Through its Soil Values program, IFDC and the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) have formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to forward progress on shared goals. Signed on November 3 in Accra, Ghana, this agreement aims to significantly advance sustainable agriculture and climate resilience across the region.
“For our programs to connect with institutions like WASCAL that combine science, innovation, and regional reach, this is the way forward.”
Eric Smiling, outgoing Soil Values Program Director
This powerful collaboration unites WASCAL’s expertise in climate science with IFDC’s global leadership in soil fertility and sustainable farming. Together, the partners will focus on the following:
- Joint Research and Innovation: Developing and testing evidence-based, climate-smart technologies.
- Training and Capacity Building: Equipping researchers and smallholder farmers with the skills needed for resilient food systems.
IFDC and WASCAL will work strategically to empower West African communities to thrive, driving progress toward a greener, more food-secure future in the face of a changing climate. This signature is part of the Soil Values program implementation framework.
The signing event brought together senior officials and technical experts from both institutions, including Dr. Oumou Camara, Vice President of Global Programs at IFDC; Eric Smaling, outgoing Soil Values Program Director; Alain Sy Traoré, incoming Soil Values Program Director; Nassourou Diallo, Soil Values Deputy Program Director of Partnerships; and members of the WASCAL management team led by Professor Emmanuel Wendsongré Ramdé, WASCAL Executive Director.
Professor Ramdé explained WASCAL’s strengths and presence: “WASCAL has 13 active member countries with Sierra Leone recently joining and Liberia and Guinea-Bissau expected soon; 17 graduate programs across West Africa, including PhD and master’s programs in climate shifts, energy, and green hydrogen; and more than 700 graduates across the region.”
Describing IFDC’s complementary strengths, Dr. Camara stated, “IFDC is in capacity building, research, and innovation.”
Remarking on the needs addressed by the MoU, she continued: “In West Africa, when it comes to climate challenges, there is a gap; we don’t have enough scientists to study and propose solutions. That’s why we set up to train a critical number of scientists within the region.”
Both parties agreed to deepen cooperation through a technical agreement that would operationalize the MoU. Areas identified for collaboration include joint research and field trials, capacity development, data sharing, and policy engagement.
“This is a very useful partnership for us,” concluded Dr. Smaling. “For our programs to connect with institutions like WASCAL that combine science, innovation, and regional reach, this is the way forward.”
This partnership marks a pivotal step toward transforming West Africa’s agricultural landscape. Together, IFDC and WASCAL are advancing a shared vision and laying a strong foundation for research-driven innovation and local empowerment.
Funded by the Dutch Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS), the Soil Values program is being implemented over 10 years (2024-2033), led by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), in consortium with SNV and Wageningen University and Research (WUR), as well as knowledge partners such as AGRA, the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), ISRIC – World Soil Information, and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
