TerrAfrica Patnership

TerrAfrica is entering a significant transition phase, which promises to embed it more fully in the African context, under African leadership. A new business model is paving the way for increased collective action from TerrAfrica partners to support countries in the region to advocate sustainable land management (SLM) as a national development priority and attract investment packages. This builds on the highly successful work of the past five years, which was positively assessed in the recent Independent Evaluation of TerrAfrica.

The new business model coincides with the transfer of TerrAfrica to Sub-Saharan Africa. The relocation will see the TerrAfrica secretariat move to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) in Johannesburg, South Africa, from its current headquarters at the World Bank, which remains firmly committed to the process. At the Seventh TerrAfrica Executive Committee Meeting (26-27 September 2009) held during UNCCD COP 9, TerrAfrica partners, including the GM, were vocal in offering their full support to TerrAfrica’s secretariat in adjusting to the necessary capacity demands of this transition.

The Independent Evaluation of TerrAfrica notes significant successes to date. SLM investments have been upscaled through the Strategic Investment Program (SIP) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in a total of 43 countries. With regard to raising operational finance for TerrAfrica, the World Bank’s Development Grant Fund (DGF) commitment, along with TerrAfrica partner co-financing, have been instrumental. One notable result of the DGF commitment has been the development of TerrAfrica knowledge products which communicate the value of investing in SLM.

However, as we enter the next chapter of TerrAfrica’s evolution, key financial challenges remain with regard to securing finance for TerrAfrica’s operations. With the commitment of the World Bank’s Development Grant Fund (DGF) drawing to a close, the major challenge now is to capitalize the TerrAfrica Leverage Fund (TLF). Given the new setting of TerrAfrica in Africa itself, this financial challenge takes on a new dimension, which requires strong support from TerrAfrica partners.

TerrAfrica has identified climate change as a core priority of its 2009 work programme in recognition of the value of SLM in adapting to and mitigating climate change within the agriculture and rural sectors. Moreover, addressing land and climate issues in tandem is increasingly important in making a compelling case to policy and decision makers to increase investments for SLM. The GM is an active partner in TerraAfrica’s Strategic Advisory Group on Land and Climate with recent inputs provided on SLM and climate change finance to two flagship papers on coalition building and knowledge management.

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