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Amid Climate Change and Insecurity: How Women Build Resilience in Mali

2026-09-01

In Mali, women farmers are facing multiple challenges at once. Climate change is degrading land and making natural resources increasingly scarce, while conflict is forcing communities to leave behind their livelihoods. At the same time, women continue to produce food, feed their families and contribute to peace and community development. We spoke to Fatoumata Goundou Sissoko, President of the Réseau des Femmes pour les Droits Environnementaux (REFEDE Mali, english: Network of Women for Environmental Rights), about what resilience means for women farmers in Mali, the barriers they continue to face and why women need to be at the heart of decisions about the future of food systems.

By Fatoumata Goundou Sissoko

Fatoumata Goundo Sissoko is a Malian expert on women’s rights, climate resilience and sustainable natural resource management. She is President of the Réseau des Femmes pour les Droits Environnementaux au Mali (REFEDE-Mali), a network of around 40 organisations founded in 2013. Her work focuses particularly on women’s empowerment, their participation in environmental decision-making and equitable access to land and natural resources.

All contributions

When you think about the farming communities you work with in Mali, what does resilience look like today?

Fatoumata Goundou Sissoko: The resilience of communities, particularly women, is their capacity to continue producing, feeding their families, and investing in peace and community development. Despite security challenges, climate change and economic difficulties, these women continue to produce and ensure the nutrition of their families.

Women are not only on the front line when it comes to these challenges. They also drive solutions.

What are currently the biggest challenges preventing women from contributing fully to resilient food systems in Mali?

One fundamental problem is access to land, particularly because of traditions and customs. In rural areas, there is still the idea that land should not be given to a woman because she will eventually marry and join another family. If she owns land belonging to her family, the concern is that she will take it into another family. But things are gradually changing. Mali’s agricultural law requires a share of developed agricultural land to be allocated to women.

Editor’s note: Under Mali’s 2017 Agricultural Land Law, at least 15 percent of agricultural land developed by the state or local authorities is to be allocated to women’s and youth groups and associations.

And is the situation different in urban areas?

In urban areas, this problem is different because if women have sufficient income, they can buy land and work without these obstacles. But in rural areas, women often do not have the financial resources or access to finance to buy land for their production. That is why we work together with village chiefs and local authorities so that, through consultation, women can access land. Rather than allocating plots individually, women can organise themselves into cooperatives or groups. The land is then allocated to their organisation with an official administrative document so that it cannot simply be taken away once they have invested in it.

Beyond access to land, what other challenges do women face?

Women also lack access to training in technologies and innovations, as well as financing and participation in decision-making. In rural areas, boys are still more likely to go to school, while women often have fewer educational opportunities. They carry the burden of domestic work and often marry very young. As a result, they do not always have the opportunity to develop the skills and capacities they need to participate in decision-making bodies and defend their own concerns and needs.

Climate change is another major challenge. We are facing land degradation while natural resources, particularly water, are becoming increasingly scarce. Yet, water is essential for agricultural production.

And in Mali specifically, we also have the security challenge. Insecurity often forces people to move from one area to another. Once you leave your community, you also leave behind your means of production and your livelihoods. You have to start a new life somewhere else. This requires significant support and financing. People need the means to restart income-generating activities, support their families and ensure that their children can continue going to school. There is also the challenge of illiteracy and access to digital technologies. In today's world, women need to be able to use these tools to access information and markets. All of these are challenges facing our rural women.

Among these interconnected challenges, which feel most pressing for women in Mali today?

That is difficult (to answer) because climate change is a major challenge today. All factors of production are linked to it. Climate change affects almost everything we undertake. And then there is security. These are two of the biggest challenges we face.

Can you share an initiative that has already made a real difference for women and rural communities?

Yes. We developed a project supporting the resilience of communities in Djenné, Mopti and the district of Bamako in the context of climate change. One of the main areas we worked on was women's participation in decision-making. It can open opportunities for financing, strengthen community resilience and increase women's participation in community and solidarity initiatives. At the time, Mali's National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy was being revised. We used this opportunity to advocate for gender issues to be included in the strategy, bringing together technical and financial partners, government institutions, NGOs, women's organisations and youth organisations in consultation workshops.

And was the advocacy successful?

Yes. Women's concerns were incorporated into the national document. Similar processes were carried out in Mopti and Djenné so that (the perspectives of) different actors could be represented in strategic policies at national, regional and local levels. And the second part of the project focused on income-generating activities, supporting young people in central Mali whose livelihoods are affected by insecurity and climate change. We provided equipment and working capital for activities such as market gardening, poultry and fish farming, combined with a mentoring system to provide continued support beyond the project.

What message would you like policymakers and decision-makers to take from the experiences of women farmers in Mali?

The message I would like to give is that women farmers are not just beneficiaries, but drivers of solutions. Their local knowledge needs to be valued, and women need to be able to take ownership of financing mechanisms that already exist. Local authorities should integrate women's resilience and food systems transformation into their development plans, because women are at the beginning and at the end of the food system.

They need to be at the heart of decisions and strategies, whether at national, regional or local level.

Feminist development policy – A new beginning?

An Interview by Journalist Jan Rübel

Cameroonian gender and peace activist Marthe Wandou on the role of women and girls in development policy – then and in the future.

A group of women in colorful clothing and headwraps gather outdoors, engaged in conversation near rustic buildings.

Small cup, big impact

A Contribution by UFULU and GIZ

A menstrual health pilot in Rural Malawi empowers rural women in Agribusiness through hygiene products and helps to improve working conditions in rural areas.

Digital participation in the agrofinance sector: rural development and women's inclusion

A Contribution by GIZ

Data security, financing, the automation of loans and the use of alternative data - the digitalisation of financial services in the agricultural sector has many facets, which an international conference with representatives of the agricultural finance sector in Zambia addressed. But how does the digitalisation of financial services contribute to rural development and the inclusion of women?

Women in colorful attire sift grains under a sunny sky, engaging in traditional agriculture. | © GIZ Joerg Boethling

What connects gender and the environment

Women can play a vital role in the change process both when it comes to climate protection and adapting to climate change. But the reality is often still not quite like this: women and girls are particularly badly affected by the climate crisis. Is the topic of gender getting enough attention at the upcoming climate conference? Questions for Bettina Jahn from UN Women Germany.

A woman in a vibrant pink dress tends to young rice plants in a lush, green paddy field.

Why organic is a „blessed” method

An Interview by Claudia Jordan

Three female entrepreneurs from Mozambique, Sri Lanka and Uganda tell their stories about starting organic businesses from scratch, now selling Baobab Oil, Gotukola powder and Shea butter in international markets. And they explain why their business is almost 100 percent female.

A group of men wearing masks engage in a fruit preparation activity, emphasizing that nutrition is not just a woman's concern.

Nutrition is not just a women’s issue

A contribution by GIZ

When women have control over the resources of a household and manage the income, it usually leads to a more balanced and healthier diet for the family. But often the decision-making power lies with the men. How can this gender inequality be addressed? The GIZ global project Food Security and Resilience provides insights into project work on gender-transformative approaches finances by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Aerial view of a Madagascar landscape showing a patchwork of fields and a dirt road dividing dry and green areas.

Towards Climate Justice: Securing Women’s Land Rights for a Resilient Tomorrow

A Contribution by TMG

In the midst of global climate discussions, a resounding call emerges: Women's land rights must be the cornerstone of our climate actions. They're not just pieces of the puzzle; they form the foundation for true climate resilience. TMG Think Tank for Sustainability reports from the first African Climate Summit.

A woman in a blue headscarf carries freshly harvested onions in a vibrant field, showcasing sustainable solar irrigation.

Learning from Each Other

An Interview with Dr. Jacqueline Mkindi

Partnerships are needed to face the multiple shocks for food systems. This is what Dr. Jacqueline Mkindi, president of the Agriculture Council Tanzania (ACT) and CEO of the Tanzanian Horticulture Association (TAHA) states.

Gender Justice – a Precondition for Resilience

A contribution by IFPRI

Women and girls in poorer countries are affected in particular ways by the multiple crises the world is currently facing. Uncovering the linkages between gender, resilience and food security, experts from International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) look at ways to support women and girls’ capacity to respond to crises.

A smiling woman in a green shawl raises her hand enthusiastically during a conference meeting.

Shu Wen Ng, the Clear-Sighted

An Interview with Shu Wen Ng

Shu Wen Ng is a health economist. She knows what is best suited to go on a plate. But how can this be achieved on a mass scale in countries with lower incomes? "The solutions to gett there already exist," she says, "but what is often missing is courageous leadership to implement them."

Against all Odds

A Contribution by Claudia Huber

Rose Okello is a Matoke farmer and single mother living in a village near Mbarara, a town in southern Uganda. To ensure that she can pay for her family's food, her children's school fees and other expenses on time, Rose uses various financial services. Her story portrays hurdles but also hope for women in agribusiness.

Stick together and learn from each other

By Claudia Jordan

During the Women Leadership Programme in May 2024, around 20 women from African countries and Germany met again for a one-week workshop in Bavaria, Germany to become fit for leadership in their organisations. One topic that concerns the women across countries is climate change, but also violence against women and their discrimination in agriculture.

A woman in a red headscarf observes young plants growing in a greenhouse, tending to them carefully.

Uprooting the Norm

A Contribution by GIZ

As a passionate social scientist and entrepreneur from Malawi, Ngabaghila Chatata knows that she can overcome any challenge. Her story stands out in a country faced with high unemployment, particularly in its rural areas. As the managing director of Thanthwe Farms, she has set out to inspire the next generation of young agripreneurs – proving that successful business starts with the right mindset, not only capital.

Where Goats Listen to the Radio

A Contribution by GIZ

German and Ugandan women farmers come together in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to exchange experiences – from modern milking systems to the challenges of women's participation in agricultural decision-making. Amid goats, lavender ice cream, and engaging discussions, one thing becomes clear: women can achieve great things together, across borders and generations.

Five women in colorful attire proudly display their land titles in Madagascar, celebrating empowerment and ownership.

Towards more equitable rural realities

A Contribution by GIZ

In the #HerLand campaign for COP16, the UNCCD is focusing on women as key players in conserving soils and combating drought. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has also contributed to the campaign focusing on securing women's land rights.

A person tends to drying coffee beans on raised beds under a bright blue sky in a lush rural setting.

Improving The World, Sip by Sip

A Conversation with Maura Oerding

Maura Oerding has a mission: With the specialty coffee Angelique's Finest, she not only wants to enter new markets but also revolutionize the coffee industry. Her recipe for success? Empowering women from Rwanda and Uganda from cultivation to marketing. Oerding’s goal: quality, fairness, and self-determination in every bean.

A woman in a blue sari arranges white silk cocoons on a woven wall in a rural setting.

Gender-Transformative Approaches – Unlocking Everyone’s Potential

A Contribution by GIZ

Studies show that women often manage agricultural resources more effectively and sustainably. With equal access to production resources, agricultural yields could increase by up tp 30 per cent. But this is about more than just productivity. How can gender-transformative approaches (GTA) drive meaningful change and why are GTA key to sustainable change?

A smiling woman in a polka dot dress holds a baby, embodying change and joy in a lush outdoor setting.

Women as Change Agents

A conversation with Caroline Kayanja, Dr. Eileen Nchanji, & Theresa Herbold

A transformation of agricultural and food systems is not possible without overcoming structural gender inequalities. In this discussion, Caroline Kayanja (UCOBAC), Dr Eileen Nchanji (CIAT) and Theresa Herbold (Ministry of Development) reflect on the key challenges and solutions – from land access and representation to women-led collectives and innovative technologies.

"We want to change the narrative of rural women"

A Contribution by GIZ

Development cooperation doesn't resonate in Germany? The Bavarian rural women have a different story to tell. A visit to a training session with female smallholder farmers from Kenya, Zambia and Uganda in Bavarian Herrsching am Ammersee.

A political opportunity to overcome structural barriers for women farmers

A Contribution by Claudia Jordan

The International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF), launched by the United Nations for 2026, is more than a symbolic moment. It is a political opportunity – and responsibility – for German development cooperation. This is what the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) emphasised during Grüne Woche trade fair in Berlin.

Food Systems, Law, and Social Inclusion: Reflections from Kenya

An Interview with Camara Castro

Food systems shape social realities. Whether legal claims can be enforced also depends on access to legal institutions. Camara Castro from the Amka Africa Justice Initiative shows how legal work in Kenya helps reduce the gap between law and lived reality and contributes to making agri-food systems more just.

A collage illustrates themes of conflict, sustainability, and economic transformation with imagery of weapons, nature, and currency. — Copyright: GIZ

Extreme uncertainty as the new normal

A Contribution by GIZ

Disruption or transformation? With the new Strategic Foresight Report for Agriculture and Food Systems, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) looks into future scenarios of the post 2030 era.

It Takes the Whole Family: Why Family Farming Builds (Climate) Resilience

An Interview with Irish Baguilat

(Climate-)Resilience is often discussed in terms of technology, finance or new farming practices. But for Irish Baguilat, Coordinator for Sustainable Agriculture and Women Farmers' Agenda at the Asian Farmers' Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA), resilience starts with people. It begins with families and communities working together.

(c) Christoph Püschner/Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe — Liberia / Monrovia 2015: Vor dem Elwa Hospital kontrolliert ein Mitarbeiter mit einem Infrarot-Thermometern die Temperatur der ambulanten Patienten.

“Corona exposes the weaknesses of our nutritional systems"

Interview with Arif Husain (WFP)

The United Nations plan a Food Systems Summit - and now the Corona-Virus is dictating the agenda. The Chief Economist of the UN World Food Programme takes stock of the current situation: a conversation with Jan Rübel about pandemics, about the chromosomes of development - and about the conflicts that inhibit them.

A man in camouflage distributes food to people, including women and children, from a large pot outdoors.

5 questions to F. Patterson: Why is there more hunger?

Interview with Fraser Patterson

Every year in October, the "Welthungerhilfe" aid organisation, with the Irish "Concern Worldwide" NGO, publishes the Global Hunger Index, a tool with which the hunger situation is recorded. What are the trends - and what needs to be done?

Is the international community still on track in the fight against hunger?

Interview with Miriam Wiemers (Welthungerhilfe)

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2020 shows that the world is not on track to meet the international goal of “zero hunger by 2030”. If we continue at our current speed, around 37 countries will not even have reached a low hunger level by 2030.

People lead donkeys loaded with goods past tall cacti and a large tree in a dry, mountainous landscape under a clear blue sky.

Resilience in times of crisis

Yemen is currently experiencing one of the worst disasters, due to war, hunger and disease outbreaks. The GIZ is locally engaged to improve the nutrition and resilience of Yemenites.

A project of GIZ

Leveraging investment impacts

A contribution by Heike Baumüller, Christine Husmann, Julia Machovsky-Smid, Oliver Kirui, Justice Tambo

Any initiative whose aim is to reduce poverty in Africa should focus first on agriculture. But what kind of investment has the greatest impact? The use of scientific criteria provides some answers.

Revolutionising Humanitarian Aid

A contribution by Ralf Südhoff

Financial innovations can prevent a crisis turning into a catastrophe. The livelihoods of people in affected areas may well depend on intervention before a crisis – and on risk funds.

(c) Christoph Püschner/Zeitenspiegel — Indonesien / Borneo, März 2000: Nördlich von Palangkaraya liegen inmitten der verwüsteten Landschaft die Basislager illegaler Holzfäller.

Do we have to dare a new food system?

A contribution by Dr. Felix zu Löwenstein (BÖLW)

Lack of seasonal workers and virus explosion in slaughterhouses, rising vegetable prices, climate crisis – all this demonstrates: Our food system is highly productive and (at least for the rich inhabitants of planet earth) guarantees an unprecedented rich and steady food supply - but it is not resilient.

(c) Christoph Pueschner/Zeitenspiegel — Somalia / Mogadischu, Juli 2011: diese Frau floh mit ihren Kindern aus dem 250 Kilometer entfernten Baidoa in das IDP-Camp Al-Hidaaya. © Christoph Püschner/Zeitenspiegel

Global responsibility: Tackling hunger is the only way forward

A contribution by Lisa Hücking (WHH)

Chancellor Merkel has begun an ambitious European political programme: Striving for compromise in budget negotiations, an orderly Brexit as well as an appropriate response to the corona crisis. Unfortunately, one of her positions that she previously held is nowhere to be found: Africa's prosperity is in the interest of Europe.

A man with a rifle stands before a crowd holding pots, illustrating a tense situation at a distribution point.

"Without peace, there will be no development"

Interview with Karina Mroß (DIE)

What contribution does development cooperation make to conflict prevention? What can it do for sustainable peace? Political scientist Karina Mroß talks to Raphael Thelen about post-conflict societies and their chances for peaceful development.

People walk along a red dirt road in a rural village, with greenery and buildings lining the path under a clear sky.

Land is Crucial for Development

A contribution by Roselyn Korleh and M. Sahr Nouwah (WHH)

The Liberian town of Kinjor is a picture-book example for what happens, if land rights aren’t protected, and it illustrates how to move forward from there. The keyword: Multi-Actor Partnership

(c) dpa Picture-Alliance — Heuschreckenplage im Hochland von Madagaskar.

Actual Analysis: The locusts came with the crises

A report by Bettina Rudloff and Annette Weber (SWP)

The Corona-Virus exacerbates existing crises through conflict, climate, hunger and locusts in East Africa and the Horn of Africa. What needs to be done in these regions? To face these challenges for many countries, all of these crises need to be captured in their regional context.

A person uses a tablet in a greenhouse, symbolizing innovation with a lightbulb icon featuring a tree.

Innovation Challenge 2021

Competition for ideas by BMZ

Out of 40 consortia that applied from all over the world, 14 were invited to present their innovative concept on agroecological approaches in the form of an online pitch and to face the questions of an international jury of experts. Find out which six semi-finalists were selected by the jury and what happens next in this article.

A Climate of Hunger: How the Climate Crisis Fuels the Hunger

A photo reportage by the Zeitenspiegel agency

Every one degree Celsius rise in temperature increases the risk of conflict by two to ten percent. The climate crisis is a humanitarian crisis, as the photos by Christoph Püschner and Frank Schultze illustrate.

A dusty road winds through lush green hills at sunset, with smoke rising in the distance.

Drugs and the Environment

A Contribution by Jorrit Kamminga

This year's United Nations World Drug Report highlights for the first time the nexus between illicit drugs and the environment. In view of climate change, it is time to feed the debate with facts and make drug policy greener

How are transformation and crisis intervention related, Dr. Frick?

An Interview by Jan Rübel

Martin Frick has been director of the WFP office in Berlin for a year – since then one hunger crisis has followed another. What are the diplomat's answers? A conversation about opportunities in agriculture, the interplay of multiple crises, the importance of resilience and tighter budgets.

A stormy sky looms over a vast green wheat field in Ukraine, creating a dramatic and contrasting landscape.

From reaction to action

A contribtion by GIZ

A Year of Multiple Crises: Russian war against Ukraine, extreme weather events, high prices for energy and fertilizer, food crisis had severe implications for food security and agriculture globally and especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. A Transformation of the food systems is needed.

How the War against Ukraine Destabilizes Global Grain Markets

A Contribution by GIZ

Since early February 2022, two of the biggest grain and oilseed exporters have been at war. An overview, which countries are affected most severely by the destabilized grain markets, and what comes next.

A vibrant yellow field stretches under a dramatic cloudy sky, with green trees lining the horizon. | © Unsplash

The Black Sea Breadbasket in Crisis: Facts and Figures

An infographic by ONEWORLD no Hunger

Rising food and gas prices, physical destruction and supply chain disruptions: Why the Black Sea region matters and how the war in Ukraine affects global food security.

A line of trucks carrying UNICEF-labeled boxes travels along a rural road under a clear blue sky.

What the Middle East conflict means for the children in Gaza

An Interview by Jan Rübel

The Gaza Strip depends heavily on humanitarian aid, more than ever with the current war. Gaza population is very young: Half of them are children. What is their situation on the ground? Questions for Lucia Elmi, Unicef Special Representative to the State of Palestine.

Sparse desert vegetation stretches across a vast, sandy landscape under a clear blue sky. | © GIZ Fouad Bestandji

"Climate change is unifying people from the region"

A Contribution by Jan Rübel

In the West Bank, political tensions and increasingly poor weather conditions are making farming more difficult. What needs to be done? Questions for Abbas Milhem, Executive Director of the Palestinian Farmers Union (PFU).

People walk and cycle down a bustling market street lined with makeshift stalls and shops under a clear sky.

Where can international cooperation in Gaza come in, Ms. Asseburg?

An Interview by Jan Rübel

The armed conflict between Israeli forces and the Hamas is escalating. What does this mean for a Gaza, region that was already heavily dependent on external aid? Questions for Dr. Muriel Asseburg, Senior Fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) in Berlin.

Maritime critical infrastructure

A Contribution by the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)

Against the backdrop of the current conflict in Iran and the associated closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic significance of maritime infrastructure has acquired renewed urgency. A 2024 study by the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) examines this relevance and discusses appropriate protective measures for different forms of critical infrastructure within the maritime space.

Food System Investments for Human Security

A Contribution by TMG

A focus on fragile contexts highlights development policy’s unique contribution to security policy and shows how the special initiative “Transformation of Agricultural and Food Systems“ itself needs to develop further. An article by Jes Weigelt, Head of Programmes at the TMG Think Tank for Sustainability.

“Sooner or later, peace will have to be negotiated for the future of Sudan”

An Interview with Dr. Ahmed Amdihun

Risk Reduction is his job. As Head of Disaster Risk Management at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Dr. Ahmed Amdihun works at the intersection of climate resilience, early warning systems and humanitarian preparedness across the Greater Horn of Africa. In this interview, he explains what is needed to strengthen resilience in one of the world's most fragile regions.

The human finca

Interview with Marvin Antonio Garcia Otero

In Eastern El Salvador, campesinos are cultivating a self-image to encourage rural youth to remain in rural areas. With help from Caritas, they have adjusted the cultivation methods to their soils and traditions - Marvin Antonio Garcia Otero,the deputy director of Caritas of the Diocese of San Miguel believes this is the best way to prevent rural exodus and criminality.

Policy against disasters

Interview with Thomas Loster

Insurance companies could provide protection during droughts in Africa. How exactly this could be done is what the industry is currently trying to figure out. First experiences are available. An interview with the Managing Director of the Munich Re Foundation, Thomas Loster

A classroom in the Garden of Eden

By Iris Manner

Deforestation harms people and the environment. With nurseries, farmers can earn money and do good. You just have to know how to do it

A woman stands on stage at the Climate Adaptation Summit 2021 with a backdrop of a stylized road and geometric design.

Climate Adaptation Summit 2021: ‘We can do better’

Event report by Jan Rübel (Zeitenspiegel)

The first Climate Adaptation Summit put climate adaptation at the center of politics for the first time. The virtual meeting united global players with one goal: building resilience is just as important as climate protection itself. Around 15,000 participants discussed direct proposals.

A large video wall displays numerous participants in a virtual conference with a "goes virtual" banner prominently featured.

GFFA 2021 focussed on climate and COVID-19

A report by David Sahay (Zeitenspiegel)

110 speakers from 120 countries met virtually at the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) to discuss the challenges to global food supply. They asked the question: How can food systems support the health of people and the planet?

(c) Mali Lazell/GIZ — Ruanda / Kigali, 2020: Teilnehmer des IOT-Trainings im Digital Transformation Center Kigali.

Mr. Samimi, what is environmental change doing to Africa?

Interview with Cyrus Samimi (IAS)

Environmental change is having a particularly strong impact on the African continent. Its landscapes see both negative and positive processes. What is science's view of this? A conversation with Cyrus Samimi about mobility for livelihoods, urban gardening and dealing with nature.

“We have to prepare for the unexpected”

Interview with Dr Maria Flachsbarth (BMZ)

In August, Germany’s development ministry set up a division concentrating on One Health topics. Parliamentary State Secretary Maria Flachsbarth on knowledge gaps at the human-animal-environmental interface, the link between One Health and food security, and lessons learnt from previous pandemics.

Farmers energetically harvest and toss potatoes in a vibrant field, showcasing teamwork and productivity.

"Farmers are smart"

Interview with Maria Andrade

From the lab to the masses: Maria Andrade bred varieties of biofortified sweet potatoes which are now widely used all over the continent. She sets her hope on the transformation of African agriculture.

"We must mobilise all available resources"

A contribution by Ismahane Elouafi (ICBA)

Freshwater deficits are affecting more and more people throughout the world. In order to counter this, our global food system will have to change, our author maintains. A case for more research on alternative crops and smart water solutions.

(c) Sonja Ritter/WWF — Paraguay / Tavapy, Jan. 2020: Kleinbäuerinnen bei der Mate-Ernte.

Resilient small-scale agriculture: A key in global crises

A contribution by Kerstin Weber and Brit Reichelt-Zolho (WWF)

Biodiversity and sustainable agriculture ensure the nutrition of whole societies. But there is more: These two factors also provide better protection against the outbreak of dangerous pandemics. Hence, the question of preserving ecosystems is becoming a global survival issue.

Two men stand in a sunny field in Ghana, one holding a camera and the other gesturing while speaking.

The Forest Maker and his director

Double interview with Tony Rinaudo and Volker Schlöndorff

Tony Rinaudo uses conventional reforestation methods to plant millions and millions of trees – and Volker Schlöndorff is filming a cinema documentary about the Australian. The outcome so far: An educational film on behalf of the BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development).

Goats gather around a patch of fresh green grass, eagerly grazing together in a fenced area.

Green from the growth container

A contribution by Maria Smentek (WFP)

If there is a lack of fertile soil and rain, hunger breaks out quickly. Maria Smentek from the World Food Programme (WFP) explains how farmers and pastoralists can counter climate change with hydroponic-systems.

Women in Burkina Faso harvest fresh vegetables in a lush, green field, showcasing their agricultural skills.

Gender equality: Essential for food and nutrition security

A contribution by Carsta Neuenroth (BfdW)

The majority of producers in developing countries are women. Although they contribute significantly to the food security of their families, they remain chronically disadvantaged in male-dominated agriculture in terms of access to land, credit, technology and education.

(c) Britta Radike/GIZ — Burundi: Wiederaufforstung der Berghänge gegen Klimawandel und Bodenerosion.

Can we win the race against deforestation?

Interview with Bernadette Arakwiye und Salima Mahamoudou (World Resources Institute)

Deforestation is leading to a shortage of ressources. What are the options for counteracting? A conversation with Bernadette Arakwiye and Salima Mahamoudou about renaturation and the possibilities of artificial intelligence.

A woman and a man celebrate with a child in front of a backdrop announcing the success of planting 10,000 trees.

From Berlin to Yen Bai: 10,000 trees for Vietnam

A contribution by GIZ and BMZ

It began with clicks at a trade fair and ends with concrete reforestation: a campaign at the Green Week in Berlin is now enriching the forests of the Yen Bai Province in Vietnam. A chronicle of an education about climatic relevance to concrete action - and about the short distances on our planet.

Four women smile while selling dried fish and seafood in a lively green market setting.

Planetary Health: Recommendations for a Post-Pandemic World

A contribution by Dr. Kathleen Mar and Dr. Nicole de Paula

Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, health is receiving unprecedented public and political attention. Yet the fact that climate change is also affecting the environmental and social determinants of health in a profound and far-reaching way deserves further recognition.

A narrow dirt path leads to a village with thatched-roof huts surrounded by lush greenery and a dark, cloudy sky.

"Extreme is the new normal"

A report by Alexander Müller and Jes Weigelt (TMG)

As the climate changes, the population of Africa is growing and fertile land and jobs are becoming scarcer. New ways are currently leading to urbanisation of agriculture and a new mid-sized sector in the countryside

This is how developing countries can adapt better to droughts

A contribution by Michael Brüntrup (DIE) und Daniel Tsegai (UNCCD)

Droughts are the natural disasters with far-reaching negative consequences. While rich countries are still vulnerable to drought, famines are no longer found.

Workers in colorful attire cultivate a lush hillside with a breathtaking view of expansive green landscapes.

Together and resourceful against worldwide hunger

A contribution by Brot für die Welt

Climate change disturbs the climate in Ethiopia. The answer from small farmers in the northern region is convincing: diversify!

A man in a green robe uses a tablet while standing in a lush field, with another person visible in the background.

Microinsurance against climate change

A contribution by Claudia Voß

Climate change is destroying development progress in many places. The clever interaction of digitalisation and the insurance industry protects affected small farmers.

A woman in a vibrant yellow dress washes her hands near a hut, while a person sits in the background on a sunny day.

Hunger is caused by people, not the climate

Interview with Jacob Schewe (PIK)

A study by the World Bank predicts that millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa will have to leave their homelands because of climate change. We have spoken with one of the authors

A young person collects water from a small pit in a dry landscape, with a donkey carrying containers nearby.

The North bears the responsibility, the South bears the burden

A report by Susanne Neubert (SLE)

Adaptation to climate change can be achieved by making agriculture more environmentally sustainable – if the rich countries also reduce their emissions

A globe surrounded by farms and food illustrates the global impact of food loss and waste, with a "Driven to Waste" headline.

How much do we actually waste, Mr. McFeely?

An interview with Peter McFeely (WWF)

The WWF has published a sensational study on food waste. The focus: farm-stage food waste. Peter McFeely, Global head of communications and strategic planning at WWF, explains what needs to be done.

Aerial view of a vibrant green field with parallel tractor lines and a distinct curved pattern.

How Can We Feed The World in Times of Climate Change?

A Contribution by Jan Grossarth

Genetically modified bacteria become edible proteins, cows graze on pasture, and no waste is produced in an industrial circular economy. Journalist Jan Grossarth sees a silver lining for the future of world nutrition

The image shows a BMZ publication cover on sustainable agri-food systems with Earth and a focus on ending hunger.

Nine Harvests Left until 2030: How Will the BMZ Organise Itself in the Future?

An Interview with Dirk Schattschneider (BMZ)

"One World no Hunger" (SEWOH) becomes one of the five core themes of the BMZ. Dirk Schattschneider, SEWOH Commissioner about previous approaches, future areas of action, and the political will to end hunger.

The image showcases the "Innovate 2030" initiative, emphasizing SDG 11 for climate-smart and sustainable cities.

Innovate2030: Digital Ideas against Urban Climate Change

A Call by BMZ and Partners

Innovate2030 is looking for creative people from around the world to develop smart and innovative solutions against climate change in cities. Initiated by the Make IT-Alliance.

A group of protesters in Stockholm holds climate change signs during a Fridays for Future event in a sunny park.

‘None of the Three Traffic Light Coalition Parties is Close to the Paris Agreement’

An Interview with Leonie Bremer (FFF)

At the climate conference in Glasgow, activists from various groups protested again – Leonie Bremer from ‘Fridays for Future’ was there too. How can climate protection and development cooperation work hand in hand?

Cracked, dry soil with sparse green plants highlights drought conditions in a rural landscape.

How to Combat Hunger in Times of Climate Crisis?

An Interview with Martin Frick (WFP)

The climate crisis fuels world hunger. What needs to change in the global fight against hunger, and which role plays humanitarian aid in international development cooperation?

A person is pulling weeds by hand from dry soil, focusing on clearing the area around young plants.

No Food Security Without Climate Protection

A Contribution by Michael Kühn (WHH)

Climate change already affects the daily lives of people in the Global South. What are the challenges they face and what do these imply for negotiations at the climate conference in Glasgow?

A woman tends to lush green plants in a field at sunset, embodying sustainable agriculture.

Investing in Healthy Soils: Curse or Blessing?

A Contribution by WWF

How investing in healthy soils provides incentives for more sustainable agriculture even as it demonstrates the need for far reaching changes in the agrisector.

Rolling green hills and scattered trees stretch toward distant mountains under a clear sky.

Soil Restoration Starts with the People

A Contribution by TMG Think Tank for Sustainability

Highlighting how secure tenure rights are key to achieving land degradation neutrality and soil restoration targets..

A woman in traditional attire processes compost in a rural Indian setting, highlighting sustainable agriculture practices.

How to Enhance Soil Organic Carbon – Uniting Traditional and Innovative Practices

A Contribution by GIZ

Indian farmers restore precious soil material combining traditional with innovative approaches. A case example how governance, agriculture and development cooperation can work together to combat climate change.

A tree trunk is covered with locusts as a group of people and goats stand in the background.

Building Better Resilience to Transboundary Threats

A Contribution by the TMG Think Tank for Sustainability

Fuelled by climate change, desert locust plagues become increasingly frequent. A plaidoyer for a paradigm shift on handling transboundary crises.

A modern glass and metal building with a unique curved design is illuminated at dusk along a landscaped pathway.

A New Mindset to Reform Agriresearch

A Contribution by Lennart Woltering (CGIAR)

In context of the 15th CGIAR System Council Meeting, Lennart Woltering shares his assessment of the ongoing One CGIAR reform process.

A dry, barren cornfield stretches towards distant mountains, illustrating the severe drought conditions of 2022.

Building climate-resilient and equitable food systems: Why we need agroecology

Agroecological methods target diversity and resilience and can thus promote the protection of forests, water and soil. Julia Tomalka and Christoph Gornott, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), on the potential of agroecology to safeguard against climate change and build resilient agri-food system.

Lush green foliage thrives in a dense, vibrant display of biodiversity in a tropical jungle setting.

New UN Biodiversity Agreement

A Contribution by Rural 21

Nations adopted four goals and 23 targets for 2030 to foster biodiversity conservation and counter acceleration in the global rate of species extinction at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15).

Five Questions for Dirk Meyer

An Interview with Dirk Meyer (BMZ)

Development cooperation needs to place good governance and a sustainable agri-food systems transformation at its center: After the first 100 days in office have passed, Dirk Meyer from the German Development Ministry (BMZ) spells out the goals, guidelines and priorities of the Ministry’s new lead.

Fair Trade and Climate Justice: Everything is Conntected

A Contribution of the 'Initiative for Sustainable Agricultural Supply Chains' (INA)

Fair Trade organisations and the Initiative for Sustainable Agricultural Supply Chains (INA) have launched the #ichwillfair campaign during COP26 to highlight the link between global supply chains and climate change.

Flags of various countries flutter outside the COP27 venue against a clear blue sky.

COP27: Agri-food systems in the focus of the climate discussion

Stephanie Heiland, Project Manager at Sector Project Agriculture and part of this year’s Observer Delegation of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) at COP27, shares her insights on the role of agriculture and food systems at the climate conference. Among other things, she reports from GIZ’s COP27 side event ‘Climate resilient agriculture and food systems in times of multiple crises and fragility’.

Four individuals stand smiling at the Food Systems Pavilion during the COP27 event in Egypt, 2022.

G7 Sustainable Supply Chains Initiative: From Commitment to Action

Future generations need more sustainable and stable agri-food systems. But how can this comprehensive transformation succeed and what responsibility does the private sector bear? These questions were the focus of the G7 Sustainable Supply Chains Initiative (G7 SSCI) side event as part of the ‘Champion Youth Action’ day at the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27).

The cracked earth of a drought-stricken landscape is illuminated by a vibrant sunset behind sparse bushes.

Climate, biodiversity and nutrition are inextricably linked

The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development sees sustainable agri-food systems as an opportunity to protect the climate, preserve biodiversity and ensure food security in the future. Dirk Meyer, Head of Directorate-General 1 at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, looks ahead to the upcoming COP27.

Two people work in a lush green field with a mountainous backdrop, emphasizing sustainable farming.

Why biodiversity is important for climate protection & food security - and vice versa

The world is facing major challenges that need to be solved. We need to feed an ever-growing population, bring climate change under control and stop the loss of biodiversity. Martina Fleckenstein, Director of Global Policy at WWF, on what is expected from the climate conference in terms of biodiversity and biodiversity conservation.

A modern, angular building with geometric windows stands beside flags at the LCOY event, surrounded by autumn trees.

Social justice and climate justice: Fair Vibe at the Youth Climate Conference

At LCOY Germany, the local youth climate conference, views on climate protection from all political spectrums are discussed. The Fairactivists, a programme of Fairtrade Germany, participated with a panel discussion on the link between social justice and climate justice.

The image illustrates five climate-friendly agricultural methods with simple line drawings and highlighted text.

Five climate-friendly methods in agriculture

A Listicle for climate protection and adaptation

These five management practices can increase agricultural production and contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Lush green terraced fields curve around a winding river, showcasing nature's intricate patterns in action.

CompensACTION aims to reward farmers for climate performance

A Contribution of the Initiative

The CompensACTION Initiative for food security and a healthy planet, launched by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in 2022, is gaining momentum. It aims to financially compensate smallholder farmers for their contribution to preserving ecosystems. Initial successes have been achieved in Ethiopia, Lesotho and Brazil.

A young plant grows in dry, sunlit soil, symbolizing agricultural resilience in Iraq.

“It created hope. It created a life”

An interview with Ally-Raza Qureshi, WFP

Iraq suffered many years of war, sanctions and economic crises. However, Ally-Raza Qureshi from the World Food Programme in Iraq sees progress. But now the effects of climate change are becoming apparent in the country. What is to be done?

A person drives a blue tractor through a lush cornfield on a sunny day.

Farmers reap big from Climate Smart Farming

An Article by Angeline Ochieng & Victor Raballa

Journalists Angeline Ochieng and Victor Raballa visited Ms Bilha Munyole, a Kenyan farmer in Kimilili, Bungoma County, on her maize plantation. About the important role of mechanisation in climate-smart agriculture and in building resilience to the impacts of climate change.

Participants attentively listen during a policy briefing session in a well-lit conference room.

Think20 Policy Brief centres on Agroecology

Insights from the T20 Policy Brief

Given the urgency of transforming agricultural and food systems, GIZ India's Food Systems and Agroecology Working Group is exploring the potential of agroecology in collaboration with Think20 partners. A policy brief has now been published.

A woman in a white shirt and colorful skirt smiles while sitting outdoors, surrounded by lush greenery, promoting Fairtrade.

Earth’s well, all’s well!

A Contribution by Fairtrade Germany

With the annual topic "Earth’s well, all’s well!", Fairtrade Germany is focusing on the concept of agroecology at all levels - and is thus taking the next step towards achieving greater global sustainability. At the Green Week trade fair, Fairtrade Germany will show how this can be achieved taking the cocoa supply chain as an example.

Sowing change

A Contribution by Brot für die Welt

Roughly 800 million people suffer from hunger worldwide. Change is needed - for people and for the environment. Brot für die Welt reports on the starting points offered by everyone's ecological footprint and handprint.

A Call to Action against Desertification

A contribution by GIZ

Every second, worldwide, we lose valuable and healthy soil with the size of four football fields. This was only one of the many facts being presented to a wide audience in Bonn and worldwide via livestream at the World Desertification and Drought Day on 17th June 2024. This was the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on Combatting Desertification (UNCCD), which was celebrated at the Bundeskunsthalle in Bonn.

A group of diverse professionals stands together at a CAADP event, with a presentation screen in the background.

African Union sets the Way for the Future

A Contribution by GIZ

From January 9 to 11, 2025, heads of state and government of the African Union met in Kampala, Uganda. With a clear vision and concrete measures, the Kampala Agenda aims to make the continent's agricultural and food systems climate-resilient, fair and future-proof by 2035.

Delegates sit around a large conference table at the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture, discussing sustainable practices.

Bioeconomy: Ready for a Joint Take-Off?

A Contribution by GIZ

The bioeconomy movement is fundamentally changing agriculture and food production: through innovative ideas, environmentally friendly approaches and the realization that we need to work together globally to ensure that change truly benefits everyone. At this years’ German Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) focused on this topic.

Participants engage in discussions during the SOILution P4C conference, with speakers addressing the audience from a stage.

Elevating Soil Health for a Sustainable Future

A Contribution by Kah Walla

In May, this year's "Partners for Change – SOILutions for a Food Secure, Resilient, and Sustainable Future" conference took place. Kah Walla, Moderator of the Conference and Director of Strategies!, summarises the discussions and declares that healthy soils are not just the foundation of agriculture, but the cornerstone of a resilient, equitable, and climate-smart future.

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Amid Climate Change and Insecurity: How Women Build Resilience in Mali

By Fatoumata Goundou Sissoko

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