Platforms

Just Rural Transition

The Just Rural Transition (JRT) initiative serves as a collaborative platform that unites various stakeholders, including food producers, governments, businesses, investors, civil society organisations, and rural and indigenous communities, with the shared goal of championing fair and equitable solutions to address the challenges within food systems.

Their mission revolves around cultivating a global community of both public and private sector participants. This community collectively designs, implements, and scales comprehensive and inclusive approaches to tackle the issues faced by food systems. It is a response to the recognition that, despite the current record-high food production, food systems are falling short in terms of delivering benefits for people, nature, and the climate. The JRT initiative emphasises the importance of transforming food systems while considering the social implications of this transformation.

The vision and objectives of the JRT initiative closely align with those of the Africa Centre for Sustainable and Inclusive Development (Africa CSID). In light of this alignment, Africa CSID has officially endorsed the JRT’s 2030 vision statement, as evidenced in the link https://justruraltransition.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2022/03/JRT-_Endorsements_StatementsOfSupport-1.pdf. Through this endorsement, JRT and its partners commit to the following objectives:

Supporting farming, fishing, livestock-keeping, and indigenous communities in adapting to challenges and realizing the potential of responsible land, ocean, and natural resource management to enhance resilience and mitigate climate change.
Providing sustainable, nutritious, and affordable food for all, with a focus on culturally-appropriate food systems.
Reducing global food loss and waste by half compared to 2019 levels.
Recognizing the full value of natural capital in promoting human health and well-being.
Halting the degradation of critical ecosystems and the loss of biodiversity.
Contributing to a substantial portion of the required global carbon emissions reduction.
Mobilizing substantial public and private financial support in pursuit of their vision.

Intersectoral Forum on Agrobiodiversity and Agroecology (ISFAA)

The Africa Centre for Sustainable Development is an active member of the Intersectoral Forum on Agrobiodiversity and Agroecology (ISFAA). ISFAA serves as a diverse and inclusive platform that brings together a wide array of stakeholders, including government entities, farmer organizations, civil society organizations (CSOs), private sector representatives, researchers, academicians, and development partners. The primary objective of ISFAA is to facilitate constructive discussions and collaborative efforts aimed at overcoming the challenges and constraints that our current food system encounters.

ISFAA focuses on safeguarding agrobiodiversity and embracing agroecology as a unifying principle. This approach is aimed at addressing the limitations posed by traditional agricultural methods and fostering the transition towards sustainable food and nutrition security. By dismantling barriers between different stakeholder actions, the platform strategically works to promote sustainable agricultural policies, research initiatives, and practices. The overarching goal is to integrate biodiversity and environmental preservation seamlessly into both agriculture and the broader food system.

Africa CSID’s involvement in ISFAA is driven by our shared principles including the commitment to promoting sustainability in agriculture and ensuring the harmonious coexistence of diverse stakeholders. This underscores the rationale behind our participation in this collaborative platform.

Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Multi Stakeholder Platform (CSA MSP)

The Africa Centre for Sustainable Development (Africa CSID) is a member of the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Multi Stakeholder Platform (CSA MSP). This platform serves as a network of organizations dedicated to promoting Climate Smart Agriculture practices. Its primary objective revolves around facilitating collaboration among stakeholders engaged in Climate Smart Agriculture initiatives.

The establishment of this platform is rooted in Kenya’s commitment to implementing Climate Smart Agriculture measures to mitigate the effects of climate change and fulfill its obligations under the Paris Agreement. These commitments are outlined in Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

The operations of the Multi Stakeholder Platform draw support from the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Strategy (KCSAS), which serves as an implementation framework for realizing the goals outlined in the NDC.

This platform comprises five thematic working groups, each focusing on specific aspects: Knowledge Sharing, Credibility in Coordination and Reporting, Networking and Collaboration, Policy Development and Implementation, and Social Inclusivity. Africa CSID is a member of Social Inclusivity Thematic Working Group, aligning with its mission to work with marginalized communities within the realm of food systems.

Kenya Climate Change Working Group (KCCWG)

Efforts to confront the consequences of climate change require a collaborative approach to ensure the effectiveness of our actions. This collaboration involves enhancing the resilience of communities while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With this motivation in mind, the Kenya Climate Change Working Group was established in April 2009. This platform brings together members from diverse civil society organizations, donor partners, government departments, and agencies, all dedicated to addressing climate change and advocating for climate justice. Its primary objectives are to foster synergy, harmonize efforts, and bolster activities related to climate change, as well as to lobby for favorable national policies that promote climate justice for all. Among the distinguished members of this group is the Africa Centre for Sustainable and Inclusive Development (Africa CSID). Africa CSID’s involvement is driven by its specific focus on climate resilience, climate justice, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable food systems within marginalized communities.

The platform is organized into eight thematic groups:

Mitigation
Technology Transfer
Adaptation
Gender and Capacity Building
Youth and Marginalized Communities
Climate Change Science and Negotiations
Climate Finance and Transparency
Wildlife and Tourism

Each of these thematic groups plays a crucial role in advancing the collective efforts to combat climate change and its far-reaching impacts.