Désertif’actions: a review of the Djerba summit

Agrisud took part in the 6th Désertif’actions Summit, which took place last March in Djerba, Tunisia. Organised by CARI, the UNCCD and the OSS, the event brought together more than 350 international participants from four continents – researchers, NGOs, institutions, farmers’ organisations and local authorities – to address a crucial issue: how can we strengthen the resilience of regions in the face of droughts? 

An alarming situation, but there are ways to take action 

This summit highlighted the climate emergency: accelerating land degradation, prolonged droughts often followed by floods, and increased vulnerabilities for rural populations.  

“We are not prepared, neither in the North nor in the South,” said Patrice Burger, President of CARI, in his opening remarks. “75 per cent of the world’s population will be affected by desertification by 2050, and 700 million people are at risk of being displaced.”  

Those working on the ground see this every day: when the soil becomes depleted and water grows scarce, it is food systems, local economies and social cohesion that falter, bringing with them all manner of insecurity. 

Yet a message of hope emerged from Djerba: solutions already exist on the ground, but they must be recognised, supported and scaled up. 

Agroecology: a strategic, proven and sustainable solution

The preparatory work for the summit, which included international workshops in 20 countries and webinars, demonstrated the relevance of agroecology in addressing the challenges of desertification:

• Restoration of degraded soils by improving their composition: air, water, minerals and organic matter
• Increasing the soil’s water storage capacity and improving water management,
• Enhancing fertility and, consequently, production to ensure food security,
• Providing sustainable support for productive ecosystems, the foundation of rural economies.

This approach lies at the heart of our work in the various countries where we operate, particularly in Senegal, where Agrisud has been working for several years alongside family farms and local authorities.

Agrisud in Senegal: evidence from the field 

      1. Restoring soils to maintain production despite drought.

In vulnerable areas of the groundnut-growing region, agroecological techniques (organic fertilisation, crop rotations, biopesticides, etc.) have enabled the restoration of severely degraded soils, improved water retention and higher yields, even in dry years. 

• Soil fertility: a two-thirds reduction in fertilisation costs, notably through reduced use of chemical fertilisers, representing a saving of around 66 per cent. 
• Water savings: consumption reduced from 8 litres/m²/day to 4–5 litres/m²/day, 
• Yield: an average increase of 1 to 1.5 kg/m² compared with a baseline yield of 3 kg/m² (in the case of onions). 

These systems, adapted and implemented in line with local constraints, demonstrate that it is possible to feed families whilst preserving the environment. 

     2. Securing access to water and preventing conflicts over its use 

Working with local committees, Agrisud supports the rehabilitation of transhumance corridors, the construction of water infrastructure and improvements to irrigation. 

These initiatives extend production periods, reduce pressure on resources and improve the coexistence of arable farming and livestock rearing. 

In a context where water management is a key factor in regional stability, these local solutions take on crucial importance. 

      3. Strengthening economic activities  

Agrisud’s support has enabled crop diversification and, above all, the added value of produce (processing, drying, local supply chains). 

The result: increased incomes (margins rising from 30 to 85 per cent), greater self-sufficiency and improved resilience to climate shocks. 

A major obstacle: funding is still not reaching local communities

The work in Djerba drove this point home: less than 1 per cent of international climate finance reaches local actors.

This proportion has not increased in the last ten years, despite the commitments made.

Africa remains particularly disadvantaged: it receives only a marginal share of global funding, with the majority of funds arriving in the form of repayable loans, whilst the continent is suffering a climate crisis that it did not cause.

This situation is unsustainable. It limits local action and discourages effective initiatives.

Yet there are positive signs: the IUCN’s adoption of a 20-year strategy for Africa, the launch of the Regen Africa programme, and the growing prominence of approaches based on local solutions. But time is running out.

Co-creating, cooperating, investing locally: the only credible path

Contributions from all quarters at the Summit emphasised this: effective solutions arise from joint development and cooperation between local stakeholders, the research community, civil society and institutions. 

This is the approach already being taken by organisations such as CARI and Agrisud: taking action on the ground, demonstrating, documenting, consolidating and bringing these experiences to decision-making forums, notably COP17 in Mongolia, the next stage in the advocacy work launched in Djerba. 

The good news in the face of the climate emergency and desertification is that these solutions already exist. They emerge from communities, agroecological practices, local dynamics and long-term partnerships. 

What is needed today is to scale up these solutions, raise their profile, and give them the institutional and political weight they deserve.