Food systems in Africa face compounding stresses, including shifting seasons, more frequent droughts and floods, rising input costs and growing demand from expanding urban populations. Climate-smart approaches respond by pursuing three goals together: sustainable increases in productivity and income, greater resilience to climate variability, and lower greenhouse gas emissions where feasible.

This course is designed around the practical task of getting such programmes planned and implemented. It begins with the science and policy context, then teaches participants to analyse local climate risks, livelihood zones and gender roles so that practices fit the people expected to adopt them. Training then covers the menu of technologies and management practices, how to assess their costs, benefits and trade-offs, and how to sequence them over several seasons. Implementation topics include institutional arrangements, extension and farmer field schools, input supply, market access, financing, safeguards and monitoring.

Teaching draws on case studies from smallholder systems in East Africa and elsewhere, group work on a district planning exercise and discussions of the obstacles that commonly stall adoption. Participants develop a draft implementation plan for a project or area of their choice.

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

• Explain the principles of climate-smart agriculture and how they link to food security and national policy.
• Assess climate risk and vulnerability for farming systems, value chains and communities.
• Select suitable practices and technologies for different agro-ecological and livelihood contexts.
• Compare practice options using simple cost-benefit and trade-off analysis.
• Design an implementation plan with a work schedule, budget and delivery arrangements.
• Apply participatory approaches that include women, youth and marginal farmers.
• Identify financing and insurance options for climate-smart investments.
• Set indicators and monitoring routines for adaptation, productivity and income results.

The course serves people who plan, fund or deliver agricultural development, such as:

• County and national agriculture and livestock officers
• Agricultural extension officers and trainers
• NGO and development programme managers
• Cooperative and farmer organisation leaders
• Agribusiness, input supplier and processor sustainability staff
• Climate change and environment officers in government
• Donor and development partner programme advisers
• Monitoring and evaluation officers in food security projects

Participants leave the course with:

• A climate risk and vulnerability profile for a chosen area or value chain.
• A shortlist of prioritised practices with expected costs and benefits.
• A draft implementation work plan and budget.
• A stakeholder engagement approach that includes women and youth.
• A results framework with adaptation and food security indicators.
• A map of possible financing sources for their programme.

The course uses participatory methods suited to field practitioners, including:

• Illustrated technical presentations on practices and technologies
• Case studies of smallholder projects across East Africa
• Participatory mapping and seasonal calendar exercises
• A district planning simulation carried out in teams
• Peer presentation and feedback on draft implementation plans

Participants who attend all sessions and complete the planning exercises are awarded a CPD-accredited Certificate of Completion by Vision Reach Global Consultancy.