By Issoufou Abdoudjibo – Advocacy Officer, Oxfam Niger
The RiD project’s approach is not limited to occasional participation in forums for discussion and exchange; it is based on a structured collective intelligence methodology, developed and tested through the “Living Lab TAE Sahel” (ODG4/ODG3). This approach, grounded in the generation of field-based evidence and continuous co-creation processes, makes it possible to transform local dynamics into drivers for influencing public policy.
It is within this framework that the Directorate General of Agriculture (DGA) sought expertise derived from collective intelligence to support the review of the National Strategy for the Development of Agroecology (SNDAE). This institutional recognition demonstrates the credibility of a model that combines knowledge production, multi-stakeholder dialogue, and strong territorial anchoring.
This approach has also generated significant advocacy outcomes, particularly through synergies with the APAESC-AO program, strengthening collective action by civil society organizations (CSOs) to influence agroecological policies and support the Alliance for Agroecology in West Africa (3AO).
Thanks to this methodological dynamic, the Steering Committee of the Alliance for Agroecology in West Africa (3AO) officially invited the RiD project to participate in the “CSO–Institution Dialogue” held in Ouagadougou on 11–12 May 2026, with the objective of strengthening the political and operational impact of a coordinated regional advocacy strategy.
In this context, the RiD project successfully organized and supported the strategic participation of the Nigerien delegation, led by the Director General of Agriculture, and including researchers, farmers’ organizations, and partners (including Oxfam). Far from being merely symbolic, this participation was part of a genuine influence-building process alongside numerous regional and national stakeholders, including ROPPA, 3AO, COAHP, CILSS, CPF, CNABIO, Wassa Mali, Bioprotect, SCOOP FIMA, FAO, ARAA, Agroecology Fund, APSA-Sahel, DYTAES, AFSA, INADES-Formation, the Federation of Farmers of Faso, FENOP, Humundi (formerly SOS Faim), and Oxfam, as well as public institutions, particularly the ministries responsible for agriculture in Niger and Burkina Faso.
