The secretariat of the World Agriculture Watch (WAW) took part in the regional technical workshop organized by the Network of Peasants organizations and Agriculture Producers of West Africa (ROPPA) in Thiès, Senegal. ROPPA, a partner of the WAW established the "regional observatory of family farming" (RFFO) in 2016 with the input of its members. Under the ongoing construction and implementation of a joint action plan between WAW and ROPPA, ROPPA has invited Marie Christine Monnier, WAW coordinator to participate in the "Family Farming Watch regional evaluation and revitalization workshop" in Thiès, Senegal, from May 2 to 9, 2023.

This meeting with representatives of national platforms (focal points for the Observatory) provided an update on the development of agricultural monitoring approaches in West African countries. The workshop was divided into two parts: a review of the challenges facing RFFO/ROPPA from 2016 to 2023 and support outlook to RFFO/ROPPA from 2023 to 2025.

Key conclusions from the first part of the workshop session outlined that:

- Family farms in ROPPA have various functions and contribute significantly to African economies.

- Income generation is just as important as food production and consumption.

- Monitoring production performance and improving data analysis need to be prioritized.

- There is a need to determine the best agricultural model for the inclusion of women and youth, as Agropoles may not be sufficient.

The second part of the workshop focused on developing proposals to support ROPPA's observatory of family farms. Key points included the importance of monitoring agricultural campaigns, the need for the observatory to support sustainable food systems, and the role of farmers' organizations in data production and knowledge sharing. The importance of analyzing existing data was emphasized by the Board of Directors and technical focal points. In that sense, using WAW's farm-focused methodology can help farmers' organizations to improve their knowledge and capacity in managing agricultural and rural livelihood information systems. This knowledge will be used to advocate for investments and policies that consider the diversity of family farms in West Africa.