{"id":22014,"date":"2026-03-04T15:51:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T15:51:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/soilhealthwa.iita.org\/?p=22014"},"modified":"2026-03-05T07:48:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T07:48:18","slug":"new-partnership-to-strengthen-soil-health-and-secure-livelihoods-for-1-5-million-sahelian-farmers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/fr\/new-partnership-to-strengthen-soil-health-and-secure-livelihoods-for-1-5-million-sahelian-farmers\/","title":{"rendered":"New Partnership to Strengthen Soil Health and Secure Livelihoods for 1.5 Million Sahelian Farmers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">IBADAN, NIGERIA \u2014 February 26, 2026 \u2014 The Soil Values Program and the Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel today announced a formal partnership. They signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to coordinate soil health interventions across West Africa and the Sahel. The partnership will enhance collaboration, minimize duplication of effort, and deliver lasting impact in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This agreement unites the Regional Hub\u2019s technical consortium with the Soil Values Program\u2019s implementation platform in the Sahel. Consortium partners include IITA, IFDC, OCP Africa, APNI, UM6P, and ISRIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/7E3A9042-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-22015\" srcset=\"https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/7E3A9042-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/7E3A9042-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/7E3A9042-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/7E3A9042-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/7E3A9042-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/7E3A9042-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/7E3A9042-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/7E3A9042-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The collaboration aims to restore 2 million hectares of degraded land and strengthen the livelihoods of 1.5 million smallholder farmers in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The MoU was signed at IITA headquarters in Ibadan by Alain Sy Traor\u00e9, Program Director of the Soil Values Program, and Dr. Bernard Vanlauwe, Deputy Director General, Research for Development (R4D), IITA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The partnership aligns with regional soil health frameworks, including the Lom\u00e9 Declaration on Fertilizer and Soil Health (2023), the Nairobi Declaration (2024), and the ECOWAS Soil Health Roadmap (2023\u20132033). It also establishes a framework to operationalize collaboration at scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under the agreement, the Regional Hub will align its 20 technical functions with the Soil Values Program\u2019s nine strategic pillars. This enables integrated planning, shared data systems, and coordinated implementation across countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI firmly believe that together we are far stronger than we are individually. This agreement deepens our collaboration and elevates our shared vision for soil health beyond individual initiatives, positioning us to drive impact at regional and global levels,\u201d said Dr. Bernard Vanlauwe, Deputy Director General, Research for Development (R4D), IITA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To date, the Regional Hub intentionally moderated its engagement in parts of the Sahel \u2014 including Burkina Faso and Niger. The goal was to avoid overlapping with Soil Values Program activities. The MoU resolves that constraint and clarifies roles and responsibilities. Now, both initiatives can confidently expand under a coordinated approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn the past, we deliberately moderated the Hub\u2019s engagement in the Sahel to avoid approaching the same stakeholders with overlapping agendas. This MoU resolves that potential confusion and allows us to move forward in a coordinated and coherent manner,\u201d Dr. Vanlauwe added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe true value of this agreement is that it establishes an official, ongoing commitment between our institutions\u2014regardless of leadership changes,\u201d said Alain Sy Traor\u00e9, Program Director, Soil Values Program. Under the partnership, both initiatives commit to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Shared Governance: Joint participation in strategic leadership and decision-making structures to strengthen alignment and accountability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unified Data Systems: Adopt standardized, AI-enabled data tools using FAIR principles\u2014Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. These tools generate consistent soil information across countries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clear Geographic Roles: The Soil Values Program will lead implementation in the Sahel (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, northern Nigeria), while the Regional Hub provides the broader technical platform across West Africa.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Supported by a \u20ac100 million grant from the Netherlands Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS), the Soil Values Program is a 10-year initiative (2024\u20132033) led by IFDC in partnership with SNV and Wageningen University &amp; Research (WUR).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By leveraging over \u20ac300 million in private and development capital, the program aims to shift soil health efforts from traditional aid models to sustainable investment. Seventy percent of implementation will be delivered by local partners. This ensures ownership, resilience, and lasting outcomes. Performance-based assessments guide annual contracts and continued engagement with partners delivering results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOne of the reasons I am particularly proud of this program is the strength of our knowledge partners. Soil health transformation is complex and multi-dimensional, but with partners of this calibre, we have built a foundation that gives us both credibility and a strong pathway to success,\u201d said Alain Sy Traor\u00e9, Program Director, Soil Values Program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The partnership will focus on four strategic areas of collaboration:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Data &amp; Knowledge Sharing: Shared tools, dashboards, datasets, and joint publications to strengthen evidence-based decision-making.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Capacity Strengthening: Harmonized training and coordinated support to national institutions and extension systems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Policy Engagement: Coordinated contributions to policy dialogues and joint advocacy for soil health investment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Resource Mobilization: Joint fundraising and donor engagement for greater scale and impact.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>About Soil Values Program<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Funded by the Netherlands Directorate General for International Cooperation (D.G.I.S), Soil Values Program \u200b\u200baddresses persistent soil fertility challenges in the Sahel region, namely Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, northern Nigeria, with strategic countries: Ghana and C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire. Soil Values Program \u200b\u200baims to strengthen soil fertility and agricultural productivity, in the face of climate change, with a focus on regional connectivity and strategic interventions. The program aspires to create a lasting impact on desertification and land degradation, landscape management &#8211; watersheds through participatory planning, effectively integrating soil, water and biodiversity. Soil Values Program \u200b\u200bplans to promote financial incentive instruments that encourage farmers to invest in soil health through the adoption of sustainable soil management practices.\u00a0 The Soil Values Program is being implemented over 10 years (2024-2033), led by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), in consortium with SNV and Wageningen University and Research (WUR), as well as knowledge partners such as AGRA, the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), ISRIC \u2013 World Soil Information, and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>About the Regional Hub<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Le P\u00f4le r\u00e9gional pour la fertilisation et la sant\u00e9 des sols en Afrique de l'Ouest et au Sahel est une initiative collaborative qui r\u00e9unit des partenaires de premier plan issus de la recherche, du d\u00e9veloppement et du secteur priv\u00e9 afin de proposer des solutions scientifiques pour une agriculture durable. H\u00e9berg\u00e9 par l'Institut international d'agriculture tropicale (IITA) et soutenu par des organisations telles que le Centre international de d\u00e9veloppement des engrais (IFDC), OCP Afrique, l'Institut africain de nutrition des plantes (APNI), l'Universit\u00e9 Mohammed VI Polytechnique (UM6P), le projet AICCRA (Acc\u00e9l\u00e9ration des impacts de la recherche climatique du CGIAR pour l'Afrique) et le Centre international de r\u00e9f\u00e9rence et d'information sur les sols (ISRIC), le P\u00f4le exploite les donn\u00e9es, les analyses de sol et les technologies de fertilisation pour am\u00e9liorer la productivit\u00e9, l'efficacit\u00e9 et la r\u00e9silience des syst\u00e8mes alimentaires r\u00e9gionaux. Gr\u00e2ce au soutien financier de la Banque mondiale, via le projet AICCRA du CGIAR et OCP Afrique, le P\u00f4le s'engage \u00e0 traduire la recherche en solutions concr\u00e8tes pour les agriculteurs et les d\u00e9cideurs politiques, favorisant ainsi la sant\u00e9 des sols, la s\u00e9curit\u00e9 alimentaire et le d\u00e9veloppement durable en Afrique de l'Ouest et au Sahel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Media Contacts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ilerioluwa Oladipupo<\/strong><br>\ud83d\udce7 I.Oladipupo@cgiar.org<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Evariste Gbaguidi<\/strong><br>\ud83d\udce7 soilvalues@ifdc.org<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>IBADAN, NIGERIA \u2014 February 26, 2026 \u2014 The Soil Values Program and the Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel today announced a formal partnership. They signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to coordinate soil health interventions across West Africa and the Sahel. The partnership will enhance collaboration, minimize [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22015,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22014","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22014","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22014"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22014\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22019,"href":"https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22014\/revisions\/22019"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22015"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22014"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22014"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regionalhub-west.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22014"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}