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West Africa: More innovation, resilience, and opportunity

Integrated Agricultural Training Sites (SIFAs) were established to tackle critical challenges in West African agriculture, including the impacts of climate change, soil degradation, and rapid population growth. With the region’s population projected to double by 2050, the demand for sustainable and resilient food systems is more urgent than ever. Moreover, this population surge will bring a significant wave of young people onto the labour market, intensifying the need for job creation and viable livelihood opportunities in rural areas. SIFAs offer a critical solution by equipping individuals with the skills to adopt sustainable practices and turn agriculture into a profitable and attractive career path. 

Launched in Niger in 2012, SIFAs provide agroecology training tailored to local contexts. These programmes empower farmers to adopt sustainable practices such as integrated pest management, organic soil enrichment, and crop diversification. By combining traditional knowledge with modern techniques, SIFAs help reduce reliance on expensive chemical inputs while improving productivity and restoring degraded ecosystems. 

Empowering communities and driving entrepreneurship

SIFAs go beyond farming, they turn farmers into entrepreneurs. Through hands-on workshops, demonstration plots, and market-driven training, participants gain both technical and business skills. These include product transformation, cooperative development, and knowledge about value chain integration, enabling farmers to diversify their income sources and unlock new economic opportunities. 

As of today, SIFAs have trained over 22,700 individuals, including 13,891 women. This approach builds resilience in rural communities, fostering self-reliance and collective action. Farmers report higher incomes, healthier soils, and increased market access, transforming agriculture into a profitable and sustainable sector. 

Building a scalable model for sustainable development

SIFAs are more than training centers – they are innovation hubs for sustainable agriculture and economic growth. Institutionalized in Niger and replicated in Mali and Senegal, these programs serve as a model for regional expansion. They demonstrate how agriculture can address both environmental and economic challenges by blending agroecological principles with market relevance. By equipping young people with the skills and opportunities to build profitable agricultural enterprises, SIFAs make farming an attractive career choice, reducing rural exodus and strengthening local economies. 

Farmers trained in SIFAs not only boost their productivity but also become key players in climate resilience. By adopting sustainable practices that improve carbon sequestration and lower greenhouse gas emissions, these farmers actively restore the environment while strengthening their livelihoods 

The SIFAs exemplify how sustainable agriculture – even in fragile context – can unlock economic potential and secure a greener, more prosperous future for West Africa. 

Results

  • The first SIFA was opened in 2012.
  • Since then, 22,700 people have been trained, 13,891 of whom were women.
  • Today a total of 34 SIFAs offer training in Niger, Mali and Senegal.