08/01/2026
Why do food systems matter to climate resilience?
Across Africa, food systems are people systems, built by farmers, women, youth, and families who grow food, feed communities, and protect livelihoods.
About 65% of people in Eastern Africa depend on agriculture for work, and smallholder farmers manage nearly 80% of farmland, producing most of the food consumed locally. Yet climate shocks are taking a heavy toll, with an estimated USD 8–10 billion lost every year due to droughts, floods, and unpredictable weather.
The good news? Solutions are already working on the ground.
In Tanzania, rice farmers using climate-smart practices have tripled their yields while using less water. In Madagascar, farmers have reduced fertiliser use by more than half while restoring soil health. In the DRC, women-led agroforestry initiatives are reviving degraded land and rebuilding livelihoods.
We’ve created a short video explainer and an infographic highlighting key facts and figures on Africa’s food systems transformation, and why climate-smart, community-led agriculture matters for people and the planet.
Watch, learn, and join the conversation.
Gates Foundation African Community & Conservation Foundation Climate Reality UN Climate ChangeWangui Karanja
