The European Commission and the member states have funded a wealth of agro‑ecological projects across third‑countries, fostering sustainable farming, biodiversity conservation and climate‑resilient food systems. While the overall portfolio is extensive, this sub‑website concentrates on introducing the newly launched DeSIRA+ initiative. For information on further projects please use the link at the end of this page.

DeSIRA+ (Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture)

The EU funded initiative DeSIRA+  (start in 2025, budget of 150 million Euro) aims to foster the adoption of agroecological innovations by small-scale farmers and SMEs of the agri-food sector in Africa.  Second, it supports the capacity of farmers’ organisations, civil society and private sector actors to scale innovations and third, it stives to improve enabling policy environment for agroecology at national, regional and continental levels. The DesiraLift+  project supports the initiative in the domain of i) dialogue and coordination, ii) capacity development and iii) actionable knowledge.

The DeSIRA+ initiative builds on the previous DeSIRA initiative (2019-2026, budget 400 million Euro) that supported research and innovation projects in Africa, Asia, Latin America, strengthened research capacities and research governance. Knowing that solutions need to be context specific the initiative aimed to put more science into the development of transformative food systems, including agroecology and nature based solutions. Desira-Lift was the project that supported the implementing projects by strengthening monitoring and evaluation, fostering cross-project learning, and translating evidence on agroecological, climate-smart  innovation into policy-relevant guidance.

DeSIRA+ projects

Regional Multiactor Research Networks on Agroecology in Africa (RMRN)

DeSIRA+ West Africa

Supports multi-actor innovation initiatives in West Africa to foster the scaling up of agroecological practices and sustainable food systems transformation.

DeSIRA+ Central Africa

Promotes agroecological transition, by  disseminating and scaling of impactful agroecological innovations and improving the institutional and policy environment for innovation and agroecological transition across Central African countries, specifically in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Rwanda.

DeSIRA+ Indian Ocean

Fosters the scaling up of agroecological innovations in the Western Indian Ocean region, including Comoros, Mauritius, Madagascar, and Seychelles, through the scaling up of proven practices and associated support schemes.

Soil Matters

Focuses on improving soil health and management by scaling innovations for soil health and agroecology in selected partner countries, at regional, continental and global level.

SATAF

Contributes to the agroecological and agroforestry transition in the cashew, cocoa and coffee sectors in West and East Africa by promoting the adoption of shared principles and sustainable practices

AgrEcoNUS+

Strives to enhance food security and nutrition by ensuring access to diverse and nutrient-rich diets by promoting agroecological principles and the valorisation of neglected and underutilised species (NUS), with a focus on climate change adaptation and socio-economic shocks.

ATHAZ

Aims to enhance livelihoods and climate resilience of smallholder horticultural farmers in Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe by driving the agroecological transition in arid and semi-arid zones, including innovation for water efficiency, value chain development, policy environment.

FO4IMPACT

The Farmers’ Organisations for Impact Programme is aiming at promoting inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient agricultural value chains based on agro- ecological principles through strengthened farmers’ organisations.

TAPE+

Focuses on substantiating the benefits of agroecology through metrics and data analysis, supporting field-level agroecological transitions, and advocating for evidence-based policymaking by further developing the Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE).

MoSAFS

Aims to support public decision making towards the Green Transition in Africa by providing scientific evidence of the potential of up-scaling of agroecology, developing models at different scales in national case-studies.

Mainstream

Works to mainstream agroecology-oriented innovation and research results into policies and practices by leveraging innovation scaling support services and improved policymaking capacities tailored to local needs.

Explore past and ongoing research project on agroecology here: FNSSA database

Explore more projects supported by the EC on sustainable agriculture here: DG INTPA database