The Sahel holds great agricultural potential due to its vast land and favorable climate, but water scarcity limits its use. To achieve sustainable agriculture, new water sources and affordable power solutions are essential. This report reviews efforts to evaluate solar irrigation potential in the Sahel through spatial analysis.

This report was developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and partners as part of the project “Enabling Activities for Implementing UNCCD COP Drought Decisions.” The project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

In the framework of the GEF-funded project "Enabling Activities for Implementing UNCCD COP Drought Decisions", the "Alignment of National Drought Plans with the national regulatory frameworks – A synthesis” brief outlines a phased strategy for the integration of the National Development Plans (NDPs) with sector-specific policy frameworks.

This preliminary report examines the status of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, particularly indicators 6.4.1 and 6.4.2, within Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). It assesses the significance of these indicators in the reporting process at both national and subregional levels. The goal is to enhance the VNR process, improve reporting on SDG 6, and strengthen accountability.

This paper explores the evolution of international standards for land cover and land use classification systems, emphasizing the importance of a standardized approach to address global challenges like food security and climate change. The paper demonstrates the potential of the ISO 19144 series to support global sustainability efforts.

A new report has unveiled a detailed land cover map of Tunisia, highlighting key agricultural areas such as cultivated land, olive trees, date palms, and orchards, while also integrating land water management practices. Using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and existing water management data, the map offers regional and national statistics on land cover distribution.

The brief "Promoting productive water use and efficient water management in paddy fields" summarizes the findings from the project "Efficient agricultural water use and management enhancement in paddy fields". The brief describes the current state of paddy production in the participating countries in the context of agricultural water management, and the upcoming activities.

The aim of this paper is to advocate for a greater emphasis on the governance dimension of water-related issues, as well as the importance of investing in the development of institutions that balance water demand and supply and mediate between competing user demands for inclusive and sustainable water management.

The publication aims to update the knowledge and enhance the capacity of water professionals, raise awareness of the strengths and limitations of remote sensing models and databases for evapotranspiration, and clarify operational aspects such as spatial and temporal resolutions and accuracy.

This brief highlights the need for adaptive management, underpinned by research, as essential for ensuring that infrastructure development remains ecologically sustainable and benefits communities reliant on fisheries.