The RES4CLIMA project was conceived in the rural context of the Arusha and Meru districts in northern Tanzania, areas where agriculture represents the main source of livelihood for the majority of the population. Here, smallholder farmers rely on traditional production systems that, in recent years, have become increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Changes in rainfall patterns—characterized by increasingly unpredictable seasons, prolonged periods of drought, and more frequent extreme events—directly affect agricultural productivity, soil fertility, and the food security of rural households. According to FAO data and national institutional sources, these phenomena particularly impact communities with limited access to technical assistance services and sustainable agricultural practices, reducing their capacity for adaptation and resilience.
In this context, ICEI identified the need to support local communities in a transition toward more sustainable agricultural models, capable of combining food production, the protection of natural resources, and climate adaptation. The project promotes agroecology and agroforestry—particularly successional agroforestry—as a concrete response to the identified challenges, fostering soil regeneration, crop diversification, and more efficient use of water resources.
Alongside field-based actions, there is also a clear need for shared tools to analyze and monitor ongoing processes of change. The adoption of the FAO TAPE framework makes it possible to systematically assess agroecological performance, strengthening planning capacity and evidence-based decision-making. Through RES4CLIMA, ICEI aims to contribute to enhancing climate resilience and food security for the rural communities involved, while promoting more equitable and sustainable agricultural development.
The RES4CLIMA project aims to strengthen the climate resilience and food security of smallholder farming families in the target areas by supporting more sustainable, diversified agricultural systems that are better able to adapt to climate change.
ICEI supports local communities in their transition toward agroecological and agroforestry practices—particularly through successional agroforestry—promoting more balanced management of natural resources, improved soil fertility, and the diversification of agricultural production.
At the same time, the project seeks to enhance the capacities of farmers and local stakeholders by encouraging the adoption of resilient production models and strengthening their ability to analyze and monitor ongoing changes. Through a participatory approach grounded in listening to local needs, ICEI contributes to building more equitable, sustainable, and long-lasting pathways for agricultural development.
Direct beneficiaries
– 405 individuals, directly involved in project activities, broken down as follows:
- 60 people involved in activities related to Result 1 (R1);
- 145 people involved in Result 2 (R2);
- 120 people involved in Result 3 (R3);
- 80 representatives of policy makers, local administrators, researchers, and university staff involved in coordination, training, and institutional capacity-building activities;
– 110 rural families benefiting from pilot actions and the dissemination of agroecological and agroforestry practices;
– 15 organizations, including local authorities, cooperatives, and technical bodies, involved in the implementation, support, and consolidation of project activities.
Direct beneficiaries include smallholder farmers, members of local communities, technicians, trainers, and institutional representatives, with significant participation by women and young people.
Indirect beneficiaries
The families of the direct beneficiaries and the communities in the target areas, for an estimated total of approximately 1,500 people, who will indirectly benefit from improvements in local agricultural systems, enhanced climate resilience, and increased food security.
Project activities
The project promotes the transition toward agricultural systems that are more resilient to climate change through the application of agroecological and agroforestry practices, with particular emphasis on successional agroforestry. Activities include training sessions and field-based support for smallholder farmers, the establishment of demonstration plots, and the direct testing of the proposed techniques within local production contexts. ICEI will work together with local partners and universities to adapt these practices to the environmental characteristics of the target areas, fostering soil regeneration, crop diversification, and more sustainable management of natural resources.
In parallel, RES4CLIMA supports the strengthening of farmers’ and local stakeholders’ capacities through opportunities for dialogue, experience sharing, and collective learning. Communities will be involved in participatory analysis processes aimed at improving understanding of ongoing changes in agricultural systems and guiding future choices. Within this process, ICEI facilitates dialogue among rural communities, academia, and local institutions, promoting stable and inclusive collaboration.
Specific attention is devoted to results monitoring and the evaluation of agroecological transition processes. The project foresees the use of internationally recognized tools to observe the evolution of agricultural practices and to measure improvements in terms of climate resilience and sustainability. Analysis and monitoring activities will help to highlight evidence emerging from fieldwork and strengthen the planning and decision-making capacities of the actors involved, contributing to making project results durable and replicable.