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The current form of land use is responsible for around 22 percent (IPCC) of global greenhouse gas emissions, the lion’s share being generated by agriculture and livestock. Deforestation and chemical-industrial agriculture are the main drivers of species extinction and soil degradation. At the same time, the current system of agriculture and food production is failing to provide the world’s population with a healthy supply of food. The climate crisis and global biodiversity loss are threatening the natural resources that people rely on for their livelihoods and are exacerbating social inequalities. Fertile land has become a scarce resource. We need land and intact ecosystems not only for the production of food, energy and raw materials, but also as carbon sinks and to protect biodiversity. Primeval forests, healthy grasslands and peat bogs store large quantities of carbon. Sustainable land use helps maintain and regenerate ecosystems, protect the climate and preserve lives and livelihoods.

Sustainable forms of land use must be part of a wider transformation of the agricultural and food system so that we can work together to protect the climate, make humankind, societies and ecosystems resilient and ensure a healthy and appropriate supply of food.
Together with our partners, we are committed to a socially just and ecological transformation of land use and of the agricultural and food system in Europe and in West and East Africa. Key civil society stakeholders and those whose livelihoods depend on land use should be actively involved in shaping governance processes and given the opportunity to contribute their proposed solutions. To do this, they need more decision-making powers and agency, including in financial terms. We want our funding to contribute to protecting the climate and reducing social and global inequalities. 

We support organizations and networks that set agendas and develop holistic model solutions for a socially just and ecological transformation of land use in Europe and in West and East Africa. We are committed to making decision-making processes and discourse in the areas of climate, agricultural and food policy inclusive and participatory and strengthen the rights and agency of those who are particularly affected by climate change impacts. To achieve this, we foster cross-sectoral cooperation between African and German or European partners and help ensure that African perspectives influence the German, European and global political discourse. By working together with our partners and in philanthropic alliances, we develop funding approaches and financing mechanisms that empower people at the local level – people with lived experience – and put them centre stage.