Earlier this month, a core group of African scientists and technical experts received hands-on training in using the Africa Agriculture Adaptation Atlas, a decision support tool developed by the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT (ABC). Now, they’re stepping into the role of trainers themselves. From May 28–30, 2025, AGNES and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) are hosting a regional sensitization and training workshop in Kigali, Rwanda. This workshop will bring together policy makers, private sector representatives, civil society organizations (CSOs), and practitioners from Central Africa Region. The aim is to expand the adoption and usability of the Africa Agriculture Adaptation Atlas and equip participants with data-driven tools for planning adaptation strategies.
Why Central Africa needs the Adaptation Atlas
Climate change continues to threaten Central Africa’s food systems, as it relies on rainfed agriculture which is highly vulnerable to erratic weather patterns. Agriculture makes up about 14% of the region’s GDP, yet fluctuating rainfall, heat stress, and land degradation are increasing food insecurity and economic risks. The Adaptation Atlas addresses these challenges by providing localized, data-rich insights that help users evaluate climate risks, identify vulnerable populations, and prioritize adaptation investments. For Central Africa, it offers an opportunity to ground strategies in evidence and ensure climate responses are both context-specific and forward-looking.
What the workshop aims to achieve
The objectives of these workshop are:
- Sensitize and train policy makers, private sector, practitioners and CSOs from Central Africa on the Adaptation Atlas tool and its functionalities.
- Obtain feedback on the usefulness and adaptability of the tool and areas of improvement.
- Identify potential use cases for the Adaptation Atlas in Central Africa.
Who will participate in this workshop?
The workshop targets a diverse group of stakeholders from across Central Africa, including:
- Policy makers
- Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)
- Private sector actors
- Technical practitioners
Expected outcomes
The expected outputs of the workshop are:
- Policy makers, private sector, CSOs and practitioners from Central Africa sensitized are trained on the Adaptation Atlas for increased adoption and usability.
- Feedback on the usefulness of the tool and areas of improvement obtained.
- Use Cases of the Adaptation Atlas in Central Africa
Hands-On Learning: Notebooks in Focus
This workshop is highly interactive, structured around roundtable sessions where participants work directly with the Atlas’s key notebooks that will help them to:
- Evaluate Climate Risks
- Explore Climate Datasets
- Project Climate Impacts
- Understand Heat Stress on Producers
- Understand Economic Returns on Adaptation
- Prioritize Livestock Investments
- Analyse Women’s Exposure to Climate Hazards
- Discover Solutions
A Growing Community of Atlas Champions
What makes this event especially significant is that it’s powered by previously trained—African scientists who are now stepping into facilitator roles. This approach is helping to build a self-sustaining network of adaptation leaders, equipped to apply the Atlas across projects, policies, and sectors. AGNES and AIMS are committed to growing a pan-African community of practice where tools like the Adaptation Atlas help bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and local adaptation actions.
Conclusion: From Kigali to the Continent
As the Adaptation Atlas expands into new regions, it is proving to be more than just a digital tool—it is a platform for collaboration, knowledge transfer, and regional empowerment. The Central Africa workshop is a key step in scaling Africa’s climate resilience from the ground up.