocktake (GST) and participatory climate governance.
Train 50 farmers in sustainable agriculture, agroecology, and organic waste composting.
Build the capacity of 25 local actors on climate adaptation strategies, ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), and biodigester technologies.
Conduct practical field workshops to promote sustainable farming and waste management.
Install an 8m³ biodigester for a women’s cassava processing cooperative to reduce deforestation, produce biogas, and improve livelihoods.
Outcomes
Increased awareness and mobilization of the Ouèssè community on climate change and adaptation measures.
50 farmers trained in sustainable practices, land management, and organic waste composting.
25 local actors equipped to promote innovative adaptation solutions, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Adoption of sustainable farming and waste management practices, reducing carbon footprints, and preserving the environment.
Installation of an 8m³ biodigester, enabling biogas production, reducing emissions, and improving women’s livelihoods in the cooperative.
GALLERY
Training Farmers in Sustainable Agriculture, Agroecology, and Organic Waste Composting
The CASL project, supported by the iGST West African Hub, addresses severe climate change impacts in northern Ghana’s Nabdam District, where only 3 months of annual rainfall lead to low agricultural productivity, food insecurity, and high poverty rates. Agriculture, the primary livelihood for 80% of the population, is rain-fed and vulnerable to erratic rainfall and drought, forcing many women and youth to migrate for work. To tackle these challenges, the project empowers 100 women and youth in Zanlerigu and Kongo communities through sustainable farming, agroforestry, and poultry production, enhancing resilience and livelihoods.
Specific objectives
Improve agricultural productivity, value chains, and food security for 100 women and youth by 2025.
Increase the incomes and resilience of 100 beneficiaries by at least 20% by 2025.
Enhance agroforestry by planting and growing 100 trees in the two communities by 2025.
Key Activities
Procure two incubators supporting poultry farming, hatching over 2,000 Guinea fowl and other eggs monthly.
Train women in agro-processing of groundnuts and soybeans into value-added products.
Promote agroforestry by planting 100 trees to improve soil health and biodiversity.
Install a mechanized borehole to provide reliable water for dry-season farming.
Outcomes
Increased agricultural productivity and year-round food security.
Enhanced income opportunities through poultry farming and agro-processing.
Reduced migration and improved livelihoods for women and youth in the Nabdam District.
Improved climate resilience through sustainable water access and agroforestry practices.
GALLERY
Empowering Women in Poultry Farming: Donating Two Incubators to Hatch Over 2,000 Guinea Fowl and Other Fowl Eggs MonthlyEmpowering Women through Agro-Processing: Training in Groundnut and Soybean Value-Added Products
The SLAACC project focuses on tackling the escalating effects of climate change in the Enyigba and Abofia Edda communities of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Although these communities possess valuable traditional knowledge, they encounter obstacles in adopting sustainable practices such as organic farming and biogas production, which increases their vulnerability. With support from the iGST West African Hub, the project aims to strengthen climate resilience by offering training, promoting tree planting, and improving access to clean water and renewable energy.
Specific objectives
Build community resilience by providing training on organic farming and agroforestry practices, ensuring sustainable land management and food security.
Reduce reliance on wood for cooking by training 10 households on biogas production and installing biogas stoves, fostering renewable energy use.
Mitigate climate change impacts by planting indigenous crop trees, enhancing biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
Improve water access and address water stress by installing a hand-pump borehole in the Okposi Umuogharu community, ensuring reliable water supply for daily and agricultural needs.
Outcomes
Sustainable Agriculture in the region
Training in organic farming and agroforestry practices improves food security, promotes sustainable land management, and increases agricultural productivity.
Reduced Deforestation
Households transition from wood fuels to biogas stoves, decreasing reliance on forest resources and lowering carbon emissions.
Improved Biodiversity
Planting indigenous crop trees enhances biodiversity, supports ecosystems, and contributes to carbon sequestration.
Reliable Water Access
The installation of a hand-pump borehole provides the Okposi Umuogharu community with sustainable access to clean water, addressing water stress and supporting livelihoods.
Empowering Communities with Organic Farming and Agroforestry for Enhanced Food Security, Sustainable Land Management, and Increased Agricultural Productivity
Training 10 Households in Biogas Production for Sustainable CookingTraining 10 Households in Biogas Production for Sustainable Cooking
The Renewable Energy for Agri-Food Industry (REAFI) project addresses critical challenges in Burkina Faso, an agriculture-dependent nation where less than 5% of agricultural products are processed locally in rural areas like Oubriyaoghin. Women, who make up 50% of the agricultural workforce, struggle with limited resources and economic opportunities, prompting the formation of the Neblanaaba Women’s Cooperative in 2015. Despite receiving a diesel-powered multifunctional platform in 2018, the cooperative faces environmental, health, and operational challenges, highlighting the need for sustainable solutions to enhance climate resilience and economic empowerment.
Specific objectives
Revive the cooperative’s activities by hybridizing the existing electrical system with solar energy.
Train 30 women in producing alternative fuels from agricultural residues to reduce pressure on forest resources.
Train 30 cooperative members in soilless farming techniques to enhance agricultural productivity.
Equip 30 women with skills in financial intelligence, accounting management, and marketing to strengthen their economic independence.
Outcomes
Sustainable Energy Access
A 5.7 kW solar hybrid system powers the cooperative’s agro-processing machines, reducing reliance on diesel and improving environmental and health conditions.
Empowered Women
30 women are trained in producing alternative fuels, soilless farming, and financial management, enhancing their skills, income, and economic independence.
Reduced Post-Harvest Losses
Women are equipped with solar drying techniques, minimizing food losses and improving food security in the community.
Climate Resilience and Environmental Benefits
The project reduces deforestation, lowers carbon emissions, and strengthens the cooperative’s capacity to adapt to climate change through sustainable practices.
GALLERY
Empowering 30 Women in Oubriyaoghin: Training on Eco-Friendly Charcoal Production, November 16-17, 2024
The six (06) small grant projects are funded by the Independent Global Stocktake (iGST) West Africa Regional Hub. “The iGST West Africa Regional Hub is financed by the ClimateWorks Foundation”
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JEUNESSE CONTRE LE CHANGEMENT CLIMATIQUE (J3C)
The J3C project is being implemented in Mali by our member organization, the Association of Environment and Sustainable Development (ESD), to engage and empower young people in the rural commune of Faradiélé, helping them become active agents in the fight against climate change.
The REAFI project, supported by the iGST West African Hub, is empowering the Neblanaaba Women’s Cooperative in Burkina Faso to combat climate change and boost local economies. By installing a 5.7 kW solar system, training women in sustainable practices, and reducing post-harvest losses, this initiative promotes renewable energy, gender equality, and climate resilience.
Strengthening Local Advocacy Against Climate Change (SLAACC)
This project, supported by the iGST West African Hub, aims to empower these communities through climate change awareness, training on organic farming, biogas production, and tree planting, enhancing their resilience and contributing to broader climate action efforts. implemented by the Neighbourhood Environment Watch Foundation in Nigeria.
Community Adaptation for Sustainable Livelihoods (CASL)
The CASL initiative aligns with Ghana’s Climate Change Master Plan, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on poverty reduction, gender equality, and climate action. By providing reliable water access, promoting agroforestry, and supporting poultry farming and agro-processing, the project seeks to improve food security, increase incomes, and reduce migration.
Strengthening Local Capacities for Climate Change Adaptation among Farmers and Women in the Commune of Ouèssè (PReCaP – Ouèssè)
The project PReCaP – Ouèssè aims to empower local farming communities by training farmers in sustainable agriculture, land management, and composting, while also educating leaders on climate change and biodigester technologies. Additionally, it supports women’s empowerment by providing renewable energy to a cassava processing cooperative, fostering long-term resilience and sustainability. The PReCaP – Ouèssè project is being implemented in Benin by the NGO Jeunes Volontaires pour l’Environnement (JVE-Benin).
The main objective of this project is to empower 132 young students, particularly girls, by teaching them the health and environmental benefits of biking while raising awareness about climate change and advocating for cyclist-friendly paths in their communities. The program encourages healthier, more sustainable lifestyles for the next generation through workshops and creative activities. The Velo a l’École project is being implemented in Senegal by GIGA Initiatives.
The J3C project addresses the significant environmental challenges faced by the rural commune of Faradiélé in Mali, which is heavily impacted by climate change, including prolonged droughts, reduced rainfall, and land degradation. These environmental issues exacerbate poverty and threaten livelihoods, particularly in agricultural and pastoral communities, making it crucial to actively empower local youth to engage in climate action and resilience-building efforts.
Specific objectives
Plant and protect 200 native trees (such as tamarinds) in the Faradiélé forest, located in the rural commune of Faradiélé.
Build the capacity of 15 young electricians in the commune on renewable energy technologies, including the installation and maintenance of solar equipment.
Raise awareness in three villages within the commune about climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.
Outcomes
Reforestation and Ecological Health The planting and securing of 200 native trees in the Faradiélé forest have strengthened the ecosystem, improving its overall health and biodiversity. This initiative will enhance the forest’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide, increase climate resilience, and reduce soil erosion, supporting long-term environmental sustainability.
Renewable Energy Expertise and Access By training 15 young electricians in renewable energy, the project has empowered local youth with the skills needed to install and maintain solar energy systems. This has increased access to affordable, clean energy, contributing to the community’s sustainable development and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, thereby supporting environmental and economic resilience.
Community Climate Action and Awareness The increased involvement of the community in climate action has led to a more knowledgeable population that understands climate change and adopts sustainable practices. These efforts have reduced local vulnerability to climate impacts and contributed to broader climate change mitigation and adaptation goals, fostering long-term environmental stewardship.
GALLERY
Launch of J3C Project: Planting 200 Trees to Revitalize Faradiele Forest
Empowering 15 Young Electricians in Renewable Energy Technologies in the Community
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