Regional expert workshop on scaling up national climate actions in Eastern and Southern Africa
FAO, in collaboration with the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and the Africa Climate Action Partnership (AfCAP), successfully hosted a Regional Expert Workshop on “Scaling up national climate actions in Eastern and Southern Africa to increase climate resilience and reduce methane emissions.” The event, held in Naivasha, Kenya, from 3 to 5 July, brought together experts and delegates from across the region to focus on enhancing climate resilience through effective livestock management practices.
As countries prepare for the next round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) in 2025, integrating climate-smart livestock practices into agricultural policies is crucial for meeting climate goals while promoting sustainable development. Additionally, the Enhanced Transparency Framework requires Parties to the Paris Agreement to report their emissions and progress by submitting biennial transparency reports by the end of 2024. Many African countries have already included livestock mitigation measures in their NDCs and are part of the Global Methane Pledge, aiming to reduce methane emissions by 30 percent from 2020 levels by 2030.
Takeaway messages
The workshop produced several key recommendations aimed at enhancing livestock climate actions across Eastern and Southern Africa. Prioritizing livestock within development strategies can significantly contribute to achieving climate goals while promoting sustainable development. Another important recommendation is to increase national capacities to access climate finance specifically for the livestock sector. By doing so, countries can implement more effective mitigation and adaptation measures, leveraging financial resources to support climate-smart livestock practices. Improving coordination across national institutions emerged as a vital step towards addressing climate change. Enhanced collaboration at both international and regional levels can ensure a more unified and effective approach to livestock climate actions, facilitating the sharing of knowledge and resources. Building capacities among livestock extension officers on climate-smart practices was also highlighted. Providing training and incentivizing farmers to adopt these practices can lead to more widespread implementation and better outcomes in mitigating methane emissions.
About the workshop
Participants left the workshop with enhanced knowledge and a stronger commitment to advancing livestock climate actions in their respective countries, fostering a collaborative approach to addressing the global climate crisis. The workshop featured delegates from 17 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, each sending representatives from their respective ministries or agencies in charge of livestock and climate change. The exchange of best practices, country-specific experiences and knowledge on methane emissions and mitigation options from livestock systems was at the centre of the discussion. This open dialogue facilitated regional collaboration and helped identify pathways for scaling up livestock climate actions in mitigation, policy, and climate finance. Through plenary and breakout sessions, participants shared information and strategies on livestock climate action, learning from practices like biogas production and livestock insurance.
Next steps
The workshop further recommended scaling up best practices in livestock management, such as improved feeding and herd management. These practices not only reduce emissions but also enhance productivity and sustainability in the livestock sector. Supporting farmer champions and utilizing demonstration farms were identified as effective methods for facilitating peer-to-peer learning. By showcasing successful implementations of climate-smart livestock practices, farmers can inspire and educate each other, leading to broader adoption. Lastly, developing robust data systems for greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories in the livestock sector is essential. Training extension services and institutions on livestock activity data needs