Across 61 projects in 26 countries of the Global South, agroecological approaches are being used to help rural communities respond to climate change, biodiversity loss and other interconnected pressures affecting agriculture and food systems. Commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through GIZ’s Sector Project Rural Development, this study brief examines how these experiences contribute to resilience at different scales.

The evidence reviewed points to important connections between agroecology and climate adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity conservation, sustainable soil and water management, and food and nutrition security. While the contribution of agroecological practices to ecological resilience at farm and field level is relatively well established, the brief notes that evidence remains more limited when resilience is considered at community, landscape and wider food-system levels.

Drawing on lessons from the 61 projects, the resource identifies six key levers for strengthening the relationship between agroecology and resilience in development cooperation. It places particular attention on smallholder farming communities and on the need to consider ecological, social and economic dimensions of resilience together. Intended for policymakers, decision-makers and practitioners, the brief provides evidence and practical considerations for integrating agroecological approaches into rural development and food-system transformation programmes.