Small-scale, big impact

The FAO project ‘Strengthening Agricultural Adaptation’ (SAGA) funded by the Government of Quebec and implemented by a range of partners on the ground, is having a big impact across Senegal. The project is reinforcing adaptation planning for food security and nutrition in the country which has increasingly suffered from the effects of climate change over the last few years. In 2020, agriculture accounted for 17 percent of the country’s GDP*, but the impacts of climate shocks such as soil erosion and degradation, water scarcity, inconsistent rainfall patterns and rising temperatures are threatening food production. The SAGA project builds farmers’ capacities to adapt to climate change, ensuring that communities, in particular women and youth, across Senegal have access to vital ecosystem services, while promoting their sustainability.

Through training and community-based participatory approaches, the project has reached more than 1300 beneficiaries and is implementing a broad range of initiatives from gender-sensitive Farmer Field Schools, market gardens, agroforestry and rainwater harvesting to beekeeping activities and the production of energy-efficient vegetable charcoal.

A two-part video report, recently aired by TV5 Monde, has captured how the SAGA project is transforming agriculture in the region and making a concrete difference to communities and their livelihoods. The report, available in English (part 1/part 2), French (part 1/part 2) and Portuguese (part 1/part 2), takes viewers on a journey across Senegal introducing them to families, farmers, community leaders, government representatives, trainers and other local and international actors who are working together to reduce emissions, adapt to the effects of climate change and build resilience in communities. These testimonies from the field show how through FAO’s support on the ground, people can make agrifood systems more efficient, sustainable and resilient in the face of climate change while securing wide-ranging economic, social and environmental benefits across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The results and lessons learned documented through these initiatives are informing national adaptation planning across Senegal and building strong foundations, which could inspire adaptation and scaling up actions in other countries in Africa and beyond.

Meet the people who are making a difference on the ground and learn more about SAGA!

Video report - part 1

Video report - part 2

SAGA partners featured in the video report

• Association pour la promotion de la femme sénégalaise (APROFES)
• Carrefour International
• Cadre de concertation des producteurs d’arachides de Kaolack
• Centre d’étude et de coopération internationale (CECI)
• Conseil national de concertation et de coopération des ruraux (CNCR)
• Fédération des associations du Fouta pour le développement (FAFD)
• Fédération des groupements paysans associés du Baol (FEGPAB)
• Fédération des producteurs maraîchers des Niayes (FPMN)
• Groupe de recherche et d’appui aux initiatives mutualistes (GRAIM)
• Groupements des villages de Pandiénou & Dougnane
• Mer et Monde
• Union des producteurs agricoles Développement international (UPA-DI)
• Société de Coopération pour le Développement International (SOCODEVI)
• Solidarité union coopération (SUCO)
• Ministère des relations internationales et de la francophonie du Québec
• Ministère de l'environnement et du développement durable, Sénégal
• Ministère de l’Agriculture et de l’Équipement Rural¸ Sénégal

*World Bank. 2020. World Bank national accounts data: Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (% of GDP) - Senegal. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.AGR.TOTL.ZS?locations=SN