More than 60 agroecology advocates, small-scale farmers, researchers and policy actors from 22 African countries gathered in Sagana, Kenya, in February 2025 to discuss how stronger collaboration can support agroecological transitions. Organized by six African networks together with Brot für die Welt, the workshop focused on advocacy, policy development, knowledge exchange and the role of agroecology in addressing interconnected food security, climate, health and livelihood challenges.

Experiences from across the continent illustrated different stages of policy development. Participants discussed Murang’a County’s agroecology policy in Kenya, Senegal’s allocation of agricultural development funding to agroecology, and national-level initiatives in Uganda and Burkina Faso. They also examined persistent constraints, including limited public financing, fragmented initiatives, difficulties in connecting agroecological producers with urban markets, and insufficient recognition of farmer knowledge in policy processes.

Four areas emerged as priorities for stronger collaboration: farmer-to-farmer knowledge exchange, seed and food fairs, documentation of practical experiences, and better coordination of regional advocacy. The workshop also emphasized participatory research, farmer-managed seed systems, education and training, and the preservation of Indigenous and local knowledge. Together, the discussions highlight the importance of connecting field-level experience with research, institutions and policy processes when developing context-specific pathways for agroecology across Africa.