GACSA is a voluntary alliance committed to incorporating climate-smart approaches across farming systems to improve food security, increase incomes, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It aims to provide farmers with innovative options through a holistic, inclusive, and multi-stakeholder approach. GACSA recognizes the need for context-specific solutions aligned with national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals. It serves as a platform to foster knowledge sharing, partnerships, and collective action toward climate-smart agriculture.

1. Upscaling Climate-Smart Agriculture
Central Asia Climate-Smart Agriculture Workshop
12-14 July 2016, (Bishkek, Kyrgystan)

2. What is GACSA?
GACSA is a voluntary alliance of partners committed to:
 incorporating diverse climate-smart approaches, at all
scales and all levels,
 across all climates and approaches to farming
including crop, livestock, fishery and forestry
 providing farmers an innovative toolbox of options
GACSA is:
 Food-security and nutrition focused
 Action-oriented
 Promoting a holistic approach (cross-sectoral)
 Inclusive and multi-stakeholder

3. GACSA Aspirational Outcomes
1. Improve farmers’ agricultural productivity and incomes in a sustainable
and equitable way;
2. Build greater resilience of farmers, food systems and farming
livelihoods, to extreme weather and changing climate;
3. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with agriculture
where possible.
Context-specific priorities and solutions
need to be aligned with national policies and priorities,
including in the context of the SDGs and Paris Agreement

4. SDGs
Goal 1: Zero poverty
Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
Goal 8: Inclusive and sustainable economic growth
Goal 12: Responsible Production and Consumption
Goal 13: Urgent action to combat Climate Change and its
impacts
Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas
and marine resources
Goal 15: Protection and conservation of life on land
Goal 17: Partnerships for implementation
GACSA goals
1. Sustainable and equitable
increases in agricultural
productivity and Farmers’
incomes
2. Adaptation of food systems
to climate change and
extreme weather to
promote greater resilience
3. Reduction and/or removal
of agricultural GHG
emissions where possible
Cross – Cutting
How can GACSA can contribute to the SDGs

5. • At COP21 many countries identified agriculture as part of the climate
solution – inclusion in their INDCs.
• Of these, some 30 countries indicated Climate Smart Agriculture as a
pathway to the agricultural component of the solution
• Agriculture was identified as the sector presenting the most synergies
between adaptation and mitigation and co-benefits.
• GACSA recognizes the need for context-specific collective action
through a multi-stakeholder approach
• GACSA is not directly involved in the UNFCCC processes but can
contribute to countries’ solution pathways that involve CSA
• GACSA provides the unique multi-stakeholder platform for finding
solutions through partnerships.
• GACSA avails the wide range of expertise across sectors and disciplines
within its membership
How does GACSA relate to the Paris Agreement

6. GACSA Structure – light and flexible
• The Annual Forum – High level platform for:
 Open dialogue, consensus building, priority setting and programme approval;
 Learning and exchange/sharing of knowledge and information, practices, lessons,
opportunities, and results of CSA implementation.
• The Strategic Committee, headed by two elected Co-Chairs:
 Decision authority, guiding & approving work plan and budget of the FU;
 Oversees implementation of workplan & main activities of the Alliance.
• The Facilitation Unit:
 Secretariat of the Alliance, coordinating membership and members’ actions to
deliver on the aspirational outcomes;
 Facilitate information gathering and dissemination and brokering partnerships.
• Action Groups (Knowledge, Investment, Enabling Environment):
 Support the implementation of actions of GACSA members to achieving the
agreed aspirational goals;
 Act as the focal point to the Alliance on their respective thematic areas.

7. GACSA Activities
Knowledge
Enabling
Environment
Investment
Increase & promote translation
of knowledge, R&D into
technologies, practices &
policy approaches for CSA;
and sharing thereof
Integrating CSA into policy, strategies
and planning at regional, national, and
local levels and across landscape
Improving the effectiveness
of public and private
investments that support the
three pillars of CSA
Through concrete action and initiatives
Cross-cutting projects, e.g.
Country case studies

8. GACSA Membership
As of 1st, July 2016, GACSA has some 135 members across the globe,
representing six stakeholder groups

9. Gain Knowledge
Learn from one
another
Find Solutions
Develop Initiatives
Value Different
Perspective
Encourage
Build Partnerships
Create synergies
INSPIRE
ACTION
How do members benefit from GACSA

10. GACSA is a voluntary platform open to multi-stakeholders who agree with
its vision and its Framework Document.
 Being a member does not create any binding obligations and members
determine their particular voluntary actions according to their needs and
priorities.
 Individuals cannot be members, but they can join GACSA’s Action Groups
if they are actively engaged and committed to achieving sustainable
agriculture in the face of climate change.
 Institutions may also want to join as observers to become familiarized with
GACSA before deciding to become a member.
 There is no fee for participation.
.
How to join GACSA

11. Regional linkages – a constellation
CSA
Africa CSA
Alliance
West Africa
CSA Alliance
East Africa
CSA Alliance
Central America
CSA platform
Southeast
Asia Climate
Resilience
Network
North
America CSA
Alliance
Central Asia
CSA Alliance
GACSA
How to foster collaboration toac
hieve greater impact

12. Thank you
For more information, please visit:
www.fao.org/gacsa
Or send an email to
GACSA-Facilitation-Unit@fao.org
GACSA in a nutshell
http://www.fao.org/3/a-bl916e.pdf