Last week, our co-program Sun4Water participated in a significant event in Nigeria. This gathering, which took place from September 9th to 13th at the Agriculture And Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) of University of Ilorin, brought together agricultural trainers and experts and key stakeholders from educational institutions to explore solar-powered irrigation innovations. This promising solution aims to boost agricultural productivity while protecting our environment.

The event was organized by the African Green Store Network and joined by participants from over twelve countries, including Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Mali, Malawi, Sénégal and Germany. The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) co-funded the event and was represented by seven GIZ projects joining forces to address sustainable water management in agriculture, particularly focusing on solar-powered irrigation (SPIS). These projects were the following:

• WE4F (Water and Energy for Food)
• Sun4Water
• Agsys (Systèmes et politiques agricoles durables)
• Pro Sac Togo
• ProFina – Togo
• AMS (Agricultural Mechanization for Smallholder Farmers)
• Centres d’Innovations Vertes (through the SLE-centre for rural development – Humboldt University)

The global promotion of innovative technologies relies on strong partnerships

These actors have joined forces to facilitate the implementation of sustainable solutions, such as SPIS, to meet the agricultural needs of the African continent. Participants attended technical sessions and expert panels, as well as field visits to see SPIS in action. Throughout the five days, all actors exchanged on valuable experiences, created useful contacts, and the establishment of strong partnership agreements while networking opportunities were also fostered to enhance cooperation in advancing African agriculture. All representatives from the 30 educational institutions have committed to integrating available SPIS modules, accessible online, into their general curricula. The new SPIS web-based app (spis-toolbox.org, available from 1/1/2025) was presented and will provide a more suitable tool for small-scale farmers.

At the conclusion of the conference, members of the executive board of African Green Store Network (AGSN) convened in Lagos to develop an action plan for future editions of this event. The represented countries now have a roadmap for the adoption of these technologies, with the goal of strengthening food security, and combating the impacts of climate change. The initiatives launched during this conference, such as the strengthening of regional training centers and the development of pilot projects, will ensure that SPIS becomes a sustainable solution for African agriculture, thus contributing to a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector.

A milestone event driving sustainable agricultural transformation

The event welcomed around 88 participants from across the globe and was a resounding success. This said, the official launch of the Solar Irrigation Conference is much more than just an event: it is a decisive turning point for agriculture in Africa. It marks the beginning of a new era, where experts, policymakers, and practitioners join forces to promote innovative and sustainable irrigation systems. Together, Sun4Water, WE4F, and their partners are driving agricultural transformation across the African continent and beyond.

Contact 

For more information about the main components and activities of the program, please have a look at the Sun4Water Subpage or contact guillaume.imbert@giz.de (Technical Advisor9 or stephane.lako@giz.de (West Africa Regional Coordinator).