Agriculture feeds the economy and the population in most African countries, yet it is among the sectors most exposed to climate variability. Farmers who once relied on predictable seasons now face droughts, floods and shifting pest ranges, while food systems struggle to move produce to markets without heavy losses.

The Fundamentals of Climate-Smart Agriculture & Food Systems Training Course gives newcomers a clear and balanced introduction. It explains the three pillars of climate-smart agriculture, shows how climate risk is assessed at farm and landscape level, and surveys the main practices for crops, livestock, soil and water. It then widens the lens to the whole food system, covering value chains, storage, processing, nutrition, gender inclusion and the policies and finance that make adoption possible.

The course is taught through examples rather than jargon. Participants work through short farm-level scenarios, compare practices on cost, labour and benefit, and practise explaining options in simple language to farmers. They finish by preparing an outline plan for a climate-smart intervention that they can take back to their organisation, community group or department.

By the end of the programme, participants will be able to:

• Explain the three pillars of climate-smart agriculture and why they matter.
• Describe how changing climate affects crops, livestock, fisheries and rural livelihoods.
• Assess climate risk and vulnerability at farm and community level.
• Recommend suitable soil, water and crop management practices for different farming systems.
• Identify climate information and early warning services farmers can use.
• Describe how value chains, storage and markets fit into a resilient food system.
• Recognise gender and social inclusion issues in adoption of new practices.
• Outline a simple climate-smart intervention with indicators and next steps.

The programme is suitable for people starting or broadening work in climate-resilient agriculture, including:

• Agricultural extension officers and field staff
• County and district agriculture and livestock officers
• NGO and development programme officers working on food security
• Farmer cooperative and producer group managers
• Agribusiness and input supplier staff
• Community development and livelihoods officers
• Environment and natural resource officers
• Graduates and young professionals entering the agricultural sector

Participants leave with:

• A plain-language understanding of climate-smart agriculture and its main practices.
• A simple climate risk screening tool for farms and communities.
• A comparison table of practices by cost, labour and expected benefit.
• Ideas for farmer training sessions and demonstration plots.
• An outline plan for a climate-smart project or activity.
• A contact list and reading guide for continued learning.

The course is hands-on and designed for non-specialists. It uses:

• Illustrated presentations with local examples
• Participatory tools practised in groups
• Farm-level scenarios and cost comparisons
• Case stories from smallholder and cooperative settings
• Short peer presentations of action plans

On attending all sessions and completing the practical exercises, participants receive a CPD-accredited Certificate of Completion issued by Vision Reach Global Consultancy.