S CA
SOUTHERN AFRICAN CONFEDERATION OF AGRICULTURAL UNIONS
strengthening the content of NDCs to better 
reflect farmer interests
While all countries in SADC have included agriculture 
in their 2015 NDCs, the levels of ambition and detail 
on agricultural and farming priorities vary. Countries 
can use the revision process to enhance the content 
and substance of their NDCs, as well as to improve 
the means of implementation. Farmers need to 
proactively engage in the content of their revised 
NDCs so ensure their interests are reflected. 
The 2015 NDCs cover diverse thematic 
areas dependent on national priorities While all SADC countries mention 
and circumstances. The agricultural agriculture to some extent, the depth and 
sector (crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries quality of inclusion varies tremendously.
and aquaculture) features prominently in 
these national commitments, indicative • Current references to agriculture 
of the transformative role it can play are weighed in the adaptation and 
in climate action and as a driver for resilience building areas, highlighting 
sustainable development more broadly. the vulnerability of the sector to climate 
impacts. 
CCAFS, a research programme of CGIAR, conducted 
research in 2017 on the specific adaptation and • Only 5 of the NDCs refer to both adaptation 
mitigation contributions of the 162 existing NDCs, and mitigation elements of agriculture 
interrogating whether agriculture appeared in NDCs • In southern Africa, 5 countries have set 
and if so, in what form. Their conclusion was that GHG reduction targets that specifically 
the majority of NDCs include agricultural mitigation include agriculture. 
(the most common measures referenced include 
crop management, CA and CSA, soil management, • 6 of the 13 NDCs include explicit reference 
agroforestry and afforestation), and most countries to farmers. However, this mainly reflects 
globally also listed agriculture as a priority for the vulnerability of farmers and their needs 
adaptation, including all countries within Southern in terms of capacity development and 
Africa (the most common measures include livestock training.  
management, crop management, fisheries and 
aquaculture management, irrigation management • Most NDCs do refer to gender equity and 
and water management, as well as knowledge the inclusion of women broadly. However, 
transfer (e.g. extension), agricultural diversification only Lesotho and Zambia refer to gender in 
and soil and land management).  Almost all countries the context of agriculture/ women farmers.  
mention forestry.
From the above it is evident that there is a need to 
balance the contribution of agriculture to both 
adaptation and mitigation. Agriculture is recognised as Specifically, and deliberately, ensure that 
a source of GHG emissions, but there are limited sector- commercial agricultural priorities are 
specific mitigation opportunities, such as sustainable integrated into NDC, such as effective 
agricultural production and a reduction of food loss and economic policy incentives and financial 
waste. Also, NDCs should better refer to activities within investment, political prioritisation 
the entire food system value chain as there is great and policy alignment, research and 
potential to contribute to climate change mitigation and development under changing conditions 
adaptation through food systems changes. etc.   
Include specific reference to the 
important role of farmers and farming 
Direct reference to ‘farmers’, ‘farmers’ organisations in climate change mitigation 
organisations’, and ‘national farmers’ and adaptation 
unions’ is also absent in the current set of Ensure a stronger link to the Sustainable 
NDCs and where they are mentioned they are Development Goals and align NDC with 
referred to as ‘vulnerable’ or as ‘beneficiaries’ national development/sectoral plans and 
and not as active ‘agents of change’ or valuable targets, especially those that relate to 
stakeholders. New and revised NDCs must food security and nutrition, sustainable 
actively include NFOs as active stakeholders livelihoods, as well as degraded ecosystems 
that are at the forefront of the climate- and land. 
agriculture nexus. NFOs should be included in 
priority setting for the sector, as well as in a Include specific mitigation and adaptation 
needs analysis for future climate priorities. targets related to the food system – 
including to food loss, waste, sustainable 
Based on good practice elsewhere, the content of NDCs diets, and food consumption. 
can be improved to reflect farmer interests. Below is a Include reference to a just transition, 
checklist of content ideas that can be included in the social equality, human rights and food 
NDC revision and tailored to different national priorities security
and contexts.
Include the voices of marginalised 
groupings, specifically women farmers 
Ensure agriculture is fully integrated and the young farmers, and specifically 
through; link gender to the agricultural sector. 
• The addition of specific policies and Informed by up-to-date data in the climate 
actions to build resilience and and agricultural sector
enhance adaptation Describe and promote synergies between 
• The addition of specific quantifiable agricultural adaptation and mitigation. For 
and actions to reduce emissions example, cropland and nutrient management, 
• The inclusion of agriculture-sector land restoration, forest management and 
actions into an emissions reduction protection and preservation of ecosystems 
target offer opportunities to achieve simultaneous 
climate change mitigation and adaptation 
Specifically, and deliberately, ensure that benefits. Explicitly acknowledge these 
small-scale priorities are integrated synergies in their NDCs and support their 
into NDC, such as the development of uptake and scaling.  
a valuation model for the ecosystems 
management services they provide and Include an implementation roadmap with 
payments thereof; subsidised costs for farmers as important executing bodies (see 
farmer support technologies such as below for specific means of implementation 
irrigation and digital infrastructure network support)
expansion; assess to credit programmes, Include specific sectoral budget allocations 
research and extension services, as well as to support agriculture and farmer related 
safety net programmes etc interventions 
Photo:©P. Casier (CGIAR)
Ideas for implementation support to 
NFOs
Implementation of NDCs: What’s 
needed to support farmer • Define financial support needed to implement 
involvement? activities in the agriculture sector, particularly 
resources targeted for the benefit of small-scale 
The realisation of agriculture’s contribution to women farmers and their communities. In this 
the NDC targets will depend on how farmers regard, develop specific calls for support including 
are supported and empowered in their detailed budget allocations to finance the 
transition to low emission, climate- resilient transition costs, ecosystems payments, subsidized 
development pathways. In this regard, NFOs costs for gadgets and data, digital infrastructure 
have a critical role to play in working with network expansion, climate insurance etc
their respective national governments to • Identify enabling services needed, such as 
support for the mobilization of resources and climate information services, local data needs, 
investments (finance, technology transfer capacity building and technology needs.  
and capacity building, reskilling and social 
protection) are embedded in these processes • Include specific calls for technology transfer 
to enhance farmers capacities to adopt a suite and digital services that can support planning 
of climate smart technologies, approaches and forecasting (such as early warning systems), as 
and practices. well as technologies to support concrete climate 
action (including renewable energy; irrigation and 
Without the specific request for support wastewater management). 
measures, NDCs are likely to remain mere 
‘paper’ promises. Farmers in each country • Include specific technical capacities needs 
need to clearly decide what priorities exist and training requirements, including enhanced 
and what support is needed for the sector capacities to engage decision makers in inclusive 
at large/ within localised environments. A planning and implementation processes and 
consolidated national response would be the raise awareness and outreach. Strengthening the 
most strategic to gain traction at the highest capacities of NFOs to conduct monitoring and 
level, and the more detailed and specific the reporting is also essential. FOs can become leaders 
recommendations and requests, the more in accountability for national and international 
likely the government will consider them commitments to sustainable and ethical 
favourably. The 2015 SADC NDCs include only development. 
modest details about the support needed for 
implementation. • Include risk management strategies and needs, 
such as insurance and credit mechanisms