The need for harmonized evidence on agroecology was a systematic recommendation from the various global and regional consultations on agroecology organized by FAO between 2014 and 2018 and specifically requested by FAO governing bodies in 2018. To respond to these mandates, FAO and a large number of partners have developed the Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE). Based on various existing assessment frameworks, TAPE is a comprehensive tool that aims to measure the multi-dimensional performance of agroecological systems across the different dimensions of sustainability.

Held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire from 26-29 July 2022, in a hybrid in-person/virtual format, a 4 days workshop was attended by 84 participants from which 47 attended in person, representing over 20 countries. Participants included 15 agroecology focal points from the Ministries of Agriculture of ECOWAS member countries and other key national and regional stakeholders.

Co-organized by FAO and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) represented by the Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food  (ARAA for its acronym in French) and with financial support from the governments of France and Germany, the workshop was divided into 2 sessions:

firstly a 2-day high-level session focused on agroecology and public policies in the sub-region and a comparative analysis of two frameworks currently used in West Africa: TAPE and Memento created by GTAE (Groupe de travail sur les Transitions Agroécologiques).  Both tools and the results of TAPE assessments realized in 8 African countries and around 2500 households were presented.  The feedback on TAPE implementations in the subregion by partner organizations was discussed.

TAPE and GTAE were considered promising resources for policy-making processes on agroecology. 

Secondly, two-day training on the use of TAPE provided participants with the necessary knowledge to conduct their own TAPE field assessments: determining the level of agroecological transition of farms; assessing the 10 criteria of performance, and using the interface to collect data.

Participants demonstrated a high degree of interest and requested additional work to tailor a TAPE version adapted to the West-African context.