Africa Integrated Climate Risk Management Programme Launched in Senegal to Aid Smallholder Farmers.

The Government of Senegal, in collaboration with international organizations such as IFAD, has officially launched the Africa Integrated Climate Risk Management Programme (AICRM) to enhance the resilience of smallholder farmers in seven Sahelian countries. These countries include Burkina Faso, Chad, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal, all participating in the Great Green Wall initiative.

Partners in this initiative include the Green Climate Fund, AfDB, ARC Group, and the World Food Programme. In Senegal, the programme aims to benefit 169,200 households in nine regions, focusing on improving livelihoods, food security, and water security.

The total cost of the AICRM-Senegal project is USD 19.77 million, with funding from various sources including the Green Climate Fund, IFAD, AfDB, ARC, and the Senegalese government. The programme is set to run for six years until 2029, building on existing IFAD-funded projects in the country.

According to Ndèye Hélène Diallo from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Livestock, the AICRM Senegal programme’s integrated approach to climate risk management will serve as a model for addressing climate change issues. IFAD’s Country Director in Senegal, Matteo Marchisio, emphasized the organization’s commitment to supporting Senegal’s agricultural sector for economic prosperity and food security.

The AICRM programme in Senegal will focus on low-emission agricultural development through sustainable forest and soil management, solar power micro-grids, and solar energy in agricultural value chains. The launch workshop aimed to engage stakeholders, mobilize support, and seek political backing from Senegal’s authorities for the programme’s successful implementation.