ALM UNDP

Summary:

Agriculture and agro-ecological systems are the most vulnerable and important sectors in African countries. They are especially vulnerable because the climates of many of these countries are already too hot. Further warming is consequently expected to reduce crop productivity adversely. Agriculture and agro-ecological systems are especially prominent in the economies of African countries, and therefore these countries have a special interest in the project. Using sample countries from the African continent, the targeted research will provide both national and regional understanding on the nature of the impact of climate change on the agricultural sector and possible adaptation. First, it will enhance capacity on the African continent by conducting training activities that en-able African experts to run country studies on the effects of climate change on agriculture. Secondly, the project will help experts in Africa to apply these analytical concepts to measure the expected adverse impacts on agriculture, and to identify what adaptation measures are likely to be sustainable cost-effective countermeasures in their country. Thirdly, the data generated by the project will be used for a regional analysis that will be extrapolated to surrounding countries not in the database. Finally, the project will generate results relevant for the design of policies for sustainable development in the rural sec-tor at a country level, as well as for the Africa region as a whole.