Smallholder Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa Get a Big Boost

People highly vulnerable to climate change will benefit from a huge £390,000 grant awarded to Practical Action by the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund (PWCF)

The money will be used to help some of the most vulnerable people in the world adapt their livelihoods and farms to climate change, using regenerative agricultural practices so they are able to thrive, rather than just survive in their new climate reality.

The grant was awarded to Practical Action as part of a £1.95m donation to seven UK charities over three years.

The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund was founded in 1979 by His Majesty King Charles III to transform lives and build sustainable communities. They award grants to UK-registered non-profit organisations to deliver projects in the UK, Commonwealth and Overseas.

Sarah Roberts, Practical Action Chief Executive Officer, said: “We will use this grant to build the evidence that many more farmers can make the transition to regenerative agriculture.

Already, 78% of the world’s poorest people are reliant on agriculture, but a third of soils are already degraded, and agriculture is responsible for around a quarter of global climate emissions, so regenerative agriculture is important for all our futures.

This approach to agriculture increases soil carbon, biodiversity and climate resilience and improves livelihoods and food security for rural communities. But farmers, and the organisations that support them, need good evidence of what will work in their area to be confident in making the changes”.

In a world of climate change, smallholder farmers need to be able to adapt their agricultural systems to continue providing for their families and communities. They need the tools and knowledge to do that without sacrificing their livelihoods.  This grant will help farmers change their agricultural practices into regenerative farming practices in different environments. The evidence gathered will be used to secure support to achieve much bigger scale.

The Prince of Wales, and now the King, has been Practical Action’s Patron since 1980. His sustainable markets initiative features some of our work as evidence of good practice that businesses can help take to a global scale.

Nikki Jeffery, Executive Director of Prince of Wales Charitable Fund, said: “We are really pleased to be supporting Practical Action and look forward to working together over the next three years.

Our support – across the UK, the Commonwealth and Internationally – will have a real impact in helping those vulnerable or in need and those looking to create sustainable solutions to support nature and mitigate the climate crisis”

The six other charities that will benefit from Prince of Wales Charitable Fund support are: The Wildlife Trusts, Carers Trust , BIGKID Foundation, Age Scotland, Omega and Plantlife International.

These charities were selected for their vital work in environmental sustainability and social inclusion, both subjects close to The King’s heart.