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Enabling Farmers to Face Climate Change

Enabling Farmers to Face Climate Change: Second Cycle of the Benefits Sharing Fund Projects

This booklet provides an overview of the characteristics and main activities of the projects that are being implemented as part of the second project portfolio of the Benefit-sharing Fund (BSF) of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. This second portfolio consists of 22 projects that are currently implemented in 33 countries across Africa, Asia, Near East, Latin America, and the Caribbean. By the time this booklet is being prepared, the Secretariat is finalizing the agreements for additional eight project proposals that have been approved for funding during the second call for proposals and for which funds have become available during 2013. These additional projects will be implemented in 27 countries across Africa, Asia, Near East, Latin America, the Caribbean, and South West Pacific.

The aim of this booklet is to give a general overview of the second project portfolio, as well as to share achievements, best practices and lessons learned during its Midterm phase of implementation. A Report on the Second Round of the Project Cycle of the Benefit-sharing Fund will be elaborated at the end of this project cycle and will convey results and achievements in a more comprehensive way, as requested by the Governing Body at its Fifth Session.

The 22 projects under the second cycle are substantially larger and more comprehensive than the 11 small scale projects funded in the first cycle. Resources are allocated to projects in developing countries that have a focus on helping ensure sustainable food security by assisting farmers to adapt to climate change and are supported by member governments, the private sector and international foundations in a coordinated manner. This second portfolio features two types of projects: immediate action projects and projects that aim at the development of strategic action plans within and across agro-ecological regions.

In just one year, 17,000 farmers, researches, gene bank curators, governmental officials, students and lectures, and 215 grassroots organizations have been directly involved and benefited from initiatives sponsored by BSF in this second project cycle. More than 160 institutions are partnering in the execution of project activities and are being involved in all stages of project implementation. 30,900 kg of seeds have been distributed to more than 3000 farmers for multiplication, selection and improvement and progress is made for the individuation of resistant biotic and abiotic stress crop varieties as to build resilience in the face of climate change and contribute to food security of vulnerable rural communities. 

  • Enabling Farmers to Face Climate Change
  • Publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)