Regional exchange on scaling solutions for decoupling agricultural production from deforestation in Africa

Haile Grand Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), 24/02/2026 - 27/02/2026

About the event

This regional workshop will convene 60–70 participants from government, civil society, academia, the private sector, producer organizations, and development partners across more than ten African countries to strengthen collaboration on addressing agriculture-linked deforestation and enhancing cross-sectoral synergies between agriculture and forests. Co-organized with Africa Sustainable Commodities Initiative (ASCI), the exchange will bring together forestry and agriculture governments alongside key regional and international partners. The event provides a platform for countries to share priorities, showcase successful approaches, and exchange practical solutions for promoting sustainable land use and forest-positive agricultural systems.

Through structured dialogue, peer learning, interactive sessions, and a hands-on field visit, the workshop will raise awareness of existing tools and initiatives, enhance technical capacity, and foster South–South cooperation to support the integration of deforestation-free strategies into climate and land use policies. Participants will jointly identify good practices, remaining gaps, and regional priorities, strengthening partnerships and building momentum for coordinated action.

The workshop will culminate in the co-creation of a draft Priority action roadmap for sustainable forest and agricultural solutions in Africa, outlining shared priority actions and pathways to guide future policies, investments, and regional cooperation.

Agenda

Day1: 24 February – Learning Lab & Regional Exchange

Morning – Learning Lab

Welcome remark & Opening remarks
Setting the scene: agriculture-linked deforestation in Africa
Learning labs on:
- Multidimensions of sustainable agricultural solutions for reducing deforestation – using the Solutions-tree toolkit
- Sustainable agricultural solutions, agroecological practices, and the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) model to empower forest and farm producer organizations

Afternoon – Regional Exchange

Showcasing Country-driven Solutions and Experiences
Day 1 wrap-up

Day 2: 25 February – Learning Lab & Regional Exchange

Morning – Learning Lab

Learning labs on:

Enhancing policy coherence through fiscal incentives and public expenditure analysis
Mobilizing Private Investment into Sustainable Businesses: Real World Insights for Scaling Impact
Open-source geolocation and deforestation risk assessments for commodity value chains

Afternoon – Regional Exchange