The Government of Malawi, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and with financial support from the Government of Norway, has launched a groundbreaking initiative to strengthen the country’s resilience to climate change through improved monitoring, evaluation and learning for Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA).

On 12 February 2026, the Dryland Sustainable Landscapes Impact Program (DSL-IP) Global Coordination Project (GCP) convened a dedicated technical session of the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Working Group focused on GEF-7 Core Indicators 3 (Area of Land Restored) and 4 (Area of Landscapes Under Improved Practices).

In partnership with the Namibia Ministry of Agriculture Water and Land Reform’s Department of Rural Water Supply, the DSL-IP project has provided technical support to rehabilitate earth dams and boreholes across the Kunene-Cuvelai Landscape, with the primary goal of ensuring water availability for both human consumption and livestock. 

Woodfuel – especially charcoal – powers the lives of millions across Sub-Saharan Africa, but at an increasing cost. This cost is particularly severe in Southern Africa, where rising demand and inefficient practices are placing forests and ecosystems under unprecedented pressure, while outdated technologies continue to jeopardize health and livelihoods.

The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) has published a new research report that offers practical insights and tools to help FFPOs improve their governance systems.

Restoring degraded land and strengthening community resilience in Namibia is essential, as the country’s economy, food security, and rural livelihoods depend heavily on the health of its natural resources.

The Africa Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (AfriOCAT) was officially launched on 23 October 2025 in Addis Ababa – with the participation of DSL-IP representatives from Burkina Faso and Kenya.

As the world intensifies efforts to address the climate crisis, one truth stands out: women, especially those from climate-vulnerable regions, must be central to decision-making processes. 

Within the framework of the GEF-7 Dryland Sustainable Landscape Impact Program (DSL-IP), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded “Promoting Dryland Sustainable Landscapes and Biodiversity Conservation in the Eastern Steppe of Mongolia” project, jointly implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), has supported the Government of Mongolia in its transition toward integrated landscape-based management.

Recognizing the significant role played by FFPOs, a virtual training was held on 30 June 2025 to equip representatives from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, the Kenya Forest Service, and the National Environment Management Authority with tools and techniques for assessing FFPOs. 

Across Botswana’s dryland farming communities, traditional ecological knowledge continues to shape how families safeguard their livelihoods. In this context, the practice of preserving seeds using Leadwood (motswiri) ash has supported households for generations ensuring farmers maintain access to viable, pest-free seeds from one season to the next. 

Married at a young age and raising four children, Patuma Lifa, a 38-year-old mother, has long relied on agriculture to sustain her family. Yet, declining yields have made survival increasingly difficult.

Agnes Libanda is a 32-year-old female farmer from the Mukhalala village in Mulanje. She is a mother of four and a member of the Mapasa Farmer Field School. 

The Third Regional Stakeholders Workshop for Southern Africa of the GEF-7 Dryland Sustainable Landscapes Impact Program (DSL-IP) concluded today in Maputo with renewed commitments to accelerate action on sustainable land management, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience in the Miombo-Mopane ecoregion.

Maputo, Mozambique – The Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) convened policymakers, technical experts and regional stakeholders from 11 Southern African countries in Maputo today to explore ways of strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration for sustainable forest management (SFM).

As part of the Third Regional Stakeholders Workshop for Southern Africa of the GEF-7 Dryland Sustainable Landscapes Impact Program (DSL-IP), participants spent the second day in the field, witnessing first-hand how Mozambique is promoting efforts to protect biodiversity, restore degraded lands and strengthen community resilience.

Maputo, Mozambique – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Government of Mozambique, the African Forest Forum (AFF) and development partners, opened today the Third Regional Stakeholders Workshop for Southern Africa of the Sustainable Forest Management Impact Program on Dryland Sustainable Landscapes, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

In Tanzania, beekeeping is more than just the production of honey and other bee products; it is a sustainable practice that empowers communities, improves livelihoods, and fosters environmental conservation. The DSL-IP project in Tanzania is working with Forest and Farm Producer Organizations (FFPOs) who are basically farmers engaging in productions of bee products and farming activities. 

Omuthiya, Namibia – More than 65 agricultural stakeholders including farmers, extension officers, and community organizations recently completed an intensive training program to boost resilience in Namibia’s dryland regions. The two-week Training of Trainers (ToT) was held in Omuthiya, Omusati, and Rundu regions in August 2025, focused on Community Seed Banks, Farmer Field Schools, and Green Value Chains.

We are pleased to welcome Dr Houria Djoudi as the new Secretary of the COFO Working Group on Dryland Forests and Agrosilvopastoral Systems.