These workshops enabled the identification of specific concerns in different countries and the production of collective messages and recommendations. 

Each organiser wrote a report on their workshop to fuel discussions at the Summit. The content of the reports will be analysed to produce a cross-cutting report highlighting the concerns, progress, expectations and key messages of each country.

The article Find the workshop reports from the Désertif’actions preparatory workshops appeared first on Desertif'actions.

On September 27, 2025, the Association for the Safeguarding of the Chenini Oasis (ASOC) brought together a wide variety of local, regional and national actors in Gabès for a day dedicated to good water governance in oasis systems. Organized as part of the preparations for the International Desertif’actions 2026 Summit, this meeting made it possible to draw up a shared diagnosis of the growing pressures that threaten Tunisian oases, and to highlight innovative and sustainable solutions to strengthen their resilience. 

Bringing together farmers, agricultural development groups (GDAs), researchers, public institutions and associations, the event had a clear objective: to mobilize collectively to defend a unique natural and cultural heritage, now on the front line in the face of climate change. 

The day, structured in two sessions (papers and collective discussion), provided an opportunity to combine scientific expertise, traditional knowledge and feedback from farmers. 

Tunisian oases: a heritage exposed to climate change 

The opening of the day recalled the vital importance of oases in southern Tunisia: key role in local agriculture, reservoirs of biodiversity, social and economic regulators and cultural spaces inherited from centuries of collective water management. 

However, these territories are now weakened by a series of pressures: 

• persistent drought; 

• increased salinization of water and soil; 

• marine intrusion; 

• excessive pumping; 

• ageing water infrastructure; 

• disorganization of irrigation circuits; and 

• flooding and hydromorphism linked to climate variability. 

The participants underlined how the water crisis is now at the heart of oasis challenges, with direct impacts on agricultural production, the health of date palms, soil fertility and the socio-economic stability of populations. 

Presentations and communications: a complete overview of the issues 

The morning was scheduled around several presentations, intended to illustrate a number of themes and issues related to the sustainable development of the territory. 

• Introduction to the Desertif’Actions 2026 International Summit, recalling the global challenges of the fight against desertification and the central place of oases in these debates. 

• Recycling of wastewater from the Chenini Oasis Zoo, presenting an innovative treatment and reuse project, likely to offer a sustainable complementary resource. 

• Simulation of Roman hydraulic networks, showing how the ancient heritage inspires modern solutions for rational water management. 

• Role of compost in the fertility of oasis soils and the reduction of erosion. 

• Diagnosis of irrigation networks : ageing, losses, management, crucial role of GDAs. 

• Farmers’ experiences, highlighting local innovations, but also daily difficulties. 

Concrete, adapted and operational solutions 

The exchange session made it possible to identify the priority risks for the Chenini oasis: flooding, hydromorphy, fluctuation of irrigation water supply. 

The main causes observed are climate variability, excessive pumping, lack of maintenance, increased evapotranspiration, insufficient drainage, poorly controlled fertilizers. 

The participants formulated a series of recommendations grouped into four major axes. 

Governance and participation:  

• Ensure the active participation of all stakeholders (farmers, institutions, research centres, associations and GDAs). 

• Adapt water governance to the specific context of the oasis, taking into account cultural, social and territorial particularities. 

• Promote the rational management of irrigation (integration of a fraction for leaching), with the organization of water towers according to the real needs of the crops. 

Infrastructure and water management: 

• Construct control dams and install rainwater drainage facilities. 

• Create and maintain an efficient drainage network, managed by the GDA. 

• Install piezometers to monitor the water table. 

• Maintain and modernize irrigation networks, incorporating water-saving techniques. 

• Introduce photovoltaic energy for sustainable and low-cost pumping. 

• Strengthen the involvement of the State in solving problems related to public services (SONED, ONAS, etc.). 

Sustainable farming techniques and practices: 

• Implement efficient irrigation practices, with incentive pricing. 

• Adapt irrigation to the real needs of the crops (flow rates of 0.5 to 0.75 l/s/ha). 

• Introduce sandy and gypsum amendment for sodic soils and improve cultivation techniques. 

• Encourage farmers to practice subsoiling to break up the gypsum cemented subsoil. 

• Promote the use of compost, crop diversification, the adoption of sustainable fertilization and agroecology. 

• Favor local and drought-resistant species. 

• To use treated wastewater (perennial source) for irrigation, hence the improvement of access to water in areas affected by desertification. 

Innovation and digitalization: 

• Develop digital tools for water monitoring and planning in the oasis ecosystem. 

• Introduce economical irrigation systems (drip irrigation, smart pumps, etc.). 

• Train stakeholders in data collection and analysis. 

Awareness and capacity building: 

• To raise farmers’ awareness of water saving and the fight against desertification. 

• Strengthen the capacities of GDA agents in terms of management and maintenance. 

• Promote and disseminate successful local experiences. 

A renewed collective commitment in preparation for Désertif’actions 2026 

The meeting concluded with the adoption of a final communiqué by the participants, through which they: 

• Reaffirm their commitment to promoting sustainable and equitable water governance, based on transparency, participation and scientific planning. 

• Commit to strengthening awareness and education around issues related to desertification, in order to involve the younger generations in the preservation of oases. 

• Call on public authorities, technical and financial partners to increase support for local initiatives for the sustainable management of natural resources. 

• Express their willingness to actively contribute to the preparatory work of the Desertif’Action Forum 2026, in order to make the voice of Tunisian and Mediterranean oases heard in international debates. 

This day marks a decisive step in the defence of oases, threatened but promising spaces. It testifies to the growing mobilization of local actors to protect these unique ecosystems, real ramparts against desertification and living symbols of human ingenuity in the face of aridity. 

Read all the recommendations in the full workshop report (in French).

The article Tunisia: A look back at the workshop held on 27 September in Gabès appeared first on Desertif'actions.

While Yemen remains one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, marked by extreme water scarcity and accelerated land degradation, the Rural Youth Cooperative for Agricultural Development (RYCAD) organized a national workshop on September 29 and 30, 2025, dedicated to combating desertification and adapting to drought. This meeting, which consisted of an initial online day followed by an in-person session in Taiz, was part of the international Desertif’actions 2026 initiative. 

Bringing together a total of 31 participants from farmers’ organizations, technical services, universities, local authorities, and community organizations, the workshop provided an opportunity to take stock of the situation and, above all, to jointly develop operational courses of action to strengthen the resilience of rural communities in the face of longer, more frequent, and more severe droughts. 

Yemen: structural vulnerability to drought 

With more than 90% of the country’s territory classified as arid or semi-arid, agriculture heavily dependent on rainfall and groundwater, and increasing pressure on land, drought has become a systemic crisis. Participants highlighted some worrying figures: 

• renewable resources of just 83 m³ of water per capita per year, 

• nearly 90% of water withdrawals for agriculture, 

• acute overexploitation of certain aquifers, such as that of Sana’a, where withdrawals exceed natural recharge by more than four times. 

These water tensions are compounded by land degradation, declining pastures, conflicts over use, and the collapse of traditional infrastructure such as mountain terraces. 

A two-part workshop: sharing diagnosis and identifying solutions 

Day 1 (online) 

This first session laid the foundations for a shared diagnosis, covering: 

• the state of desertification in Yemen; 

• the biophysical and social mechanisms that exacerbate drought; 

• the observed impacts on agriculture, pastoralism, and food security; 

• the country’s commitments within international frameworks (UNCCD, NDC, adaptation plans). 

Participants were divided into three groups, corresponding to the three areas of focus for the workshop: 

1. Transforming irrigated and rain-fed agriculture in the face of drought; 

2. Sustainable water resource management at the watershed level, 

3. Better protecting and restoring agricultural and pastoral lands. 

Each group produced an initial analysis of the problems, opportunities, key actors, and relevant indicators. 

Day 2 (in person, in Taiz) 

The second day, held in person, allowed these diagnoses to be transformed into concrete intervention packages, developed through collaborative exercises: 

• co-construction sessions, 

• cross-group reviews (“gallery walk”), 

• prioritization according to an impact/feasibility matrix, 

• development of an initial national roadmap. 

Shared findings: longer drought periods, soil depletion, and increased pressure on resources 

The groups highlighted several worrying trends: 

• a marked decline in crop productivity and an increase in post-harvest losses; 

• decline in pastureland and soaring fodder prices; 

• increasing reliance on deep wells, fueling a spiral of groundwater depletion; 

• intensification of conflicts over water, pasture, and agricultural land; 

• increased vulnerability of women, smallholder farmers, and mobile pastoralists; 

• multiple simultaneous shocks: drought, extreme heat, dust-laden winds, and flash floods. 

Stocktaking of proven practices and local solutions 

Participants highlighted a set of proven local practices: 

• rainwater harvesting (cisterns, small dams, check dams); 

• regular maintenance of agricultural terraces; 

• water-efficient irrigation (drip irrigation, controlled deficit irrigation); 

• flexible crop rotations and drought-tolerant varieties; 

• mobile community veterinary services; 

• local water committees to organize irrigation rotations and reduce tensions; 

• climate information via SMS, mobilizing young people to collect data. 

Priorities for action defined by participants 

At the end of the discussions, four major areas for action emerged. 

1. Water and irrigation 

• Support for the creation of water user associations; 

• Deployment of efficient irrigation materials and techniques and local training in maintenance; 

• rehabilitation of small canals, dykes, and retention dams; 

• installation of groundwater level measurement points and monitoring of withdrawals. 

2. Livestock farming and pastoral services 

• creation of village fodder banks; 

• improvement of watering points (shade, troughs, windbreaks); 

• strengthening of the network of CAHWs (community animal health workers). 

3. Climate services and digitalization 

• launch of agricultural and pastoral alert SMS messages aligned with local calendars; 

• mobilization of young people to collect agroclimatic data. 

4. Financing and social protection 

• Expansion of cash/food-for-assets programs for water and land restoration. 

• experimentation with drought index insurance and seasonal microfinance. 

Read all the recommendations in the full workshop report .

The article Yemen : Review of the national workshop held on September 29–30 appeared first on Desertif'actions.

As part of the preparation for the Desertif’actions 2026 International Summit, to be held from 25 to 28 March 2026 in Djerba (Tunisia), the Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Kenya association organized a national preparatory workshop on resilience of agricultural and pastoral production systems to drought, from 16 to 18 September 2025 at the Sportsman’s Arms Hotel (Nanyuki County). 

The event brought together representatives from civil society organizations, government agencies, county administrations, academia, development partners and grassroots communities. 

A workshop focused on arid and semi-arid lands 

Held under the theme « Strengthening Civil Society Participation in Combating Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought in Kenya ». The workshop featured opening remarks and presentations from PELUM Kenya, IUCN, NEMA, Egerton University and GIZ. 

Speakers emphasized the need to : 

• integrate indigenous knowledge into land governance 

• ensure effective community participation, especially by women and youth 

• align local actions with national policy frameworks (LDN targets, resilience strategies) 

A field day 

On the second day, participants visited Laikipia County to observe concrete community initiatives : 

• construction of sand dams and water-harvesting structures 

• indigenous tree nurseries and restoration practices 

• household kitchen gardens and beekeeping 

• valorization of invasive species (Opuntia) for food, fodder and value-added products 

These visits highlighted the importance of linking policy dialogue with local action and the central role of women and youth in landscape restoration. 

Agroecology and rangeland governance 

An interactive session led by Dr Che Thoner Victorine (IUCN) explored agroecology for sustainable rangelands, showing its potential to restore ecosystems while strengthening community empowerment and food security. Concrete examples (Baringo, Northern Kenya, local cooperatives) illustrated solutions against erosion, for land rights and income diversification. 

Barriers, levers and advocacy priorities 

Group discussions identified recurring barriers such as centralized funding, limited access to technology and applied research, land-tenure challenges and capacity-building needs. 
Proposed levers included direct financing to communities, county-level agroecology policies, local action-research and stronger cooperatives. 

Key advocacy messages included : 

• finalize and fund key policies (agroecology, rangeland management, climate adaptation) 

• channel decentralized funding to grassroots actors 

• invest in local research and equipment for resource valorization (e.g. : Opuntia processing) 

• institutionalize environmental education and promote the participation of women and youth 

Toward national and international advocacy 

The workshop concluded with a call for better-funded policies, direct community support and multi-stakeholder partnerships. 

The outcomes will feed into Kenya’s contribution to COP17 and the Desertif’actions 2026 Summit, amplifying local voices and promoting inclusive governance of land and water. 

For more information about this workshop, contact PELUM Kenya : manei@pelumkenya.net 

Read the full set of recommendations in the complete workshop report. 

The article Kenya : Report on the workshop from 16 to 18 September 2025  appeared first on Desertif'actions.

A special focus: countries of intervention and policy coherence

Rather than focusing on desertification in Canada, the organisations present chose to examine policy coherence in the countries where they operate (notably Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Chad). The workshop highlighted that, in these Sahelian contexts, the main problem is the inconsistency between public policies (agriculture, land, environment) and local realities, to the detriment of family farming and agroecological systems supported by small-scale producers.

Actions and innovations presented

Among the actions shared during the workshop:

• Climate/soil health advisory clubs (soil analysis, promotion of organic matter and water retention)
• Demonstration sites and identification of local champions to promote the adoption of practices
• Technical solutions: solar systems for food processing, biodigesters (e.g. Mission Inclusion’s ABC project) producing energy and organic fertilisers.
• Governance: strengthening local management committees, integrated approaches combining technical support and governance
• Knowledge and research: university-community partnerships for action research and the integration of local knowledge

Identified obstacles and proposed solutions

• Main obstacles identified: laws and policies that are sometimes contradictory or inappropriate, lack of coordination between customary actors and institutions, pressure on land, limited resources available to small organisations for advocacy, and harmful practices linked to a lack of training.
• Proposed levers: support regional networks (e.g. Sitsee or Pélum), increase the number of demonstration sites and “champions”, strengthen climate literacy and action research, and develop financial support mechanisms and targeted advocacy with regional authorities.

Advocacy messages

Trois cibles principales et leurs messages :

• Government of Quebec: ensure the sustainability and consistency of the PCCI (Plan for a Green Economy 2030 / sub-national climate financing mechanism) by confirming funding in the economic update or the 2026-2027 budget.
• Public opinion: promoting the return on investment of the PCCI (jobs, influence, climate benefits) through testimonials and field data (e.g. sequestration linked to biodigesters).
• International actors (COP, donors): promote the Quebec model as an example to be protected and valued in international exchanges.

Find all the recommendations in the full workshop report.

The article Canada: A look back at the workshop held on 7 October 2025 appeared first on Desertif'actions.