Status of the African Soil Partnership (AFSP)...Status of the African Soil Partnership (AFSP) By Prof Victor O. Chude, Chair, African Soil Partnership (AfSP), National Programme for
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Status of the African Soil Partnership (AFSP) By Prof Victor O. Chude, Chair, African Soil Partnership (AfSP), National Programme for Food Security, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja, Nigeria
By Prof Victor O. Chude, Chair, African Soil Partnership (AfSP), National Programme for Food Security, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja, Nigeria
African Soil under Pressure
Source: Shutterstock
Presenter
Presentation Notes
AfSP was formed as part of the GSP in recognition of the central role of soil resources as a basis for food security and their provision of key ecosystem services, including climate change adaptation and mitigation. Despite these numerous emergent activities, soil resources are still seen as a second-tier priority and no international governance body exists that advocates for and coordinates initiatives to ensure that knowledge and recognition of soils are appropriately represented in global change dialogues and decision making processes. At the same time, there is need for coordination and partnership to create a unified and recognized voice for soils and to avoid fragmentation of efforts and wastage of resources. Maintaining healthy soils required for feeding the growing population of the world and meeting their needs for biomass (energy), fiber, fodder, and other products can only be ensured through a strong partnership. This is one of the key guiding principles for the establishment of the Global Soil Partnership. African Soil Partnership (AfSP) was established among interested and active stakeholders. AfSP works in close coordination with FAO Regional Offices and will establish an interactive consultative process with national soils entities (soil survey institutions, soil management institutions, scientific soil societies, and soils scientists working in land resources, climate change and biodiversity institutions/programmes, etc), as well as with regional soil science societies and other relevant regional mechanisms under the various related conventions.
Eastern and Southern Africa (ESASP) 25-27 Mar 2013, Nairobi, Kenya
Western and Central Africa (WCASP) 4-6 Feb 2013, Accra, Ghana
The African Soil Partnership (AfSP)
To form a part of the GSP of FAO To become a recognized voice for soils To combat soil degradation, promote food security and ecosystem
services, and climate change adaptation and mitigation Form a platform for information sharing
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Presentation Notes
The AFSP was formed during two sub-regional workshops. The Western and Central Africa Soil Partnership (WCASP) was launched in Accra, Ghana during February 2013, while the Eastern and Southern Africa Soil Partnership (ESASP) during March 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya. The launches were attended by a total of 43 national institutions and sub-regional Communiqués were prepared to report on the establishment of the sub-regional soil partnerships and express the urgent need to promote the sustainable management of soils. AfSP was formed in recognition of the central role of soil resources as a basis for food security and their provision of key ecosystem services, including climate change adaptation and mitigation in Africa
Challenges facing Sustainable Soil Management in Africa Inadequate capacity, knowledge and experience to
plan and implement SSM Poor financing and political will for SSM policies
Poor national soil information/data and weak
linkages between researchers, farmers and agents Limited access of farmers to new SSM technologies
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Presentation Notes
SSM means Sustainable Soil Management Inadequate capacity, knowledge and experience to plan and implement SSM and optimally manage, mitigate and monitor the productive and degradation status of the soils; especially under intensive cultivation. Where regional and national SSM policies exist, financing is often not a priority and/or implementation can be ineffective due to a lack of political will or a lack of implementation capacity. In many countries policies regulating soil use are lacking. Soil information/data at national level is often inadequate, outdated, not in digital format and not geo-referenced. Data availability is further restricted by intellectual property often held by private institutions that are not willing to share data for national use, or data needs to be paid for prior to use. Also, Weak linkages between researchers, farmers and extension services to optimize information exchange. Limited access of farmers to new sustainable soil management technologies . �More Challenges a) Lack of national or umbrella organizations leading the campaign for promoting and awareness creation of SSM. b) Under investment in research and development and infrastructure. c) Lack of functional competitive markets d) Predominance of customary land tenure e) Stagnating agricultural productivity, low fertilizer use and high population growth.
SSM Priorities in Member Countries Address soil degradation as a factor of food security
Implement sustainable soil management with focus on soil health/fertility
Develop update and disseminate harmonized regional soil information
Address climate change and build resilience
Capacity building and development in all the soil related applications
Establish linkages and networks for soil information
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Six main areas of action were identified during the workshops as priority areas of action to promote sustainable soil management. Addressing soil degradation as a major factor in food insecurity and making country and region-wide efforts to rehabilitate degraded lands and change them to productive assets through community participation (Relates to Pillar 1). Guiding and enabling the implementation of sound and sustainable soil management practices and the restoration of soil health at all levels towards food security (Relates to Pillar 1). Developing, updating and disseminating updated and harmonized national and regional soil resource information addressing all user needs including soil fertility information and making the best use of science available to increase soil productivity (Relates to Pillars 4 and 5). Addressing climate change and developing resilience towards climate change adaptation (Relates to Pillars 1 and 3). Developing and implementing training and capacity building programmes in all soil applications for existing and new generations of experts in soil science and land management, taking into account the gender balance (Relates to Pillar 2). Establishing linkages and networks with other national, regional and global initiatives that impact soil health (Relates to Pillars 1 and 2).
Achievements of the AfSP
1. Regional Digital Soil Mapping Training DSM capacity identified as priority need during the sub-
regional launches Organised by FAO/GSP, financed by the European
Commission
Eastern and Southern Africa (ESASP) 13-17 Oct 2014 and 23-27 Feb 2015 Nairobi,
Kenya
Western and Central Africa (WCASP) 16-27 Mar 2015 Accra, Ghana
Presenter
Presentation Notes
The need for regional training on digital soil mapping was identified as priority during the two sub-regional soil partnership launches and was subsequently organized by the FAO/GSP utilising funding from the European Commission. A representative per country was trained in this technology and a laptop donated to the national institution as part of the training facilities. A common gap was identified in terms of improving the availability of updated soil data and information for supporting decision taking in relation to soil management. Capacity development in this area was identified as priority in the region. This programme majorly aims at building the capacity of participants using the state of the art technology on digital soil mapping to bridge the gap in terms of improving the availability of updated, quantitative and reliable soil data and information for supporting decision making in relation to sustainable soil management.
Representatives trained on DSM A laptop donated to national institutions One representataive per country
trained on digital soil mapping
Accra, Ghana
Nairobi, Kenya
Accra, Ghana
Nairobi, Kenya
Presenter
Presentation Notes
A representative per country was trained on state of the art technology on digital soil mapping to bridge the gap in terms of improving the availability of updated, quantitative and reliable soil data and information for supporting decision making in relation to sustainable soil management.
Digital Soil Mapping Training
Participants developed and presented DSM case studies for their countries
Certificates of attendance presented to all participants.
Burkina Faso
Togo
Guinea
Sierra Leone
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Presentation Notes
The first week of training was dedicated to training on the open source software used for digital soil mapping and the data cleaning and preparation steps using a practice data set. During the second week, participants used data from their own countries, where available, or data from alternative countries, to develop a soil map of selected soil properties. These case studies were presented to the group on the last two days. All participants received certificates of attendance, presented by representatives from the FAO.
2. The AfSP Consultative Workshop, 2015
Aims
Identify regional priorities for sustainable soil management
Consolidate the African Soil Partnership (AFSP)
Establish a steering committee and Pillar working groups
Consultative workshop held in Ghana, 20th to 22nd May, 2015
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Presentation Notes
Aim: - identify regional priorities for sustainable soil management - consolidate the African Soil Partnership (AFSP) by establishing a steering committee and working groups as per the Regional Soil Partnerships guidelines, and to review and finalise the AfSP Implementation Plan and discuss the way forward.
3. Formation of AfSP Steering Committee West Africa: Nigeria (Chair) and Benin East Africa: Djibouti and Mauritius Central Africa: Chad and Gabon Southern Africa: Mozambique and Botswana Other Partners: ASSS and IITA
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Presentation Notes
West Africa: Mr. Victor Chude, Nigeria (Chair); Mr. Igue A. Mouinou, Benin East Africa: Mr. Hami Said, Djibouti; Mr. Vinod B. Lalljee, Mauritius Central Africa: Mr. Michel Naitormbaide, Chad; Mr. Yves Bagafou, Gabon Southern Africa: Ms. Laurinda Nobela, Mozambique; Mr. Chebukani Fanani, Botswana Other Partners: Mr. Martin Yemefack, African Soil Science Society; Mr. E. Jeroen Huising, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. Other Partners: ASSS and IITA - ASSS – Africa Soil Science Society - IITA – International Institute of Tropical Agriculture The Steering Committee could be envisaged to be the highest governance body, tasked to provide strategic direction to the Regional Soil Partnership and advise the Chair in connection with decision-making on important operational steps (calls for meetings, e-mail consultations, formulation of cooperation agreements on specific tasks, finding sources of financing, etc). The Chair belongs to one of the most representative regional institutions with interest in soils in the same geographical area. Members of the Steering Committee are GSP partners of the African region and were selected through an open and transparent process, taking account of balanced representation of geographic areas (i.e. within the region), gender as well as stakeholder groups. The Chair is ready to participate at sessions of the GSP Plenary Assembly to report on regional activities. Picture showing the Steering Committee and AfSP Secretariat
4. Working Groups for GSP Pillars Five Pillar Working Groups were set up to
contribute to developing a detailed Implementation Plan for the AfSP Pillar Chairs:
1. Uganda 2. Lesotho 3. Cameroon 4. Kenya 5. Mauritius
Presenter
Presentation Notes
These five Pillar Working Groups were set up to contribute to the intensive process of developing detailed Implementation Plans for the AfSP GSP Pillars of Action: 1- Promote sustainable management of soil resources for soil protection, conservation and sustainable productivity 2- Encourage investment, technical cooperation, policy, education awareness and extension in soil 3- Promote targeted soil research and development focusing on identified gaps and priorities and synergies with related productive, environmental and social development actions 4- Enhance the quantity and quality of soil data and information: data collection (generation), analysis, validation, reporting, monitoring and integration with other disciplines 5- Harmonization of methods, measurements and indicators for the sustainable management and protection of soil resources
5. Developing an AfSP Implementation Plan Pillar 1
1. Status Report: Soil degradation status, trends and potential for
agriculture in major agro-ecological zones and existing SSM practices identified
Time frame – 3 years
Estimated cost – USD 500,000
2. SSM Practices implemented: Upscale SSM implementation in selected priority
areas
Time frame – 5 years
Estimated cost – USD 500,000
Presenter
Presentation Notes
The number of Products per Pillar are optimistic considering that the Implementation Plan is for 5 years. However, even though all activities may not be achieved, it was considered important to indicate which activities and products are essential for Africa in the move towards SSM if sufficient funds and capacity were available. Further, because part of the aim of the implementation plan is to draw the attention of donors and funders, a variety of important activities are listed in order to provide funders with a range of options. As certain funding sources focus on certain types of activities, this increases the chance of acquiring funding. The number of products for the five Pillars so far are (total of 25 products): Pillar 1 = 4 Pillar 2 = 6 Pillar 3 = 4 Pillar 4 = 7 Pillar 5 = 4
5. Developing an AfSP Implementation Plan Pillar 1
3. SSM Monitoring System Develop SSM indicators and assess baseline values
for monitoring, including programme to collect soil data
Time frame – 3 years
Estimated cost – USD 200,000
Presenter
Presentation Notes
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5. Developing an AfSP Implementation Plan Pillar 2
1. African Soil Science Society Revitalized AFSSS website updated, create regional page for Africa
in GSP website, revival of Journal of the African Soil Science Society
Time frame – 1 year
Estimated cost – USD 50,000
2. Regional exchange programme for tertiary training Increased training of MSc and PhD students in SSM
through bursaries and student exchange, assessment and updating tertiary soil science curricula
Time frame – 5 years
Estimated cost – USD 200,000
5. Developing an AfSP Implementation Plan Pillar 2
3. Region-specific policies and strategies developed Harmonize policies on inputs and agricultural
products
Time frame – 3 years
Estimated cost – USD 100,000
4. Packaged soil extension information Establish the Soil Doctor Programme with
extension services, government departments, universities and research institutions
Time frame – Dec 2020
Estimated cost – USD 150,000
5. Developing an AfSP Implementation Plan Pillar 3
1. Soil research gaps identified and prioritized Workshop to exchange on soil information
collection and consultant to collect and compile information on soil
Time frame – 1 year Estimated cost – USD 75,000
2. Regional working groups for research themes Identify priority research themes from identified
gaps, develop TOR for working groups, regional workshop to set up working groups
Time frame – 1 year Estimated cost – USD 75,000
5. Developing an AfSP Implementation Plan Pillar 4
1. Reference database of soil data sources National inventories of existing data, analysis of
data availability and copyright, develop metadata
Time frame – 1 year
Estimated cost – USD 100,000
2. Online DSM interaction platform Linked to GSP website, active DSM information
exchange and discussion platform
Time frame – 6 months
Estimated cost – USD 10,000
5. Developing an AfSP Implementation Plan Pillar 4
3. DSM training implemented Training needs assessment, develop training
materials, DSM capacity building and develop technical support system
Time frame – 2 years
Estimated cost – USD 250 000
5. Developing an AfSP Implementation Plan Pillar 5
1. Harmonized soil description concept developed Committee of 10 to implement Pillar 5, assess
different soil classification systems used, develop harmonization concept, step by step guide
functions, quality checks on soil data set from member states
Time frame – 5 years Estimated cost – USD 500,000
Recommendations Soil related issues should be made top priority
African Member Countries’ governments Rapid implementation of action towards
healthy/fertile soils AfSP Implementation Plan should be funded by GSP
partners, specifically EU is being called upon to further support the capacity development component
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Appropriate recognition of the paramount role of soils and Soil Science in ensuring food security and providing key ecosystem services should be prioritised in policy making Actions towards healthy/fertile soils should be rapidly implemented to successfully combat the challenge of food security, sustainable intensification of food production and poverty reduction in Africa. This is to ensure the Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) achieve SDG 2 (End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture), SDG 13 (Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts) and SDG 15 (Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss). Execution of the AfSP implementation Plan should be funded by GSP partners so as to reverse soil degradation in Africa and promote sustainable soil management and enhance food and nutrition security in the region.
Conclusion Sustainable soil and soil resources management
for food and nutrition security, climate change adaptation and mitigation, provision of various ecosystem services and sustainable economic development in Africa could be achieved with proper use of resources and information sharing. AfSP is spearheading this movement in Africa
AfSP Calling attention of Members of GSP Plenary to support FAO/GSP Secretariat in the promoting sustainable soil management in Africa
