About the Impact Center
West Africa is a dynamic and culturally rich region of the African continent, comprising 15 countries with diverse realities but united by a strong common history, notably that of the great pre-colonial empires and trans-Saharan trade. Characterized by a young and rapidly growing population, it possesses significant economic potential, driven by agriculture, natural resources, regional trade, and a globally recognized cultural creativity.
However, the West African region faces profound vulnerabilities, particularly in the agricultural sector, which employs a large portion of the population and forms the basis of food security. Despite varied soils and a favorable climate in several areas, West African agriculture faces multiple challenges: limited access to inputs and financing, land degradation, increased climate variability, biodiversity loss, low yields, and dependence on food imports.
Faced with these difficulties, agroecology appears as a promising path: it relies on local knowledge, crop diversification, sustainable soil management, peasant seeds and the reduction of external inputs. By strengthening the resilience of agricultural systems, improving producers' incomes, and protecting ecosystems, agroecology is gradually establishing itself as a strategic option for ensuring sustainable food security in West Africa.
The mission of ECHO's regional impact center can be summarized in a few words:
- Focus on smallholder farmers.
- Identify their training needs.
- Provide solutions for their agriculture by drawing inspiration from their environment.
- Support them on a daily basis.
Following the training campaign comes the monitoring and evaluation period. Our training teams provide advisory support to farmers through field visits, phone calls, and social media to ensure the proper implementation of the techniques taught. Thus, producers in Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou, Satiri, Lapara, Siby, Bogandé, Tougan, Beguedo, Dédougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, etc.) and countries in the sub-region (Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Togo, Sierra Leone, etc.) have been monitored and supported in applying the various techniques taught by ECHO.
Trainings are actively underway and are being conducted with communities, partner organizations, and educational institutions. For security reasons, scheduled trainings are not being listed. However, the West Africa Impact Center Team will welcome your interest and inquiry. Please contact e-mail them at: WestAfrica@echocommunity.org
Services
- Hosting conferences and forums which offer training and networking opportunities to network members;
- Facilitating regular regional workshops in West African countries, often in partnership with local organizations, to provide technical training and networking opportunities to the network;
- Providing a wide range of technical resources through ECHOcommunity.org and from the office located in Burkina Faso;
- Offering technical responses to network members inquiring with agriculture and community development questions;
- Offering consultations to network members on a case-by-case basis;
- Involvement in regionally important research and information dissemination.
.jpeg?w=600)