[WLRC, Addis Ababa, October 20, 2025] The Water and Land Resource Centre (WLRC), in collaboration with the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), launched the African Continental Network on Sustainable Land Management (AfrioCAT) at a regional training and launching workshop held at the Best Western Plus Hotel, Addis Ababa, 20th October 2025.
Opening the event, Dr. Gete Zeleke, Director General of WLRC, emphasized that land degradation remains a root cause of food insecurity, drought, and famine in Africa. He highlighted that, while many international initiatives have come and gone, “WOCAT has stood the test of time and continues to evolve, serving generations with its practical tools and knowledge.” Dr. Gete noted that Africa remains the region most severely affected by various forms of land degradation, with causes ranging from water and wind erosion to chemical and biological degradation, posing serious threats to ecosystems and livelihoods.
Dr. Gete reaffirmed that “WLRC remains fully committed to ensure the operationalization of AfrioCAT and the adaptation of decision-support tools relevant for Africa’s realities. Together, we can ensure that our land continues to sustain the generations to come.”
Representing AUDA-NEPAD, Ms. Edna C. Kalima, AUDA-NEPAD Programme Officer for Climate Change, underscored that Sub-Saharan Africa continues to bear a disproportionate burden of land degradation, stressing that sustainable land management is fundamental to achieving many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She described AfrioCAT as an “integrative, innovative, and sustainable solution for Africa” and urged all partners to unite in “unlocking the potential of Africa and realizing green growth strategies.”
Speaking on behalf of the WOCAT Secretariat, Ms. Nicole Harari, a Research Scientist in Sustainable Land Systems Impact Area at Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern, Switzerland, reaffirmed WOCAT’s commitment to making AfrioCAT fully operational. “WOCAT is here to help operationalize AfrioCAT through shared knowledge and collaborative learning,” she stated. Dr. Tatenda Lemann, a Senior Research Scientist in Sustainable Land Systems Impact Area at CDE extended his appreciations to funding and implementing partners, including GIZ and FAO, and welcomed participants from across the continent, noting that the initiative builds on WOCAT’s global legacy rooted at the University of Bern, Switzerland.
It was indicated that AfrioCAT’s mission is to enhance Africa’s capacity for sustainable natural resource management, enabling informed, fit-for-purpose decision-making. Its objectives include: identifying, documenting, and disseminating Africa-specific SLM and Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) practices; strengthening capacity and peer-to-peer learning among member countries; building a continental community of practice; and informing national, regional, and global policy decisions with evidence from African experiences.
The workshop, running October 20–23, 2025, is expected to feature training sessions, group discussions, and technical exchanges aimed at learning from existing initiatives, refining the AfrioCAT strategy, and formalizing the network’s structure. The event has brought together more than 60 participants — experts, policymakers, and practitioners— from 32 African countries and Switzerland to deepen understanding of WOCAT’s systems, tools, and decision-support systems (DSS) and to discuss the AfrioCAT Strategy and its operationalization. Participants are also exchanging country-level experiences and building networks to strengthen collaboration on sustainable land management (SLM) and LDN efforts across the continent.