As rural Africa stands at a crossroads — facing climate volatility, demographic shifts, and rising food insecurity — the need for collaborative, forward-looking strategies has never been more urgent. The SNRD Africa Conference 2025 invites its network members to come together in Lusaka to take stock of past achievements and shape new pathways for rural resilience across the continent.

Why Rural Resilience Matters

From severe droughts and soil degradation to shrinking biodiversity, rural communities across Africa are under growing pressure — and the consequences go far beyond agriculture. Zambia’s recent El Niño-induced drought, among the worst in its history, has resulted in crop and livestock losses of up to 80%, threatening both food production and energy security.

These shocks are symptoms of broader global shifts. By 2033, Africa’s urban population is projected to surpass its rural one. And by 2050, the continent will be home to one-quarter of the world’s population. These transformations are reshaping the development landscape — putting rural areas under new pressure while also opening new opportunities.

Yet, resilience is not only possible — it is already taking shape. Across the continent, we see promising shifts: from regenerative farming and climate-smart agriculture to more inclusive value chains and policy-driven solutions. The challenge now is to move from isolated examples to systemic, cross-sector change. That’s where SNRD Africa comes in.

What to Expect at SNRD Africa 2025

SNRD Africa 2025 is more than just a conference — it’s a working space for the network to reflect, align, and act. Over five days in Lusaka, more than 80 GIZ projects across Africa will share best practices, lessons learned, and forward-looking strategies for rural development.

From on-farm innovations to national policy frameworks, the conference will explore how resilience can be built at every level. Key topics include:

• Climate Change and Resilience – Translating nature-based solutions and agroecological practices into scalable, risk-mitigating approaches.
• Political and Economic Stability – Strengthening the governance and financial mechanisms that enable rural transformation.
• Urbanization and Rural-Urban Linkages – Managing the population shift while ensuring sustainable and inclusive food systems.

The programme includes practical field visits, deep-dive workshops, and expert panels — all anchored in Zambia’s real-time experience with climate-induced crises and its evolving approaches to rural development.

Conference Highlights

• Monday, June 16 – Kick-off with working group meetings and an opening dinner celebrating 30 years of SNRD Africa.
• Tuesday, June 17 – Keynote sessions on trends, drivers, and GIZ’s role in rural resilience.
• Wednesday, June 18 – Field trips to see resilience strategies in action.
• Thursday, June 19 – Deep-dive workshops and networking sessions.
• Friday, June 20 – Future outlook discussions and planning for the next steps.

Join the Conversation!

With 145 participants from diverse backgrounds, the SNRD Africa Conference 2025 will be a collaborative and solutions-driven event. It’s an opportunity to engage, learn, and contribute to shaping the future of rural resilience in Africa.

📝 Interested in attending?

Participation in the SNRD Africa Conference 2025 is open to members of the SNRD network. If you would like to attend, please contact the SNRD Africa community management team to receive the registration link and further details. The online registration is now open!

Additional information

More information on the conference will be made available on this page as it becomes available. So please check back here.

(as of 11 March 2025)

Contact

Caroline Willeke, community management SNRD Africa