Agriculture employs most of the population in many African economies, and climate change is eroding the stability on which that employment depends. Governments, development partners and private firms are directing larger flows of funding toward climate-smart approaches, and they expect leaders to show clear strategy, accountable teams and measurable outcomes.

This senior-level programme blends technical grounding with management practice. Participants review the evidence on practices such as conservation agriculture, agroforestry, drought-tolerant varieties, integrated pest and soil fertility management, water harvesting and climate information services, then ask what it takes to scale them. Leadership topics include setting direction under uncertainty, aligning ministries, counties and partners, building a performance culture, and using adaptive management when conditions shift mid-programme.

Sessions further examine how to design a results framework, run climate risk and vulnerability screening, integrate gender and social inclusion, structure partnerships with input suppliers, buyers and financial institutions, and prepare proposals for climate funds and carbon markets. Teaching combines facilitated discussion, case studies from African food systems and a strategy workshop. Each participant finishes with a practical climate-smart strategy and performance plan for their own organisation, complete with priorities, roles, indicators and funding options.

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

• Articulate a climate-smart agriculture strategy built on productivity, adaptation and mitigation.
• Screen programmes and value chains for climate risk and vulnerability.
• Prioritise investments using cost-benefit and multi-criteria analysis.
• Design a performance framework with indicators and targets for climate-smart results.
• Build and sustain partnerships across government, private sector and communities.
• Lead teams through adaptive management and learning cycles.
• Prepare compelling funding proposals for climate and development finance.

The course is intended for senior and emerging leaders in the agriculture and food sector, such as:

• Directors and chief officers in agriculture ministries and county governments
• Programme and country directors of NGOs and development agencies
• Agribusiness and agro-processing managers
• Heads of cooperatives and farmer organisations
• Donor and development partner programme officers
• Research institute and extension service managers
• Agricultural bank and insurance product heads
• Climate and food security policy advisers

Participants leave the course with:

• A one-page climate-smart strategy for their institution or programme.
• A climate risk screening of their priority value chains.
• A draft results framework with indicators and data sources.
• A partnership map identifying public, private and community roles.
• A short concept outline for a climate finance application.
• A leadership action plan for the first ninety days after the course.

The programme is designed for senior participants and relies on:

• Facilitated peer dialogue led by experienced agriculture and climate practitioners
• African case studies of programmes that scaled and ones that stalled
• A strategy workshop developed progressively over five days
• Templates for risk screening, results frameworks and concept notes
• Individual feedback on the final strategy presentation

On attending every session and presenting a strategy and performance plan, participants receive a Certificate of Completion from Vision Reach Global Consultancy, which is CPD-accredited.