As in other regions, AFAP’s work in Africa places environmental protection at the core of its interventions in the areas of food security and water and sanitation.

With our local partners we are actively encouraging environmentally sustainable approaches to agriculture. These approaches include soil conservation methodologies such as contour ploughing and the establishment of perennial plants – grasses and trees. For example, with the support of Community Technology Development Trust, AFAP brought to Zimbabwe its highly successful agroforestry initiative – the Forest Gardens Project -- which it had developed in Sri Lanka. This approach encourages crop diversification and the combination of perennial and annual crops.

Our work with developing safe water supplies in the region is bringing important environmental benefits. The innovative combination of safe water points and small dams in Kenya, for example, is providing clean potable water and valuable wetland ecosystems at a local level. Before we build any of the small dams we undertake Environmental Impact Assessments and ensure that we meet national environmental standards as well as those prescribed by donor organisations such as AusAID.

In AFAP’s Africa programs, environmental issues are not treated in isolation. Addressing fundamental issues of poverty also impacts positively on environmental outcomes. For example, agricultural interventions which lead to improved food security and improved income from sale of crops and surplus produce enables households to abandon destructive environment practices like making charcoal to raise money for food. This conserves trees as well as reducing soil erosion.

AFAP's Africa Environment Programs:

For information about AFAP’s environmental activities in Africa, click APAC

Forest Garden Program