Agriculture and food security remain among the most pressing development challenges. Data-driven tools and approaches offer an opportunity to transform how we respond. The Global Partnership, as the secretariat of a diverse network, has established itself as a trusted partner and advisor in this endeavor. 

We work with country partners to develop the tools and skills of local experts and facilitate collaboration that helps to bring together scattered data efforts. And we bring those local insights into the international policy domain, creating bridges between agricultural data and policy dialogue at both the local and international levels. Together, we have shown how partnerships drive better data that can shape smarter policies and improve lives.  

Explore a selection of highlights from this work below:

Shaping the development agenda

Rural farm landscape /Shutterstock

National priorities to international policy

Supported by our Rome Data Champions network, Kenya representatives were able to advocate at the highest levels of international policymaking for improvements to align global statistical frameworks to national priorities. Their advocacy contributed to the endorsement by the Committee on World Food Security for the creation of a new UN Statistical Commission domain on food security and nutrition. 

A woman selling maize in Kiambu / Elphas Ngugi for the Global Partnership

Creating Kenya's Food Staples Dashboard

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated an existing food insecurity crisis in Kenya. Working with partners, we used 26,134 survey responses on food stocks across all 47 counties to develop a national dashboard.

AI cube design / FAKURIANDESIGN: Unsplash

Africa's data archive helping fill the gaps

The Africa Regional Data Cube (ARDC) layers 17+ years of satellite imagery and Earth observation data, in analysis-ready formats. We worked with national partners in Senegal to leverage the ARDC to fill environmental data gaps.

Delivering data to predict and plan

Farmer tending to crops / Richard Nyoni: Unsplash

Climate-smart data in the palm of your hand

Joining forces with Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Esoko, the National Disaster Management Organization, and others, we brought climate-smart agriculture services to help farmers access up-to-date and accurate information with insights for better land preparation, planting decisions, and harvesting timing.

Senegal coastline / Demba Joob: Unsplash

Enabling flood forecasting in Senegal

A strategic partnership and capacity building program enabled Senegal to develop flood forecasting and strengthen early warning systems. Through the Flood and Drought Portal, the Senegal team discovered that several indicators can be used to improve existing knowledge on flood-prone areas and effectively identify areas at risk.

Water and sunlight / Ryunosuke: Unsplash

Using satellite data to combat drought

As part of our collaboration with the Africa Regional Data Cube, Tanzania’s National Bureau of Statistics was able to start using satellite data to to protect Lake Sulunga and the communities who depend on it for water, food, and income. 

Mangroves / Timothy K: Unsplash

Data to save Sierra Leone's mangroves

Mangroves are a vital part of the coastal ecosystem. In Sierra Leone, the Africa Regional Data Cube (ARDC) satellite data is helping policymakers protect the shoreline, reducing the risks of future disasters such as flooding and landslides. 

Strengthening systems and infrastructure

Rain on a window / Nishant Gupta: Unsplash

COVID-19 partnership delivers climate action

In Guinea, Senegal, and Togo, a partnership formed to help respond to COVID-19 was leveraged to develop skills for environmental monitoring, allowing policymakers to explore scenarios for food-security planning. 

Aerial view from space / Dembee Tsogoo: Unsplash

Leveling up with Earth Observation data

More than 100 practitioners in environmental and climate statistics from 48 institutions participated across Guinea, Mali, Somalia, Suriname, and Togo gained the skills to access and analyse Earth Observation data. From validating data collected during agricultural surveys in Mali, to improving sustainable rangeland management and food security in Somalia, the new data is providing the evidence needed for better decision-making. 

Seedlings in soil / Jametlene Reskp: Unsplash

Deep Learning for food security

With partners and stakeholders in Senegal we developed and implemented a Deep Learning model that predicts crop yield, helps policymakers to decide what food to import and export, and helps farmers make management and financial decisions.