Healthy soils play a critical role in supporting agricultural productivity, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and a range of ecosystem services. Yet sub-Saharan Africa has experienced the most severe land degradation in the world.
There is no shortage of established ways to improve and restore soils—however, these all too often remain “on the shelf” or are not adopted at scale for a myriad of reasons, including sociocultural, institutional, economic, and policy barriers. Gender inequality is deeply embedded in and reinforces these barriers, particularly as most soil health interventions remain gender-neutral, often worsening existing inequities.
This year’s UN Desertification and Drought Day (June 17) focuses on the theme “Restore the land. Unlock the opportunities.” IFPRI and CGIAR have for more than 20 years supported Uganda’s soil health strategies with a focus on the interlinked challenges of soil degradation and gender inequities—with the aim of designing programs that result in healthier soils and better environmental stewardship, improved agricultural yields, and greater women’s empowerment.