The transdisciplinary consortia will study the scaling of soil moisture retention practices for smallholder farmers in rainfed agri-food systems. With the increased severity of dry spells, increasing the moisture holding capacity of the soil works as a buffer against agricultural production losses. The research focuses specifically on socio-economic and governance aspects of scaling soil water retention practices. The research projects take place in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali en Nigeria.
ACCEL-3R: Accelerating the adoption of Water Retention, Recharge, and Reuse Measures in the Horn of Africa: Multi-level intervention bundles to trigger socio-hydrological tipping points
The project, led by Professor of Drought Risk and Water Security Anne van Loon, tackles barriers faced by smallholders in Kenya and Ethiopia to adapt to drought by increasing the adoption of water retention, reuse and recharge measures. The international consortium will work with local groups and institutions to co-design inclusive bundles socio-technical and political-economic interventions that alleviate multiple barriers at once. They will test these interventions, and how they work together or not, using models and local knowledge, to ensure no smallholder gets left behind. The goal is to support effective proactive drought management within communities and within governments, to improve food and water security, and create more climate-resilient farming systems.
Scaling Water bunds for climate Resilience Management in Kenyan rainfed agri-food systems (SwaRM)
Led by Marie-Charlotte Buisson of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
While rainfed Kenyan agricultural sector faces high drought and land degradation risks, nature-based solutions such as water bunds restore soil moisture retention capacity, enhance rangeland conditions, and improve livelihoods. Though promising, these solutions need to swarm across landscapes and communities to deliver benefits at scale. Harnessing expertise from knowledge partners (IWMI-CGIAR, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Tegemeo Institute), building on projects implemented by local partners and back-up against engagement with the Kenyan government, this research project aims to understand water bunds adoption behaviour by communities and individuals and identify efficient and equitable scaling pathways of nature-based water retention practices.
From VU Amsterdam, Professor of Natural Capital Economics Pieter van Beukering and environmental economist Marije Schaafsma will participate.
About the NL-CGIAR research programme
The Water-Food Nexus call is one of the instruments of the NL-CGIAR research programme phase II (2024-2030). The NL-CGIAR programme is part of the partnership between the Dutch government and CGIAR. The programme aims to promote knowledge, knowledge utilisation and innovation for global food and nutrition security (SDG2). This is achieved by strengthening cooperation between CGIAR, Dutch research and knowledge institutions, and stakeholders from National Agricultural Research and Extension Services (NARES), civil society organisations, the private sector and government organisations. The NL-CGIAR research programme is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by NWO. In implementing the programme, NWO works closely with CGIAR and the Netherlands Food Partnership, and coordinates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature.