In southern Africa, the predicted 2°C rise in temperature will destabilize farming systems. Coping mechanisms, livelihood strategies and the cost of adaptation options for smallholder farmers are not sufficiently understood in the region because the majority of research is focused on ecological assessment and identifying the vulnerability of households. In addition, most research is conducted at national and regional levels, with a gap in scientific evidence at a local level to inform policy decisions for effective smallholder adaptation.

 

Open government data and open agricultural data are rapidly emergent focus areas in Caribbean policy, research and development circles. CTA has commissioned this baseline study in the framework of its 2014 AgriHack Talent Caribbean activity, which aims to support youth Information and Communication Technology (ICT) innovations and entrepreneurship in Agriculture in the Caribbean.

This brief, prepared by FARA, defines food security and food sovereignty in the context of Africa; examines Africa’s historical evolution in terms of policies and initiatives that are related to both concepts; discusses the emerging wisdom surrounding Africa’s position with respect to the path it takes to achieve sustainable food security and poverty reduction; and advances the concept of responsible agricultural investments as the option of choice for achieving sustainable food security.

This is the report from the youth activities at the Global Landscapes Forum 2014 which was held in Lima, Peru. The report summarises the challenges facing young professionals in engaging with landscapes issues and effectively participating in conferences. It also includes five ‘next steps’ to strengthen youth participation in future events:

 

1. Refine model of ‘effective youth participation in conferences’.

This publication is based on the results of an expert group meeting on good practices in realizing women’s rights to productive resources, with a focus on land. The meeting was convened by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in Geneva, Switzerland, in June 2012.