Namibia Hosts First Agroforestry Conference: Paving the Way for Climate-Resilient Food Systems

On Wednesday, 02 October 2024, Namibia held its first Agroforestry Conference at the Windhoek Country Club, bringing together 120 stakeholders to explore the transformative potential of agroforestry systems in addressing climate change challenges facing Southern Africa and Namibia in particular.

Hosted by the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) in collaboration with the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) and financially supported by the Capricorn Foundation, the conference served as a critical platform for knowledge exchange among experts from Namibia and the African region. The conference is a key activity of the HSF Global Project for Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change (GMACC) that aims to support and connect actors for dialogue, knowledge transfer, and co-creation of innovative solutions. Participants engaged in insightful discussions about sustainable agroforestry that can thrive in arid conditions, ultimately leading to climate-resilient food systems.

The conference featured a diverse range of expert presentations, covering topics such as agroforestry as climate-resilient response, improved livelihoods through sustainable agroforestry, food forests agroforestry system as well as case studies from different African countries including Namibia, Zambia and DRC. The afternoon programme saw a dynamic panel discussion highlighting the experiences of passionate agroforestry practitioners. Speakers included experts and practitioners from Namibia as well as from the southern African region, Europe and Latin America. Attendees gained valuable insights on how to adopt best practices from various regions worldwide, tailored to the unique challenges of Namibia's environment.

Patrick Worms, Senior Policy Advisor at the Centre for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), and President of the International Union of Agroforestry, shared insights on how policy and governance can promote agroforestry. He highlighted eye-opening positive and negative examples from different African countries on the correlation of governance and restoration of landscapes through agroforestry.

“Let us use this opportunity to collaborate and share actionable strategies that can transform our landscape and livelihoods”, said Frances Chase, Director of Programmes at the NNF, in her welcoming remarks. “Together we are committed to exploring and promoting agroforestry as a sustainable and climate-resilient practice in Namibia.”

“By integrating agroforestry into Namibia’s farming methods, we can enhance our capacity as a nation to withstand the impacts of climate change. But we cannot do it alone. We need the private sector, government, and civil society to collaborate and support innovative, climate-resilient solutions”, said Veripura Muukua, Capricorn Foundation Coordinator.

In addition to the discussions, an exhibition showcased the work of various GMACC partners from Sub-Saharan Africa, Northern Africa, and Latin America, along with contributions from HSF, NNF, the Namibia Organic Association (NOA), and the Capricorn Foundation. The exhibition allowed organisations to share their objectives and achievements, fostering collaboration and networking among stakeholders.

“Our sessions have underscored the need for collaborative efforts among all stakeholders – government, private sector, NGOs, and local communities,” said Dr Lara Beer, Head of GMACC at the HSF Namibia, in her closing remarks. By adopting agroforestry strategies, participants are optimistic about transforming the landscape of food production in the region.

Presentation slides:

• The Agricuture and Forestry Sector in Southern Africa – An Overview (Albertina Fillipus)
• Food Systems under Threat by Climate Change: Grow Better Crops (Dr Maliata Wanga)
• Agroforestry – A Climate-Resilient Response to Climate Change Challenges in Southern Africa? (Dr Jonathan Sheppard)
• Adaptive Strategies – Integrating Agroforestry Techniques in Namibia (Dr Ibo Zimmermann)
• Climate Change Mitigation through Food Forests (Stephan Eins & Mate Phadinant)
• Sustainable Agroforestry in the DRC: A Focus on the HSF “MUTI IDWINI” and “NZET AGRO” Projects (Luca Kick)
• Community-Based Agroforestry: A Case Study from Zambia (Michelo Royd)
• Syntropic Agroforestry: Our Journey to Abundance – A Case Study from Namibia (Ripura Hewicke)
• Policy as Snake and Ladders: How Agroforestry is Promoted or Hampered around the World (Patrick Worms)
• Private Sector Funding Opportunities for Agroforestry: Bank Windhoek (Chrischen Olivier)

Recordings of the conference: