KCOA: Empowering Change Agents for Ecological Organic Agriculture Across Africa
The Knowledge Centres for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology (KCOA) initiative has been a transformative effort, uniting empowered individuals with robust organisations to drive agroecological change across Southern, Central, East, North, and West Africa. From June 2022 to August 2024, the KCOA Capacity Development Program has nurtured leadership in agroecology and organic agriculture through a food systems approach. This comprehensive program focuses on five key components: Coaching, Networking, Policy Advocacy, Capacity Development Activities (including multiplier and refresher trainings as well as specialised workshops), and Monitoring.
A Regional Approach to Change
Led by IFOAM’s Organic Academy, the program operates through five regional hubs:
- North Africa (KHNA): Coordinated by SEKEM
- East Africa (KHEA): Coordinated by Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT)
- West Africa (KHWA): Coordinated by FENAB
- Central Africa (KHCA): Coordinated by CPF
- Southern Africa (KHSA): Coordinated by the Sustainability Institute
These hubs have been instrumental in driving the program’s success by fostering local ownership and implementation.
Training Agents of Change
At the heart of IFOAM’s work in KCOA is its innovative Training of Trainers (ToToT) program, which builds local capacity through a cascading model. This approach equips master trainers with advanced skills, enabling them to train and mentor others in their regions. Key achievements include:
- Training of Teams of Trainers (ToToTs): Over 100 master trainers empowered during the first phase.
- Refresher Trainings: Enhanced the skills of 150 master trainers in the second phase.
- Specialised Workshops: Delivered by master trainers to deepen expertise in key areas.
- Buddy Program and Coaching: Ongoing mentoring between master trainers and EOALC leaders across all five hubs.
Participating Countries
The initiative spans 16 countries, including Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Madagascar, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Benin, Nigeria, Senegal, and Mali. This cascading system has trained over 1,000 multipliers, strengthening local expertise in organic and agroecological practices.
A Vision for a Fairer Food System
Our ultimate goal is to transform the global food supply chain into a system rooted in the four principles of Organic Agriculture: Ecology, Health, Fairness, and Care. By empowering trainers as agents of change and fostering collaboration across regions, KCOA is driving meaningful progress in agroecology and sustainable food systems across Africa.