This paper explores the linkages between selected agricultural adaptation strategies (crop diversity, soil and water conservation, trees on farm, small ruminants, improved crop varieties, fertilizers), food security, farm household characteristics and farm productivity in three contrasting agro-ecological sites in West Africa (Burkina Faso, Ghana and Senegal). The typology developed in this study gives a good entry point to analyse which practices should be targeted to which type of smallholder farmers, and quantifies the effect of adaptation options on household food security. It provides good elements when identifying adaptation options. Chargeable resource.

This paper discusses the applicability and potential benefits of conservation agriculture (CA) in Rwanda under the unfolding climate change scenario. It provides elements for reflection when programming adaptation interventions.

This paper provides climate smart agriculture (CSA) planners and implementers at all levels with a generic framework for evaluating and prioritising potential interventions. This entails an iterative process of mapping out recommendation domains, assessing adoption potential and estimating impacts. Each step of the process is illustrated through examples, related to livestock production in sub-Saharan Africa. The concepts developped in this framework provide useful information in the planning process for climate smart agriculture.

Using data collected from 400 households in the Borena zone of the Oromia Region, this paper explores what drives adoption of agricultural practices that can decrease the vulnerability of agro-pastoralists to climate change.

The Rural Household Multi-Indicator Survey (RHoMIS) is a household survey tool designed to rapidly characterise a series of standardised indicators across the spectrum of agricultural production and market integration, nutrition, food security, poverty and GHG emissions. This study used this tool in two contrasting agro-ecosystems: in the Lushoto district of Tanzania and in the Trifinio border region of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. It highlights the importance of this tool to compare, characterise variability, identify key differences between farm households and to better design interventions when planning adaptation options. Chargeable resource.

This study uses the Ruminant model and the Trade-offs Analysis model for Multi-Dimensional Impact Assessment (TOA-MD) to assess how improved livestock management options affect the three pillars of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA): increased productivity, improved food security, and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It highlights the importance of tools for ‘ex-ante’ assessments of the impacts of proposed climate-smart agricultural technologies to better prepare and plan adaptation.

This article presents a climate change vulnerability assessment (CCVA) of agricultural livelihoods of four countries in Central America, at the municipality level. It highlights the potential impact of climate change on the suitability of major crops and the possible adaptive capacity using indicators of basic human needs, as well as resources for innovation and action framed in a livelihoods approach.

This article analyzes cocoa's vulnerability to climate change in the West African cocoa belt, based on climate projections for the 2050s of 19 Global Circulation Models under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change intermediate emissions scenario RCP 6.0. It concludes that spatial differentiation of climate vulnerability may lead to future shifts in cocoa production.

Adopting a regional approach to climate change adaptation, based on projections for the 2030s and 2050s, this article analizes the level of vulnerability of adaptation zones in West Africa and accordingly suggests adapted practices for cocoa production.     

This article analyzes the timing of the necessary agricultural transformations to untertake because of climate change impacts and threats to food security. It assesses, through a temporal uncertainty framework and data, when and where cultivation of key crops in sub-Saharan Africa becomes unviable. It provides an overview when planning for adaptation interventions in farming communities, including changes in crop types and moving out of agriculture, in some cases.  Writers envisage three overlapping adaptation phases to enable projected transformational changes: 1) an incremental adaptation phase focused on improvements to crops and management, 2) a preparatory phase that establishes appropriate policies and enabling environments, and 3) a transformational adaptation phase in which farmers substitute crops, explore alternative livelihoods strategies, or relocate. To best align policies with production triggers for no-regret actions, monitoring capacities to track farming systems as well as climate are needed.