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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.

GALLERY

Strengthening Local Capacities for Climate Change Adaptation among Farmers and Women in the Commune of Ouèssè (PReCaP – Ouèssè)

Posted on January 9, 2025 by Ouedraogo

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

Uncategorized

Community Adaptation for Sustainable Livelihoods (CASL)

Posted on January 8, 2025January 9, 2025 by Ouedraogo

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 Monthly

Empowering Women through Agro-Processing: Training in Groundnut and Soybean Value-Added Products

publications, Uncategorized

Strengthening Local Advocacy Against Climate Change (SLAACC)

Posted on January 8, 2025 by Ouedraogo

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.

GALLERY

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 Cooking

publications, Uncategorized

Renewable Energy for Agri-Food Industry

Posted on January 8, 2025 by Ouedraogo

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.