The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) (P173398) Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) (P173398) WESTERN AND CENTRAL AFRICA | Western and Central Africa | Agriculture and Food Global Practice | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing | FY 2021 | Seq No: 7 | ARCHIVED on 14-Feb-2024 | ISR59880 | Implementing Agencies: International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date: 10-Dec-2020 Effectiveness Date: 06-Aug-2021 Planned Mid Term Review Date: 15-Feb-2023 Actual Mid-Term Review Date: 28-Nov-2022 Original Closing Date: 31-Jul-2024 Revised Closing Date: 31-Jul-2024 pdoTable Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The Project Development Objective is to strengthen the capacity of targeted CCAFS (CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security) partners and stakeholders, and to enhance access to climate information services and validated climate-smart agriculture technologies in IDA-eligible countries in Africa. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No Components Table Name Knowledge Generation and Sharing:(Cost $17.40 M) Strengthening Partnerships for Delivery:(Cost $13.20 M) Validating Climate-Smart Agriculture Innovations through Piloting:(Cost $23.70 M) Project Management:(Cost $5.70 M) Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Highly Satisfactory Highly Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Highly Satisfactory Highly Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating Moderate Moderate Implementation Status and Key Decisions All technical aspects of this program are rated Highly Satisfactory. Monitoring of the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) is also rated Highly Satisfactory. The project has surpassed all targets for intermediate and outcome indicators and is making excellent progress towards its Project Development Objective. The AICCRA program is exemplary in the region as one that is delivering direct benefits to farmers, while simultaneously building the capacity of Regional Organizations to foster innovation. As of the last annual report, the total number of AICCRA beneficiaries (predominantly farmers) in the project area who are increasingly accessing enhanced climate information services and/or validated climate-smart agriculture technologies stands at 2,960,433 (1,142,168 of whom are 2/14/2024 Page 1 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) (P173398) women), almost double the number expected by the end of the project. These services and technologies have helped farmers to increase their yields, incomes, and resilience. For example, in Mali: recommendations from the RiceAdvice digital app were disseminated and increased farmers incomes; pay-as-you-go business models were established for solar irrigation; and field demonstrations were conducted at farmers’ field days; in Senegal: climate agro-advisories were provided by radio programs; tailored text and voice messages were sent by the Agricultural Services and Digital Inclusion in Africa digital app; farmer days and field schools were conducted; in Ghana: the ESOKO platform organized 21 field days on 31 demonstration plots across the country; in Zambia: the project partnered with 14 agri-SMEs through an Accelerator program; in Kenya: mass media broadcasts scaled access to Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) innovations to reach 1.9 million people; and in Ethiopia: a public-private partnership was launched through the Lersha digital platform together with ministries of agriculture and health. In addition, 76 Regional Organizations in the project area are increasingly accessing enhanced Climate Information Services (CIS) and/or validated CSA technologies, exceeding the total target. These partners included: a) national meteorological services, b) national and regional agricultural research institutes c) national extension systems d) small and medium enterprises e) ministries of agriculture f) universities g) regional climate centers and h) youth organizations. Some examples of achievements include: delivering CSA/CSI innovations to dryland stakeholders in Senegal; extension systems in Ghana leading to improve yields in rice; support to small and medium sized enterprises in Zambia, and enhanced CSA practices in small ruminant value chains in Ethiopia. At the regional level, AICCRA has partnered with 16 universities to include CIS and CSA content in the curricula; enabled Regional Organizations to adopt the ‘NextGen’ seasonal forecasting approach and to access and utilize foresight analysis tools and methods for adaptation planning and the scaling of CSA technologies. Through AICCRA technical assistance and training, five African national meteorological services have been enabled to adopt the Automatic Weather Station Data Tool in their operations, leading to a transformational change in their ability to access, analyze, and utilize key data streams in products tailored for decision making. Finally, the number of enhanced climate information services and/or validated climate-smart agriculture technologies originating in one SSA country and made accessible in other SSA countries has reached 31 compared to an end of project target of 6, a more than 500 percent increase relative to the target. Examples include blueprints for adopting a National Framework for Weather, Water and Climate Services, state-of-the-art forecasting systems and foresight analysis and capacity building on CSA country risk profiles and prioritization. Detailed reports capturing AICCRA's achievements are available at https://aiccra.cgiar.org/. The next implementation support mission is planned for May 2024 in person in Nairobi, Kenya. Risks Systematic Operations Risk-rating Tool Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Political and Governance Moderate Moderate Moderate Macroeconomic Moderate Moderate Moderate Sector Strategies and Policies Moderate Moderate Moderate Technical Design of Project or Program Moderate Moderate Moderate Institutional Capacity for Implementation and Low Low Low Sustainability Fiduciary Moderate Moderate Moderate Environment and Social Moderate Moderate Moderate Stakeholders Moderate Moderate Moderate Other Moderate Moderate Moderate Overall Moderate Moderate Moderate 2/14/2024 Page 2 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) (P173398) Results PDO Indicators by Objectives / Outcomes Access increased to climate-relevant knowledge, technologies, and decision-making tools IN01400841 ►PDO 1: CGIAR partners and stakeholders in the Project area are increasingly accessing enhanced climate information services and/or validated climate-smart agriculture technologies. (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 76.00 76.00 60.00 Date 01-Jan-2021 06-Mar-2023 06-Mar-2023 31-Dec-2023 With the maturing of AICCRA activities, 2022 saw a large increase in PDO1 achievements, across 11 clusters. In general, the contributions resulted from collaboration and capacity building activities fostered through key partnerships (bilateral and multilateral) that have been established under AICCRA. For example, in Senegal several institutions (NMS, research, extension, agritech) have been enabled and have adopted CIS/CSA innovations being delivered to drylands stakeholders to support improved decision making. In Ghana, innovations in CIS/CSA being delivered through extension services are informing farmer decisions and leading to improved yields. In Zambia, partnerships with 14 SMEs have led to the adoption of CIS/CSA innovations by 118,000 smallholder farmers (36 percent women). In Ethiopia, enhanced CSA practices for small ruminant value chains have been made available, and taken up, by the Ministry of Agriculture and four regional agricultural research institutes and a national media platform EBC.. In East Africa, the AICCRA East and Southern Africa regional team (together with RUFORUM, ICARDA, and IRI) has partnered with 16 universities to include CIS and CSA content in their curricula. Through engagement and capacity building efforts, the Regional Climate Centres of both West Africa (AGRHYMET) and East Africa (ICPAC) have been enabled to adopt the ‘NextGen’ seasonal forecasting Comments: approach, now embedded in their operational products, and disseminated among all the NMSs of the respective regions. CORAF, together with ten West African national agricultural research institutes, and one youth organization (CAAYIRD) have been enabled to access and utilize foresight analysis tools and methods for adaptation planning and the scaling of CSA technologies. With the support of AICCRA, the African Enterprise Challenge Fund has co-designed and piloted an improved science-based approach for investment analysis and prioritization that explicitly incorporates CSA impact. Through AICCRA technical assistance and training, five African NMSs (Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana, and Senegal) have been enabled and have adopted the Automatic Weather Station Data Tool (ADT) in their operations, leading to a transformational change in the ability to access, analyze and utilize key data streams in products tailored for decision making. IN01400842 ►PDO 2: CGIAR beneficiaries in the project area are increasingly accessing enhanced climate information services and/or validated climate- smart agriculture technologies. (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 2,960,433.00 2,960,433.00 1,500,000.00 Date 01-Jan-2021 06-Mar-2023 06-Mar-2023 31-Dec-2023 2/14/2024 Page 3 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) (P173398) In Mali: 111,064 farmers (49 percent women) access CIS and CSA innovations such as short-duration rice varieties, the recommendations from the RiceAdvice App, and mechanization services resulting in an increased rice yield of 1.0 t/ha in women’s and 0.8 t/ha in men’s fields. Dissemination mechanisms included the Centre for Mechanized Agriculture and Pay-As-You-Go business model for farmers to access solar-powered irrigation systems – resulting in an income increase of USD 5.262 per hectare and a food consumption score increase of 3.1 per year – field demonstrations, farmers' field days and the Local Group for Meteorological Assistance approach. In Senegal, 274,677 famers (49.5 percent women) were reached through climate agro-advisories provided by AICCRA radio programs, tailored SMS and voice messages sent by the Jokalanté SAIDA digital App, farmer days and field schools. In Ghana, 256,981 beneficiaries (32.7 percent women and 12 percent youth) were reached with CSA/CIS through the ESOKO platform whereas 1,113 farmers (40 percent women) were reached directly via 21 field days organized on 31 demonstration plots across the country. Comments: In Zambia, AICCRA partnership with 14 agri-SMEs through the Accelerator program allowed 118,746 farmers (36 percent women) to access five CSA/CIS bundles ranging from off-grid solar irrigation/micro- finance/CIS communications through digital platforms; integrated aquaculture agriculture practices and CIS dissemination through app development; adoption of drought tolerant seed varieties/agronomic practices; and integrated small livestock–legume systems/CIS dissemination through community radio. In Kenya: 73,000 farmers and pastoralists received tailored climate agricultural advisories, 1,500 farmers and extension workers supported adoption of drought resistant crops, and TV shows were scaled to promote access to CSA innovations, with an average weekly audience of 1.9 million people. In Ethiopia, 220,352 farmers accessed: CIS and tailored digital climate advisories, CSA technologies for rehabilitation of degraded landscapes, bundled innovations for small ruminants (SmaRT Pack) and resilient breeds from community-based breeding programs, resulting in improved flock health, productivity, and income. IN01400843 ►PDO 3: Enhanced climate information services and/or validated climate-smart agriculture technologies originating in one SSA country are increasingly being made accessible in other SSA countries. (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 31.00 31.00 6.00 Date 01-Jan-2021 06-Mar-2023 06-Mar-2023 31-Dec-2023 In East and Southern Africa, AICCRA reached eight non-target countries with blueprints for adopting a National Framework for Weather, Water and Climate Services; in West Africa, 15 non-AICCRA countries were reached with state-of-the-art forecasting systems and foresight analysis tools; and across the Comments: continent another eight countries received capacity building on CSA country risk profiles and prioritization tools. Intermediate Results Indicators by Components 1. Knowledge Generation and Sharing IN01400844 ►IPI 1.1: Climate-relevant knowledge products, decision-making tools and advisory services created or enhanced including a proportion targeting gender and social inclusion dimensions (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 103.00 103.00 90.00 2/14/2024 Page 4 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) (P173398) Date 01-Jan-2021 06-Mar-2023 06-Mar-2023 31-Dec-2023 A significantly higher number of products, tools, and services were created or enhanced in 2022 than planned. This was due, in part, to AICCRA partners delivering at a greater pace than anticipated and delivering a wider set of outputs. The products delivered included policy briefs, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, business cases, manuals, and more. A climate security scoring tool, economic and financial analysis tool, and crop capability prediction model were among the tools created. Those products and Comments: tools having a gender and social inclusion dimension include gender responsive small ruminant climate- smart technology packs in Ethiopia, enhanced gender-responsive water smart irrigation systems in southern Africa, and tools to assess gender-responsive CSA as well as gender and social inclusion in CIS, longterm policy, and investment, and in monitoring, evaluation, and learning. IN01400847 ►IPI 1.2: AICCRA-funded peer-reviewed research papers made available in open access format (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 37.00 37.00 32.00 Date 01-Jan-2021 06-Mar-2023 06-Mar-2023 31-Dec-2023 AICCRA produced 37 peer reviewed open access papers in 2022, nine of which had gender and social inclusion dimensions. This includes the paper by Hansen et al. that examined what climate information delivery models bring equity to resource poor famers. Other papers published built new frameworks for the assessment of CSA progress. For example, the paper from the West Africa cluster developed a Comments: systematic approach for adaptation stocktaking, while East Africa analysed the Gender Empowerment Index for Climate Resilient Agriculture. There were also technical papers on climate science, water management, livestock data collection, and more. IN01400850 ►IPI 1.3: Satisfaction with the quality and usefulness of climate–relevant knowledge products, decision-making tools and services received under AICCRA expressed by surveyed partners and stakeholders (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 82.00 82.00 75.00 Date 01-Jan-2021 06-Mar-2023 06-Mar-2023 31-Dec-2023 The 2022 target for satisfaction on the quality and usefulness of AICCRA’s products, tools, and services was exceeded and even surpassed the 2021 score of 80 percent. Mali and Ghana had the top five services and products as scored by survey respondents. RiceAdvice, a drought and flooding tolerant rice Comments: variety, daily and 10-day weather forecasts, smart maize seeds, and a direct seeder, were all rated 94 percent or higher. 2. Strengthening Partnerships for Delivery IN01400845 ►IPI 2.1: Climate advisory platforms/hubs launched/ strengthened, including their focus on gender and social inclusion (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 10.00 10.00 8.00 Date 01-Jan-2021 06-Mar-2023 06-Mar-2023 31-Dec-2023 As anticipated, during 2022, prototype AgData Hubs and platforms were established in five countries Comments: (Ghana, Senegal, Zambia, Kenya, and Ethiopia), and a platform for the West Africa region was strengthened. The platforms serve to foster institutional partnerships and integrate data streams among 2/14/2024 Page 5 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) (P173398) national meteorological service agencies, agricultural research institutes and extension services, NGOs and private sector organizations, appropriate to the delivery of advisory services in each setting. In Ethiopia, additional platforms were established providing data including on seed systems, soils and other agronomic variables. In parallel with initial hub development, several clusters are exploring design and implementation approaches to enhance gender equity in the access and use of the platforms. The team in Ghana, for example, is exploring links between CIS and Village Savings and Loans Associations to reach women more effectively and provide financial support benefitting from gender- responsive CSA. In Kenya, data collection was carried out in early 2022 to better understand issues of access, uptake, and use of CIS in three counties. IN01400848 ►IPI 2.2: Partnerships launched/ strengthened between AICCRA-funded CGIAR and NARS scientists, universities, public sector stakeholders, farmer organizations, NGOs and private sector (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 62.00 62.00 35.00 Date 01-Jan-2021 06-Mar-2023 06-Mar-2023 31-Dec-2023 The configuration of AICCRA-related partnerships expanded significantly in 2022, with 62 partnerships reported as established or strengthened. At least 23 new partnership agreements were established with universities across several clusters, involving new curriculum initiatives in CIS, and climate risk management practices. This demonstrates a level of interest in curriculum development in these areas far greater than was Comments: anticipated. Furthermore, clusters reported many existing partnerships strengthened, as well as new partnerships added to assist in the implementation of their programs regarding CIS/CSA innovations, agdata hub development and operation, and dissemination of data/advisories (including media outlets). Beyond this, clusters reported several new or strengthened partnerships supporting research, policy, and planning at national to regional scales. IN01400851 ►IPI 2.3: People engaged in AICCRA-funded capacity development activities (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 5,967.00 5,967.00 4,000.00 Date 01-Jan-2021 06-Mar-2023 06-Mar-2023 31-Dec-2023 All clusters report significant capacity building achievements in 2022. Collectively, training was delivered to 5,967 participants during the year, well above the target. The greater reach was achieved primarily through instances where prior AICCRA training of- trainer activities resulted in uptake of new knowledge Comments: within large programs, for example, farmer field schools, or district-level extension training. The overall level of female participation in training was 36 percent. Gender and social inclusion were highlighted in several training events, both external and internal. IN01400853 ►IPI 2.4: Satisfaction with the effectiveness of the partnerships under AICCRA expressed by surveyed partners and stakeholders (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 85.00 85.00 75.00 Date 01-Jan-2021 06-Mar-2023 06-Mar-2023 31-Dec-2023 Comments: A satisfaction survey was sent to project partners to assess this indicator. Respondents were asked to rate AICCRA in terms of (i) vision, (ii) accountability, (iii) communication, (iv) collaboration, and (v) impact. Respondents answered according to their engagement with the various clusters. The overall average score for the project was 85 percent – the same as for 2021 and exceeding the target of 75 percent. 2/14/2024 Page 6 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) (P173398) Individual cluster scores ranged from 77 percent (Theme 4) to 90 percent (Ghana), all exceeding the target. 3. Validating Climate- Smart Agriculture Innovations through Piloting IN01400846 ►IPI 3.1: Validated climate information services and climate-smart agriculture technologies disseminated / made accessible (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 45.00 45.00 18.00 Date 01-Jan-2021 06-Mar-2023 06-Mar-2023 31-Dec-2023 Targets were surpassed in the number of CIS and CSA packages validated and made available. Science based products and tools such as ENACTS Maproom, the intelligent Systems Advisory Tool (iSAT) and AgData hubs were used by national meteorological services and partners across six countries improving their operational capacities to develop and deliver CIS and climate-informed agroadvisories which support farmer decision-making. A range of bundled CSA innovations screened for their gender and youth Comments: ‘smartness’ were made accessible to men and women farmers through community-based learning platforms, demonstration plots, training of champion farmers, extension agents and service providers, and supported through business models and financial mechanisms co-developed with value-chain and agribusiness partners. IN01400849 ►IPI 3.2: Climate information services and climate-smart agriculture technologies reaching women through customized programs targeting their interests (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 21.00 21.00 36.00 Date 01-Jan-2021 06-Mar-2023 06-Mar-2023 31-Dec-2023 The 2022 target was exceeded with the AICCRA strategy to reach women built around the promotion of customized CIS and prioritized CSA innovations focused on gender-sensitive crops and value chains, based on GSI criteria (e.g., lower associated drudgery, affordability, availability, and sociocultural acceptability). The strategy also included strengthening the capacity of women farmers and community- based organizations (through peer-to-peer learning, farmer field schools and demonstrations on women’s Comments: plots), enhancing their access to integrated CSA technologies for rehabilitating degraded landscapes, agroforestry, cereal/legume intercropping, and forage and feed production, shared community-based breeding programs, the GEM rice parboiling technique, dual-purpose cowpea seeds and drought tolerant crops. IN01400852 ►IPI 3.3: Use or adaptation of AICCRA-funded climate-relevant knowledge products, decision-making tools and services stated and confirmed by surveyed partners and stakeholders (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 76.00 76.00 25.00 Date 01-Jan-2021 06-Mar-2023 06-Mar-2023 31-Dec-2023 The use or adaptation of AICCRA-funded climate-relevant knowledge products, decision-making tools and services by partners and stakeholders reached 76 percent, exceeding the target of 12.5 percent. Comments: IN01400854 ►IPI 3.4: Discussions in Africa-wide and regional events informed by AICCRA funded project outputs (Number, Custom) 2/14/2024 Page 7 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) (P173398) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 19.00 19.00 20.00 Date 01-Jan-2021 06-Mar-2023 06-Mar-2023 31-Dec-2023 The 2022 target was exceeded with AICCRA activities and outputs informing 19 Africa-wide discussions and regional events such as: AGNES pre-COP27 workshop where the common African positions on agriculture and gender were written. A meeting of the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation where AICCRA evidence on agriculture and climate change, and policy advocacy were presented to help share their call- to-action. Several side events at COP27. The Kick-off meeting of the Pan-African Regional Green Climate Fund Readiness Program. A marketplace event at the Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum Comments: (GHACOF) jointly organized with ICPAC. Regional Climate Outlook Forum for Sudano-Sahelian Africa (PRESASS). CORAF symposium on agricultural research in West Africa. FARA bi-annual CSA conference. The IGAD Regional Ministerial Meeting on Strengthening, Adapting, and Accelerating National and Regional Efforts in East Africa. IN01400855 ►IPI 3.5: Policy and investment decisions influenced by engagement and information dissemination by AICCRA funded partnerships and capacity building activities (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 21.00 21.00 15.00 Date 01-Jan-2021 06-Mar-2023 06-Mar-2023 31-Dec-2023 Active AICCRA engagement, strengthened partnerships and capacity building activities have successfully influenced policy decisions and investments across Africa, ensuring targets were exceeded. Highlights are: Supporting the African Union—in collaboration with AGNES—in the development of the Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan, and the subsequent work on an implementation roadmap. Investments by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Open Society Foundation and Children’s Investment Fund Foundation in AGNES, were shaped by science-policy interactions with AICCRA. In the East and Southern Africa, AICCRA contributed to the drafting of IGAD's climate change strategy and action plan for 2023-2030 and co-developed the World Meteorological Organization's global blueprint with a step-by-step guide for the Global Framework for Weather, Water and Climate Services. In Comments: West Africa, highlights include the concept note, action plan, and roadmap that enabled CORAF to pursue its strategic agenda on foresight analysis in the region, and a CORAF-led Regional Preparedness and Response Plan to improve Pest and Disease Outbreak Management in West and Central Africa. AICCRA’s work in Kenya and findings of environment and social assessments were instrumental in the design of the World Bank USD 365 m ‘De-risking, inclusion and value enhancement of pastoral economies in the Horn of Africa’ (DRIVE) project, which focuses on inclusion of financial services such as livestock insurance and linkages with livestock value chain in drylands. Performance-Based Conditions Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P173398 IDA-D7540 Effective USD 60.00 60.00 0.00 57.03 0.01 100% 2/14/2024 Page 8 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) (P173398) Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P173398 IDA-D7540 Effective 10-Dec-2020 04-Feb-2021 06-Aug-2021 31-Jul-2024 31-Jul-2024 Cumulative Disbursements Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Related Project(s) P181150-Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa Additional Financing 2/14/2024 Page 9 of 9