As global climate negotiators convene for the 62nd session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SB62) in Bonn, the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) has officially launched a new policy brief urging the integration of agroecology into global and national climate policy frameworks.
Titled “Adaptation, Resilience and Mitigation through Agroecology: A Policy Brief for Enhancing Climate Adaptation and Resilience through Agroecology as a Holistic Approach”, the document outlines AFSA’s strategic priorities in the ongoing climate negotiations, with a clear message: Agroecology is a critical, people-centered pathway for climate resilience in Africa.
The policy brief addresses key issues on the SB62 agenda, including:
- Agriculture under the Sharm El Sheikh Joint Work on Implementation of Climate Action on Agriculture and Food Security (SSJWA)
- The Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)
- Climate finance, with a focus on Loss and Damage
- The role of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in building climate resilience
Agroecology as a Climate Justice Imperative
Dr. Million Belay, General Coordinator of AFSA, emphasized the urgency of shifting Africa’s food systems away from industrial models.
“Africa’s climate future must be rooted in food systems that serve people and ecosystems, not corporations. Agroecology offers a pathway to rebuild resilience, reduce inequality, and nourish sovereignty,” he said.
AFSA’s call is grounded in alarming climate trends: agricultural productivity in Africa has dropped by 34% since 1961, and climate projections warn of shorter growing seasons, increased water scarcity, and more frequent extreme weather events. In response, agroecology is presented as a sustainable, low-cost, and locally driven solution capable of transforming agriculture and food systems in Africa.
“Agroecology is not just a climate solution; it is a climate justice imperative,” said Karen Nekesa, Communication Officer at the Seed and Knowledge Initiative and Co-Chair of the AFSA Climate and Agroecology Working Group.
“It puts power back in the hands of communities and offers a real pathway out of vulnerability, hunger, and systemic dependency.”
Evidence-Based and Grounded in African Realities
The policy brief draws from research and case studies across more than 10 African countries, featuring over 100 documented agroecology initiatives. These studies show agroecology’s potential to lower input costs, revive degraded soils, improve household nutrition, and enhance community-level resilience to climate shocks.
Agroecology is described as a holistic approach that emphasizes:
- Biodiverse and diversified farming systems
- Reduction of chemical inputs in favor of natural, bio-based alternatives
- Strengthened local markets and food sovereignty
- Inclusive participation of women, Indigenous Peoples, and smallholder farmers
AFSA’s Policy Recommendations for SB62
In the brief, AFSA calls on Parties at the UN climate meetings to:
- Officially recognize agroecology under the Sharm El Sheikh Joint Work on Agriculture
- Deliver grant-based and locally governed climate finance for frontline communities
- Ensure access to finance for smallholder farmers and marginalized groups
- Adopt inclusive GGA indicators that reflect the complexity of adaptation
- Institutionalize equitable participation for women and Indigenous Peoples
- Strengthen accountability and transparency in climate finance delivery mechanisms
As SB62 progresses in Bonn, AFSA’s message is clear: Africa’s climate resilience must be built from the ground up, led by communities, rooted in biodiversity, and backed by inclusive policies and finance.
