What does it truly mean to put women at the center of climate resilience and agricultural development in Africa? Edna Kalima, Program Officer at African Union Development Agency-NEPAD, takes us behind the scenes of groundbreaking work happening across five African nations.

The conversation delves intoAfrican Union Development Agency-NEPAD's Gender, Climate Change and Agriculture Support Program, which takes a comprehensive four-pronged approach to empowering women smallholder farmers in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Malawi, Niger, and Rwanda. Edna walks us through exactly how they're closing policy gaps, building women's capacity, creating dedicated platforms, and scaling successful innovations. This isn't theoretical work—it's tangible action changing lives across the continent.

Perhaps most fascinating is the deep dive into how gender considerations are being woven into forest restoration through the AFR 100 initiative. From the entrepreneurial Land Accelerator Program centered on women and youth to the development of gender indicators for monitoring restoration progress, Edna shares practical examples of gender mainstreaming in action. Her passionate reminder that gender integration "should not be an afterthought or just ticking a checkbox" challenges us to rethink how we approach development work.

Whether you're involved in climate action, agriculture, development policy, or simply care about equitable solutions to some of Africa's most pressing challenges, this conversation offers valuable insights into how gender-responsive approaches are reshaping the continent's future. Subscribe to Conversations on Africa's Development for more illuminating discussions with those driving positive change across Africa.

The fascinating journey from media stardom to fisheries advocacy unfolds as Betty Mordo shares her remarkable career pivot. A former TV producer and host of the popular women's advocacy talk show "Betty" in Seychelles, she explains how raising young children during COVID's demanding schedule sparked her professional transformation.

Betty reveals how the pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in Seychelles' tourism-dependent economy, strengthening her conviction that the island nation—comprising "more sea than land"—must elevate its fisheries sector to ensure economic resilience. With refreshing candor, she describes founding the Seychelles chapter of the African Women in Fish Processing Trade Network (AWU Fishnet), an organization spanning 55 African countries that empowers women in artisanal fisheries.

The heart of our conversation explores Betty's groundbreaking training program that equips women with crucial skills in fish processing, entrepreneurship, finance, and marketing. Her observation that "women multitask" and can successfully manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously makes a compelling case for women's leadership in fisheries. The overwhelming response—65 applications for just 30 training spots—demonstrates the untapped female potential in this traditionally male-dominated sector. Betty's pragmatic approach to skills development, her navigation of the tension between tradition and sustainability, and her vision for economic empowerment resonates throughout our discussion.

As Betty reflects on leaving her successful television career, she offers wisdom that transcends industries: "Once you achieve one dream, always ask what's next." Her story isn't just about switching careers—it's about recognizing when it's time to set new goals, embrace unfamiliar challenges, and create meaningful impact. Listen now to discover how one woman's professional evolution might inspire your own journey toward new possibilities.

The Congo Basin stands as Earth's premier forest reserve and vital carbon sink, regulating global temperatures while facing mounting pressures from development. How can Central Africa balance growth with environmental preservation? Raoul Siemeni, Director General of the first Francophone Information Agency for Environmental Affairs, offers compelling insights.

"Restoration is quite essential in the sense that we must take care of the preservation of the acquis and the restoration of everything that is degraded in this environment," explains Siemeni. His work managing the Network of Communicators for Environmental Information connects journalists, ministry officials, and international institutions across Central Africa and beyond. This collaborative approach highlights how communication serves as the backbone of effective environmental conservation.

The conversation reveals how women, particularly in rural communities, function as "guardians of the forests" - their expertise in biodiversity preservation, species conservation, and forest management proves indispensable. Networks of women environmental specialists demonstrate how gender inclusion strengthens conservation outcomes throughout the region. Meanwhile, the multi-actor forum for environmental information development showcases Central Africa's commitment to finding communication solutions that help "inform and reverse the trends" of environmental degradation.

Looking ahead, Central Africa's environmental leadership depends on balancing development needs with conservation, enhancing information networks, and embracing inclusive approaches. By learning from past environmental mistakes in other regions and adopting proactive strategies, the Congo Basin can continue serving as a global environmental treasure. Follow our podcast for more conversations exploring sustainable development paths across the African continent.

Soil fertility forms the foundation of human nutrition. This powerful insight from Belina Manapo Makhele, founder of Willow Tree Farm Center in Lesotho, captures the essence of her revolutionary approach to sustainable agriculture. Speaking from Kigali, Rwanda, Belina shares the remarkable journey of her commercial farm established in 2018, which has become a catalyst for community development through innovative partnerships.

At the heart of Willow Tree's success lies their aggregation model, a system where the farm collaborates with community groups and family farmers to multiply their impact. Rather than competing with small-scale farmers, Belina's enterprise supplies them with inputs and technical expertise, creating a network of producers delivering consistent, high-quality products. The profit-sharing arrangement—60% to farmers and 40% to the center—ensures both motivation and sustainability in these partnerships. This approach aligns perfectly with Lesotho's public-private partnership directives and supports King Letsie III's recognized role as the African Union's nutrition ambassador.

Climate-smart agriculture and land restoration form crucial pillars of Willow Tree's mission. Belina's team trains community groups to recycle garden and kitchen waste into compost, addressing the critical issue of soil nutrient loss due to heavy rains and climate challenges. This localized approach to maintaining soil fertility exemplifies their commitment to both environmental sustainability and nutritional security. As Belina eloquently states, "Nutrition starts from the soil"—a philosophy that connects healthy ecosystems with human wellbeing. Her work demonstrates how agricultural enterprises can simultaneously pursue commercial success, community empowerment, and environmental restoration, offering a blueprint for sustainable development across Africa and beyond.

Join the movement to transform agriculture through community-centered approaches! Subscribe to our podcast for more inspiring conversations with innovators reshaping Africa's development landscape.

The complex intersection of gender equity and environmental restoration takes center stage as Dr. Hannah Nyamekye unpacks Ghana's groundbreaking approach to forest and landscape restoration. At the heart of Ghana's strategy lies a commitment to restore 2 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 under the AUDA-NEPAD AFR100 Initiative—but with a crucial difference. Unlike traditional restoration efforts, Ghana has intentionally woven gender inclusion throughout its policy framework and implementation strategies.

Dr. Nyamekye reveals how Ghana's Forest and Wildlife Policy, Forest Landscape Restoration Strategy, and Forest Plantation Strategy all explicitly mandate gender considerations, reinforced by the National Gender Policy affecting all development initiatives. This integration acknowledges a fundamental truth: historical disadvantages in land access for women and youth directly impact food security and community resilience. By addressing these inequities, Ghana's approach serves dual purposes—environmental restoration and social transformation.

On the ground, this philosophy translates into practical innovations. Annual nationwide tree planting events mobilize citizens across demographics. The modified Taungya system allocates forest reserves to community members regardless of gender, while training in alternative livelihoods like beekeeping and soap-making reduces forest dependency. Perhaps most impactful are the women-focused woodlots providing accessible firewood, eliminating long journeys previously required for cooking fuel. Community natural resource management groups with female leadership help monitor illegal logging, giving women agency in forest protection. As climate change intensifies pressures on land resources, Ghana's gender-responsive model offers valuable lessons for restoration efforts worldwide. Have you considered how gender dynamics might impact environmental initiatives in your community? Join the conversation by sharing your thoughts or experiences with gender-inclusive sustainability approaches.

What happens when a community believes crop failures are caused by witchcraft rather than climate change? Eteki Stella Dopgima, a gender and community development expert from Cameroon, reveals the fascinating journey of transformation taking place in her rural community.

Stella's work with FOCWED (Forum for Christian Women Empowerment and Development) demonstrates how powerful education combined with practical solutions can shift perspectives and build resilience. Through a groundbreaking project supported by AUDA-NEPAD, her team secured 2,000 hectares of community land, creating opportunities for women farmers while introducing climate-smart agricultural practices.

The results speak volumes: 60-70 youth employed through value-added processing, a community climate change hub that demystifies environmental challenges, and innovative solutions like vegetable dryers and organic fertilizer production that directly address post-harvest losses. Most impressively, these achievements occurred against the backdrop of regional conflict that limits women's mobility and threatens food security.

"We are not growing crops, we are growing resilience," Stella explains, capturing the essence of work that rebuilds trust and empowers women to lead despite challenging circumstances. Her vision of "making agriculture sexy" represents a profound narrative shift, transforming farming from perceived punishment to an appealing livelihood with genuine potential for youth.

For anyone interested in the intersection of climate action, gender equality, and resilient food systems, Stella's story offers both inspiration and practical wisdom. Her approach shows how community-led solutions can simultaneously address environmental challenges while creating economic opportunities and challenging harmful misconceptions.

Subscribe to our podcast and join these vital conversations on Africa's sustainable development, where women like Stella are not just participating but leading the way toward healing communities and restoring landscapes.

The complex interplay between gender, development, and social transformation takes center stage in this enlightening conversation with Ange Gaju, a gender specialist from Rwanda. Drawing clear distinctions between commonly confused terms, Gaju deftly untangles the difference between sex as biological reality and gender as social construct, providing listeners with foundational knowledge essential for understanding equality work.

What makes this discussion particularly valuable is Gaju's explanation of Rwanda's remarkable progress in gender mainstreaming. She reveals how the country's Gender Monitoring Office systematically ensures gender considerations are embedded across both public and private institutions, creating a model other African nations might emulate. Her breakdown of the gender continuum—from blind approaches that ignore gender differences to transformative ones that actively dismantle harmful norms—offers practical frameworks for organizations seeking to improve their equity practices.

Perhaps most compelling is Gaju's perspective on environmental restoration through a gender lens. She articulates how women and men interact differently with land based on societal roles, access rights, and decision-making power, making gender-blind restoration projects inherently flawed. Her emphasis on engaging men as allies rather than adversaries challenges conventional approaches, reminding us that "gender equality is not about women—it's about men and women working together." Whether you're new to gender concepts or looking to deepen your understanding of inclusive development approaches, this conversation provides clarity, nuance, and inspiration for creating more equitable communities across Africa and beyond. Ready to transform your thinking about gender and development? Listen now and join the conversation!

Forests are the lifeblood of Tanzania, covering nearly 40% of the country and providing essential resources for millions of people. We sit down with Johary Kachwamba, Communication Lead for Tanzania Forest Services Agents, to explore how the country is implementing its groundbreaking National Forest and Landscape Restoration Strategy.

The conversation reveals Tanzania's innovative approach to fulfilling its AFR100 commitment to restore 5.2 million hectares of forest landscape. Rather than treating this as merely an environmental obligation, Tanzania has designed a strategy that simultaneously addresses ecological restoration, rural economic development, and community empowerment. At its core, the approach recognizes that lasting restoration requires diverse stakeholders working together with measurable outcomes.

What makes Tanzania's strategy particularly fascinating is how it creates virtuous cycles between conservation and economic opportunity. The government has trained over 5,000 beekeepers and distributed more than 1,000 beehives, creating livelihoods that depend on healthy forests. Meanwhile, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has personally championed a nationwide tree-planting initiative tied to her birthday. We learn about real success stories, including a farmer who now benefits from both honey production and eco-tourism, with family members serving as forest guides. This demonstrates how thoughtfully designed restoration can transform rural economies while healing degraded landscapes.

Join us to discover how Tanzania is balancing ecological functionality with economic growth, and how this approach could serve as a model for forest restoration across Africa and beyond. Have you witnessed examples of conservation and economic development working hand-in-hand in your community? We'd love to hear your stories!

Amidst Africa's growing climate challenges emerges a powerful narrative of hope and renewal through the synthesis of ecological restoration and gender empowerment. Our conversation with Nandi Ngcobo, Marketing Director of Asime Women, reveals how communities across South Africa are pioneering sustainable solutions that simultaneously heal landscapes and uplift marginalized populations.

The Buffelsdraai Community Climate Protection Project stands as a testament to thoughtful climate action. What began as Durban's initiative to offset carbon emissions during the 2010 FIFA World Cup has blossomed into a 580-hectare reforestation marvel that employs over 600 local women and youth as "treepreneurs." These community members grow indigenous seedlings at home, selling them back to the municipality for utility credits that help support their families. This innovative model doesn't just restore a former landfill site—it provides sustainable livelihoods for people living below the poverty line, demonstrating how environmental projects can address both ecological and social challenges simultaneously.

Architecture plays an equally vital role in Africa's sustainable transformation. The renowned "Treehouse" in Cape Town exemplifies this potential, having been built around existing trees rather than removing them. With support columns mimicking tree trunks and materials that echo the natural surroundings, this celebrated structure demonstrates that development doesn't require sacrificing nature. Strategic design eliminates the need for energy-intensive systems through natural shading and ventilation, proving that working with natural elements produces more beautiful, efficient, and sustainable outcomes.

Both projects embody a fundamental shift in thinking: solutions must be regenerative rather than extractive. As climate challenges intensify, these approaches offer a blueprint for development that enhances rather than depletes natural resources—a vision increasingly vital for Africa's resilience. Join us to discover how communities are leading the way in building a more sustainable, equitable future where nature and human progress flourish together. Have you witnessed similar projects in your community? We'd love to hear about other innovative approaches to ecological restoration and community empowerment.

Meet Nigeria's "Desert Warrior," Dr. Newton Jibonuh, whose four-decade battle against desertification has transformed landscapes and communities across Northern Nigeria. Born in Delta State and trained as a building engineer, Dr. Jibonuh earned his formidable nickname through multiple expeditions across the Sahara Desert—trekking from London to Lagos not once but twice—to raise awareness about the creeping threat of desert encroachment.

The stakes couldn't be higher. Desert encroachment advances at a startling rate of 0.5 kilometers per year through Nigeria, threatening the eleven frontline states that border Niger. Through his NGO "Fight Against Desert Encroachment" (FADE), Dr. Jibonuh has brought both passion and practical solutions to communities most affected by this environmental crisis. His work in Makoda, Kano State stands as testimony to what's possible—between 2000 and 2006, he successfully reclaimed degraded land, turning barren earth into productive soil. The grateful community honored him with a traditional title and built a commemorative hut recognizing his transformative impact.

Nigeria's government has stepped up its response to this environmental challenge with policy frameworks and significant financial commitments. The 2007 Drought and Desertification Policy is currently undergoing comprehensive revision to address emerging issues like gender mainstreaming and sand and dust storms. President Tinubu has committed an impressive N20 billion (Naira) to climate issues including land restoration, while the World Bank-supported ACReSAL project adds another $700 million specifically targeted at restoration efforts. As agencies like the National Agency for Green World continue this vital work, Dr. Jibonuh's legacy as a restoration champion—officially recognized by the Federal Ministry of Environment in 2024—serves as inspiration for environmental advocates everywhere. Want to learn more about environmental heroes making a difference? Subscribe to our podcast for more stories of innovation and dedication in the face of climate challenges.