ESSA-Forêts grant report

Summary

This report describes an action‑research project in Madagascar focused on understanding how forest‑edge farming communities can transition from shifting cultivation to climate‑smart agriculture (CSA) to address severe land degradation, declining productivity and increasing vulnerability to climate change.

Through interviews, focus groups, literature reviews and a national co‑creation workshop involving farmers, extension officers, government officials, conservation actors and researchers, the project identified key barriers to CSA adoption—including limited coordination across policy sectors, short‑term extension services, lack of market access, insufficient technical support, socio‑economic constraints and challenges linked to remote protected‑area locations.

Stakeholders also highlighted enabling factors such as tailored training, responsive technologies, strong local leadership, improved access to inputs and credit, and partnerships with private actors. The workshop produced policy recommendations, emphasising the need for coherent cross‑sectoral strategies, diversified incentives, and long‑term support mechanisms, with plans for future field testing of CSA‑related policy instruments and expansion of co‑production processes across Madagascar and other African regions.