Progress report for
Addressing water scarcity in agriculture through partnerships and innovation
Achievement at a glance
• The Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG) is hosted by FAO and its activities and progress are reported at the FAO governing Committee of Agriculture (COAG) which recognized WASAG in 2018 as a key coordinating mechanism to adapt to the effect of water scarcity in agriculture in a changing climate• Since its establishment in 2017, WASAG partners have increased from 34 to 76, including United Nations agencies and bodies; other intergovernmental organizations and State actors (including governments, public and governmental agencies); academia and research institutions; civil society organizations, including Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and private sector organizations and trade associations.
• WASAG has six working groups on drought preparedness; financing mechanisms; sustainable agriculture water use; water and nutrition; water and migration. Through them, WASAG has produced several publications on topics covering ‘Sustainable saline agriculture for climate adaptation and mitigation’, ‘Unlocking finance for water and agriculture’ and ‘Farmers’ guidelines on soil and water management in salt-affected areas’.
• In addition to a webinar on the above Farmers’ guidelines, WASAG provided training in the field to farmers, researchers and extension officers in Uzbekistan and Cabo Verde.
• During the UN Water Conference of March 2023, WASAG together with FAO and the Government of Cabo Verde, organized an event on Implementing the Praia Call for Action through the Decade’s work streams.
• Together with other partners, WASAG co-hosted an event at the UNFCCC COP 28 to promote the declaration of 2028 as “Year of Saline Agriculture”: Climate resilient agriculture for sustainable Production Systems and healthy ecosystems in salt-affected areas. This follows similar advocacy events on saline agriculture at COP 26 and COP 27 and which culminated in a Call for Action.
• Under the Addressing Water Scarcity in Agriculture and the Environment (AWSAMe) initiative, a Workshop on Addressing water scarcity through indigenous drought-resilient and nutritious crops was organized in Morocco on 20-21 February 2024, with the participation of Cabo Verde, Malawi, Morocco and South Sudan.
• WASAG disseminates its knowledge products through webinars, some of which have attracted more than 500 participants. Recent webinars have also been on ‘Compendium of drought resilient and nutritious crops under AWSAMe initiative’ and on ‘Nature-based and unconventional water management solutions for agriculture’.
• WASAG held two international forums in 2019 and in 2023 in Praia, Cabo Verde which respectively adopted the Praia Commitment and the Praia Call for Action. On 29-30 April 2024, FAO convened a Technical preparatory meeting, ‘Towards a High-Level Dialogue on WASAG’ in FAO HQ, in Rome. It's a follow up to the Praia Call for Action which invited All member countries to become Partners of WASAG. The meeting prepared a draft Rome Declaration on Water Scarcity in Agriculture which will be adopted by Members during the High Level Dialogue scheduled in October 2024 during the World Food Forum. A new WASAG Strategy for 2025-31 will also reflect the commitment for greater impact, by enhancing the interactions between policy makers and technical experts, for the benefit of countries and local communities.
Next Steps
Ruhiza Jean BorotoBeneficiaries
WASAG and AWSAMe are supporting countries in finding solutions to cope with water scarcity in agriculture in the face of climate change. Adopting international and or cross sectoral collaboration and multidisciplinary approaches, adaptive governance, involving all concerned institutions – including those representing farmers and agriculture –, role-players, women and the youth in any action, including the design, decision-making and financing of projects as well as in capacity building on topics such as droughts, irrigation, saline agriculture, etc.
The main beneficiaries of WASAG are Member countries: the different knowledge products provide solutions for coping with water scarcity in agriculture in the face of climate change. In addition, WASAG facilitates the exchange of experiences between countries.
Farmers, including women and the youth are targeted by WASAG for accessing the knowledge that is made available by WASAG partners, this is the case of the farmers who were trained in Cabo Verde and Uzbekistan.
Experts are beneficiaries of WASAG because of the collaborative space that WASAG offers through the working groups and task forces, which are communities of practice which fosters the development of knowledge products which could not be produced individually.
Because of its match making approach, all partners with resources (technical, financial or in kind) which are relevant to water scarcity in agriculture can make good use of their resources through WASAG.
Young professionals find a home in WASAG as the opportunity is offered for internships which provide exposure to a variety of topics and processes.
Actions
• Farmers, technicians, researchers and extension officers have been trained on Saline Agriculture in Uzbekistan and Cabo Verde. More trainings are being designed. Projects to promote saline agriculture including the adoption of halophytes will be developed for the needs of countries affected by increasing salinity, either inland, coastal and or seasonal. A pilot project in addressing water scarcity through indigenous drought-resilient and nutritious crops is being implemented in four countries. This will guide the development of four global project proposals.• New technical guidelines on for design and management of pressurized irrigation distribution systems are ready to be published and used to train farmers.
• Working groups and task forces will continue to produce knowledge products and tailor them to the needs of countries, for policies, technologies, tools and practices that respond to the needs of countries. Volume II of the WASAG framework on financing mechanisms and Volume II of the Farmer’s guidelines on saline agriculture will be developed and published.
• Synergies for collaboration will continue with initiatives such as with AWSAMe and other initiatives such the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) and others.
• With a Member-led Steering Committee, countries will play a greater role for the strategic oversight and guidance of WASAG’s work with support from the Technical Advisory Committee.
• A new strategy for WASAG for 2025-2031 will be developed, putting the needs of the country at the core of WASAG, with policy makers providing strategic guidance and experts providing the knowledge and tools that are required.
• After the High-Level Dialogue on WASAG, a third WASAG International Forum will take place in 2025 in a country, followed by a Plenary Assembly in 2026 in Rome. Afterwards, these meetings will be convened every second year.
• FAO will continue to host the WASAG Secretariat In order to better serve the needs of the Partnership.