Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) is proud to highlight its partnership efforts in advancing sustainable agricultural practices and soil health across Africa. Recently, SAA has taken significant steps in collaboration with key continental bodies and stakeholders to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability.

Post-Nairobi Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit:

Following the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit (AFSH) in Nairobi, Dr. Mel Oluoch, Director of Strategic Partnerships at SAA participated in a follow-up meeting in July organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) to deliberate on implementation strategies for the AFSH Nairobi Declaration. During this meeting, pivotal decisions were made to further the Soil Initiative for Africa (SIA).

Key Outcomes of the AUC Meeting:
Among the key outcomes, the SAA will partner with the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) as the Technical co-Lead, to coordinate the development and implementation of Extension and Advisory Services (EAS) for the Soil Initiative in Africa (SIA). SAA and AFAAS are jointly developing an outline for the modalities for implementing EAS. This outline will serve as a foundational step towards creating a road map for a comprehensive implementation program that will also support partnerships and fundraising efforts.

Dr. Mel Oluoch commented, "The collaboration with AUC and AFAAS in coordinating the Soil Initiative for Africa's Extension and Advisory Service is a significant step forward in our mission to enhance soil health and agricultural productivity across the continent. We are committed to working together to develop sustainable solutions that will benefit smallholder farmers and contribute to food security in Africa."

Participation in CAADP-XP IV Multi-Stakeholder Engagement and Learning Event:

In alignment with the decisions made at the AUC meeting, Dr. Mel Oluoch also represented SAA at the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme eX Pillar 4 (CAADP-XP4) Multi-Stakeholder Engagement and Learning Event, titled "Scaling Nature-Based Solutions: Energizing Growth Through Targeted Approaches" The event, organized by The African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) under CAADP-XP program, was held in Addis Ababa from July 10 to 12.

The event provided a platform for stakeholders, including representatives from national agricultural extension services, sub-regional research organizations, national forums for extension and advisory services, civil society, and the private sector to develop actionable strategies and frameworks. These strategies aim to empower AEAS providers to effectively scale the implementation of nature-based solutions through targeted extension approaches.

Focus on Soil Health: Part of the discussions centered on how different stakeholders, including AFAAS and SAA, might support the implementation of the Soil Initiative for Africa's Extension and Advisory Service (EAS). The initiative, endorsed by the African Union, aims to enhance soil health, thereby increasing agricultural productivity and sustainability.

SAA’s Role in Implementation
The stakeholder's engagement focus on scaling nature-based solutions (NBS) aligns with SAA’s mission to promote agricultural transformation through environmentally sustainable practices such as Regenerative Agriculture. During the event, Dr. Oluoch presented a keynote address that highlighted SAA’s ongoing initiatives and experiences in implementing nature-based solutions across various African countries. He highlighted SAA’s commitment to promoting soil health and regenerative agriculture. He emphasized SAA’s integrated extension models and the importance of strategic partnerships with public and private development actors along the entire agriculture value chain. These efforts are designed to increase smallholder farmers’ food security and income-earning potential while creating rural employment opportunities for youth.

Media Contact:
Ms. Ethiopia Tadesse
Head of Communications and Advocacy
Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA)
Email: etadesse@saa-safe.org