CCARDESA

CCARDESA CCARDESA is a sub-regional organisation with a mandate to coordinate agricultural research and development in Southern Africa.
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🌍🌱 WOMEN FARMERS ARE KEY TO AFRICA’S CLIMATE RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEMS! 👩🏾‍🌾💪🏾As climate change puts increasing pressure on...
02/09/2026

🌍🌱 WOMEN FARMERS ARE KEY TO AFRICA’S CLIMATE RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEMS! 👩🏾‍🌾💪🏾

As climate change puts increasing pressure on Africa’s agriculture, women farmers must be at the centre of the solutions.

At a recent FSRP workshop in Kigali, stakeholders highlighted the urgent need to close the gender productivity gap by improving women’s access to land, finance, quality seed, climate information, appropriate technologies, extension services and markets. 🌾📱💰

🚀 Importantly, the discussions are being backed by action, with US$2.1 million triggered by the World Bank for gender and climate smart activities coordinated through AUDA NEPAD and Regional Executing Entities, including CCARDESA.

💡 Empowering women farmers is not only about gender equality. It is about stronger food systems, resilient communities and a food secure Africa.

🔗 Read the full story:
https://www.ccardesa.org/women-farmers-key-africas-climate-resilient-food-systems

AUDA NEPAD | IGAD Secretariat | African Union | World Bank Group | SADC |


“Healthy Land, Healthy Animals, Healthy People”: African Farmers Put Rangelands at the Centre of the Food Security Fight...
01/09/2026

“Healthy Land, Healthy Animals, Healthy People”: African Farmers Put Rangelands at the Centre of the Food Security Fight
Dear Colleagues,
How planned grazing, community leadership and a decade of patience are turning degraded grasslands into food, income and resilience for pastoralist families across Southern Africa
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia, 26 August 2026 — Before the officials, scientists and diplomats spoke at this year's UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP17, it was a farmer's voice that set the tone for the room."Do not only protect the land for the people. Work with the people to protect the land, because the people who depend on the land every day must be part of the solution. If we care for the land today, we give our children a chance tomorrow. Healthy land. Healthy animals. Healthy people. A better future." — Rosina Cloete, farmer, South Africa
To learn more, follow the link below: https://www.ccardesa.org/healthy-land-healthy-animals-healthy-people-african-farmers-put-rangelands-centre-food-security
Thank you for your continued support!

🌍🌦️ SOUTHERN AFRICA URGED TO ACT EARLY!The message from SARCOF 33 is clear: Southern Africa must prepare early for a pot...
31/08/2026

🌍🌦️ SOUTHERN AFRICA URGED TO ACT EARLY!

The message from SARCOF 33 is clear: Southern Africa must prepare early for a potentially drier and hotter 2026/27 season. 🌡️🌾

The latest regional seasonal climate outlook points to increased risks of below normal rainfall and above normal temperatures in parts of the region, with potential implications for 🌽 agriculture, 💧 water resources, 🐄 livestock and 🍲 food security.

⏰ The time to prepare is now. Turning climate information into early action can help farmers, communities and countries reduce risks and strengthen resilience.

🔗 Read the full story:
https://www.ccardesa.org/southern-africa-urged-act-sarcof-33-signals-drier-hotter-202627-season



| SADC | GIZ SADC/Botswana | FAO Namibia | World Bank Group | World Food Programme

The joint IKI Growing Greener booth continues to share practical information about Herding for Health while serving as a...
28/08/2026

The joint IKI Growing Greener booth continues to share practical information about Herding for Health while serving as an important meeting place for strategic partners. We had a valuable engagement with Dr Claudia Hiepe, Senior Policy Officer at Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and Ms Mara Hinrichs, Policy Adviser in BMUKN’s Division N III 2. Discussions focused on sustainable financing opportunities for the IKI Growing Greener Consortium and the partnerships needed to scale community-led rangeland restoration. The engagement reaffirmed the importance of connecting practical experience, policy and long-term finance to restore rangelands and strengthen community livelihoods.

🌾🇸🇿 ESWATINI CALLS FOR INVESTMENT AND ACTION TO TRANSFORM AGRICULTURE! 🚜🌱Eswatini is pushing for a more productive, comp...
27/08/2026

🌾🇸🇿 ESWATINI CALLS FOR INVESTMENT AND ACTION TO TRANSFORM AGRICULTURE! 🚜🌱

Eswatini is pushing for a more productive, competitive and resilient agricultural sector, with a clear message: it is time to move from recommendations to action. 💪🏾🌍

At the National Strategic Dialogue on Transforming Agriculture and Agribusiness, government, farmers, development partners and other stakeholders highlighted the need for:
💰 Greater investment in agriculture
💡 Innovation and digital technologies
🌱 Increased agricultural productivity
👩🏾‍🌾 Stronger extension services and farmer support
📈 Improved access to markets
🌦️ Climate resilient agriculture
🤝 Stronger partnerships for implementation

Agriculture has the potential to create jobs, generate wealth, strengthen food security and transform livelihoods across Eswatini. The focus now is on turning that potential into results. 🌾🚀

🔗 Read the full story:
https://www.ccardesa.org/eswatini-calls-investment-and-action-transform-agriculture

| Eswatini Government | World Bank Group



Photos by Eswatini Government page

🌍🌱

The Honourable Botswana Minister of Environment and Tourism, Hon. Wynter Boipuso Mmolotsi, paid a brief visit to the Her...
27/08/2026

The Honourable Botswana Minister of Environment and Tourism, Hon. Wynter Boipuso Mmolotsi, paid a brief visit to the Herding for Health Programme booth at UNCCD COP17, where he stopped by to greet the team representing Botswana.

The Minister met with colleagues from CCARDESA, GIZ, Peace Parks Foundation, and Conservation International, making it a warm moment of connection and solidarity among the Botswana delegation and partners.

Today at the Herding for Health Programme booth at UNCCD COP17 2026, Mr. Kabika Kumoyo from Simalaha Conservancy under P...
27/08/2026

Today at the Herding for Health Programme booth at UNCCD COP17 2026, Mr. Kabika Kumoyo from Simalaha Conservancy under Peace Parks Foundation is holding the booth down.

He is engaging visitors, explaining the programme, and having great conversations about rangelands, sustainable herding, and the Herding for Health approach. His insights and experience from Simalaha are helping people understand the important connections between healthy rangelands, livestock, people, and communities.

Great conversations, shared knowledge, and a powerful story from the ground.

IKI Growing Greener Consortium Brings Community-Led Rangeland Solutions to UNCCD COP17Dear Colleagues,The IKI Growing Gr...
26/08/2026

IKI Growing Greener Consortium Brings Community-Led Rangeland Solutions to UNCCD COP17
Dear Colleagues,
The IKI Growing Greener Consortium is using its joint exhibition booth at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to showcase Southern Africa’s experience in sustainable rangeland management. The conference runs with the theme Restoring land, Restoring Hope. To learn more, follow the link below: https://www.ccardesa.org/iki-growing-greener-consortium-brings-community-led-rangeland-solutions-unccd-cop17
Thank you for your continued support!

Herding for Health at COP17: Rangelands at the Heart of Sustainable Food SystemsA powerful and inspiring day at the Herd...
26/08/2026

Herding for Health at COP17: Rangelands at the Heart of Sustainable Food Systems

A powerful and inspiring day at the Herding for Health side event at COP17, bringing together diverse voices and perspectives on the vital role of rangelands in sustainable food systems, soil health, climate resilience, and land restoration.

The event features a range of insightful speakers and panel discussions, with panelists sharing experiences, knowledge, and solutions from different perspectives. The discussions highlights the importance of investing in rangelands, supporting pastoralist communities, strengthening sustainable livestock systems, and restoring healthy soils and landscapes.

From herders and livestock to healthy soils, resilient communities, and restored ecosystems, one message stood out:

Restoring Land.Restoring Hope.

A few highlights from the event celebrating the conversations, connections, partnerships, and collective action needed to place rangelands at the heart of sustainable food systems.

🎓🌱 50 Farmers Graduate with New Skills in Lesotho! 🇱🇸Learning by doing is making a difference!👏 50 farmers from Berea an...
25/08/2026

🎓🌱 50 Farmers Graduate with New Skills in Lesotho! 🇱🇸
Learning by doing is making a difference!

👏 50 farmers from Berea and Leribe districts have celebrated the successful completion of their Farmer Field School (FFS) learning programme. Through practical field experience, farmers strengthened their knowledge of soybean and sweet potato production, while also exploring value addition, nutrition and new income opportunities.

🥛🍞 From soybean milk, snacks and bread to sweet potato jam and juice, the farmers demonstrated how locally produced crops can be transformed into diverse products with potential to improve household nutrition and generate income.

💡🌾 Knowledge gained. Skills strengthened. Opportunities created.

🔗 Read the full story:
https://www.ccardesa.org/50-lesotho-farmers-celebrate-skills-gained-through-farmer-field-schools



| Department of Agricultural Research Lesotho | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Address

Red Brick Building , Ground Floor, Plot 4701, Mmaraka Road
Gaborone

Opening Hours

Monday 07:30 - 16:30
Tuesday 07:30 - 16:30
Wednesday 07:30 - 16:30
Thursday 07:30 - 16:30
Friday 07:30 - 16:30

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+2673914997

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