Insightful recommendations from Agro-Sylvo Pastoralism Science-Policy Lab in Sahel

The N’Djamena SPoL was a two-day event facilitated by the CIRAD team in Chad with the support of Wageningen University & Research (WUR). During the SPoL, scientists interacted with ASFPS food system actors, including pastoralists, and their associations from the Sahel region, including Chad, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Togo, Nigeria, and Senegal. Women association; private companies; representatives of the government of Chad; members of regional organizations, ECOWAS, EUD Chad, and the local FAO office were also among the participants. 

In different panel settings representatives from GIZ (German International Development Agency), AFD (Agence Française de Développement), and the Swiss Development Agency, also participated. 

The Minister opened the event

Chad’s Minister of Pastoralism and Livestock, Prof Abderahim Awat Atteib, formally launched the SPoL, with introductory remarks delivered by Mr Karl Rawert, the Head of the European Union Delegation in Chad. 

The Chad SPoL had three objectives: 

1. Validate the research findings on ASPFS.

2. Co-design scenarios for the future of ASPFS.

3. Identify policy interventions and investment options for more resilient ASPFS.

Key drivers explored

On the first day, the provisional results were presented by the study lead, Bart de Steenhuijsen Piters (WUR). This was followed by a poster session during which provisional results and findings from the five deep-dives (Gender; Innovation; Governance; Markets; Class) were exposed to the participants, who were asked to provide their feedback. During the afternoon several foresight analysis sessions explored the key drivers of ASPFS change, future trends and uncertainties. 

Future scenarios

On day 2, participants continued the foresight analysis with an exploration of four possible future scenarios based on the analysis of trends and uncertainties of the previous day. Each scenario was further discussed, including its impact on performance and resilience of ASPFS and policies and investments needed to achieve desired scenarios or mitigate undesired trends and their trade-offs.

The two days were concluded by a panel discussion including donor representatives.

Suggestions and recommendations

Altogether, participants validated the research findings of the studies and contributed by adding precision and nuance. They reconfirmed the importance of ASP systems for the sustainability of the Sahel food system, including their economic, environmental and social dimensions. There were insightful suggestions and recommendations on policy interventions and investments. Many suggestions referred to institutional and governance interventions that do not require significant capital investments. 

Participants identified direct and indirect impacts and trade-offs of these interventions. The uncertainty of the future of development aid and the vague form and intentions of future investments was discussed in several panels and the plenaries.

Call for a science policy interface platform

In his official closing of the SPoL, the Technical Advisor on Rural Development to the President of Chad, Mr. Haroun Moussa, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, emphasised the importance of the SPoL, and urged for an institutionalised and permanent Science-Policy Interface platform in Chad and the Sahel.

There will be a second SPoL on ASPFS in Addis Ababa, 14-15 October 2025, covering the Horn of Africa countries.