The Programme d’Appui à la Transition Agroécologique en Afrique de l’Ouest (PATAE) is a new initiative launched by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as part of its regional agricultural policy (ECOWAP).
This project aims to :
Contribute concretely to current agro-ecology development initiatives led by various players in the field, by financing 15 projects in Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire.
Encourage exchanges, capitalize on experience and consult with public authorities at national and regional level, to support the development of public policies favorable to agroecology.
The program, which started in 2018 for a period of at least 4 years, has been extended to the 15 ECOWAS countries thanks to additional funding from the European Union, which will be operational during 2019. This additional component covers agricultural training, advisory support for producers and the networking of agro-ecology players in the sub-region.
In particular, it involves strengthening centers specialized in the training and installation of farmers who wish to engage in agroecology; fostering partnerships between producer organizations and research to better support the integration of agroecological practices; and finally, strengthening existing networks and platforms at national and regional level to promote the exchange of knowledge and experience on agroecology in West Africa.
In all, a budget of 17 million euros has been earmarked to help create conditions conducive to the scaling-up of agroecological practices and systems in ECOWAS countries.
