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On April 16, 2024, the official launch of the SOIL VALUES program took place in Abuja, a 10-year initiative (2024-2034) funded by the Netherlands Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS). This ambitious regional program, focusing its on-the-ground interventions in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and the northern region of Nigeria, aims to improve soil fertility and agricultural productivity on 2 million hectares of farmland while enhancing the resilience of 1.5 million farmers. SOIL VALUES is implemented by IFDC, the technical arm of ECOWAS in soil fertility management and fertilizer sector development for 25 years, in collaboration with key partners SNV and Wageningen University & Research (WUR).

The ECOWAS Vision

In the presence of numerous dignitaries and program partners, the Director of Agriculture of ECOWAS, M. Alain SY TRAORE, delivered a speech on behalf of the Honorable Commissioner of Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Madame Massandje TOURE-LITSE, and H.E. Aliou TOURAY, President of the ECOWAS Commission. He traced the journey that led to the creation of the SOIL VALUES program. The initiative stemmed from a recognized gap in soil health matter within the Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) launched in 2022 and funded by the World Bank. "Building on this awareness, ECOWAS sought the support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for $100 million over 10 years, what audacity!" declared Mr. Traoré. The response was more than generous: a grant, meeting the expressed expectations, was announced at the West Africa Fertilizer Summit in Lomé in June 2023, giving rise to this ambitious program.

He warmly congratulated the Consortium led by IFDC for being chosen to implement this program, emphasizing the trust placed in it to achieve the expected results. Although focused on direct national-level interventions, the program will include a regional component aimed at sharing knowledge and best practices among the 15 ECOWAS member states. "We are always committed to mobilizing funds for the benefit of our Member States, and I assure you of our full support for the implementation of this wonderful program," concluded the Director in his remarks.

Participation in Discussion Panels

During the discussion panels, the Director of Agriculture addressed two crucial questions regarding challenges and mechanisms for regional coordination for soil health:

*Constraints to Promoting Soil Health at the Regional Level*: M. Traoré highlighted the lack of both national and regional regulations for soil preservation. The absence of regulation creates an environment where everyone benefits from the soil without necessarily contributing to its preservation. The Director emphasized that establishing regulatory frameworks would ensure that all actors in the agricultural value chain contribute to soil preservation for future generations. He also stressed the need for sharing existing knowledge in the region and capacity building in soil science.

*Regional Coordination Mechanisms*: He advocated for enhanced cooperation among stakeholders to avoid duplication of initiatives and to strengthen institutional capacities and establish robust regulatory frameworks. He also emphasized the importance of fostering networking among different stakeholders to maximize the impact of initiatives. For example, the Director mentioned the existence of the ECOWAP Donors group, which ensures synergy and complementarity of funding and initiatives around the region's agricultural policy, ECOWAP. Finally, he underscored the importance of developing sustainable projects, noting that long-term projects with adequate funding can serve as leverage to mobilize other institutions around these efforts.

Conclusion

The SOIL VALUES program represents a major initiative in combating soil degradation in the Sahel. Through an integrated regional approach and strong partnerships, it offers hope for a more resilient future for farmers in the region.

Learn more about the program on the official IFDC website: https://ifdc.org/projects/soil-values