The Congo Basin’s forests support global carbon storage, biodiversity and the livelihoods of more than 75 million people. Yet deforestation, extractive industries, agricultural expansion and climate change threaten these ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. The Congo Basin Biodiversity, Climate and Agroecology Initiative (COBCAI), launched by the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), seeks to address these interconnected challenges by strengthening agroecology, food sovereignty and human rights across the region.

From 25 to 27 August 2026, around 180 representatives of farmers’ organizations, Indigenous Peoples, women’s groups and civil society movements from Congo Basin countries gathered in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to strengthen collaboration under COBCAI. Supported by the Agroecology Fund, the initiative promotes forest conservation, climate adaptation, biodiversity regeneration, land rights, agrarian reform, seed saving, reforestation and political advocacy. Participants also discussed the need to improve access to climate and biodiversity finance and to encourage governments to adopt national agroecology strategies, including in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Experiences shared by participating organizations illustrate how agroecology connects environmental stewardship with livelihoods and local economic development. Community seed banks help preserve locally adapted crop varieties, while training, processing facilities and market initiatives support agroecological products and employment, particularly for women and young people. Other activities include agroecological poultry farming and tree nurseries. The initiative aims to strengthen regional cooperation and grassroots organizations’ capacity to mobilize resources, while placing community knowledge and leadership at the centre of efforts to protect forests and build more resilient food systems.