Senegal

Adaptation and Valorization of Entrepreneurship in Irrigated Agriculture (AVENIR)

2019 - 2024

MEDA, and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), are working together to promote climate-smart agricultural production and entrepreneurship in the regions of Tambacounda and Sedhiou, Senegal. The goal of this project is to improve the socio-economic well-being and resilience of farming households.

Overview

Name

AVENIR stands for Adaptation et Valorisation Entrepreneuriales en Irrigation (et agriculture) Rurales in French, or Adaptation and Valorization of Entrepreneurship in Irrigated Agriculture in English.

Goal

To improve the socio-economic well-being and resilience of farming households in the regions of Tambacounda and Sedhiou, Senegal.

Scope

The AVENIR project is working to support farming households in Tambacounda and Sedhiou, Senegal, focusing on directly benefiting 11,500 women and youth.

Context

Senegal is one of the most politically stable countries in Africa. However, the country is vulnerable to environmental shocks, particularly floods and droughts, which are expected to increase in scale and duration due to increased climate variability. These challenges are placing additional burdens on small farms, which already face land overuse, shorter rainfall and soil degradation challenges. 

Smallholder farmers in Senegal struggle to make profits. Women and youth of farming households have limited knowledge of climate-smart agriculture and irrigation practices and limited access to improved inputs, technology, and land. Unequal family decision-making and unequal access to finances, land and other natural resources at the household and community levels in addition to time constraints due to household obligations also limit the ability of women and youth to respond to climate change. This is made worse by ineffective coordination across market actors and limited knowledge of farming as a business. 

Opportunity

In response to these challenges, AVENIR is facilitating opportunities for farmers to improve their agricultural production, increase their income and climate-resilient agricultural development in the country.

Strategy

To promote market opportunities that will increase the profitability for women and youth in agroforestry, horticulture, and rice value chains, AVENIR is:

  1. Promoting the sustainable intensification of irrigated and climate-change adapted crops by spreading knowledge of improved land management and farm practices, and high-yield and drought-tolerant seed varieties,
  2. Increasing the socio-economic empowerment of women and youth by building farmers and MSMEs’ capacities to operate agribusinesses and link farmers to access loans. AVENIR is also providing financial incentives to MSMEs, linking them to financial institutions, and enhancing the leadership capacity of women and youth to respond to climate change impacts,
  3. Improving the governance and management of water resources by increasing the capacity of local and territorial actors to manage water resources sustainably and equitably with multi-stakeholder platforms.

Our Cumulative Impact by FY2022​

0

Direct Individuals

N/A

Direct Businesses

0
%

Direct Women Clients

0
%

Direct Youth Clients

0

Indirect Individuals

N/A

Indirect Businesses

0

Decent Work

N/A

Total Budget

Funder

This program was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada.

Partners