The challenge facing Africa is huge, especially as its population is expected to double by 2050. The continent will have to triple its agricultural productivity, while reducing the impacts of climate change on natural resources, including soil, water and biodiversity. Although the region of Central and Western Africa has abundant water resources, only 3 per cent of arable land is irrigated; Hence the importance of small-scale irrigation development and adaptation to climate change in the region to build resilience to increased climate variability.

Climate change is a challenge for rural populations in Central and Western Africa, affecting the proportion of people suffering from insecure access to water. The anticipated effects of climate change, such as rising temperatures and water scarcity, reduce water availability and jeopardize the ability of agriculture to feed the most vulnerable populations, smallholder farmers from developing countries, including rural women.

The project "Adapting small-scale irrigation to climate change in West and Central Africa - AICCA" will provide concrete tools to enable all actors involved in water management, from policy-makers to small-scale farmers, to benefit from adaptation to climate change and make the right decisions about small-scale irrigation practices in order to preserve their ecosystems.