The international workshop on Adaptation to Climate Change in West African Agriculture, held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from 27-30 April 2009, brought together experts and decision makers to discuss and recommend climate change adaptation options for the agriculture, livestock, forestry and fisheries sectors in West Africa. The event was jointly sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and partner organizations. The aim of the meeting was to formulate recommendations and identify knowledge gaps and opportunities for policy makers, researchers, international organizations and NGOs to implement programmes designed to minimize West Africa’s short- and long-term vulnerability to climate change.
Key recommendations from the workshop include integrating climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies into national and regional development programmes, and improving water resource management with the primary focus on enhancing food security in the region. Participants also recommended developing a comprehensive and action-oriented database of adaptation options for serving the needs of smallholders. In addition, they agreed on the need to establish a West and Central African network on climate change and food security, and a technical secretariat to develop a comprehensive communication plan to facilitate efficient exchange of information related to climate change.
Links to further information
Workshop website
Workshop recommendations