The global health situation due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdowns are forcing Avaclim's partners to review their activities. The impact of Covid-19 was felt in all seven countries where the project was implemented. Whether in the field, within the coordination team and with institutions, activities had to be adapted. The partners have imagined different scenarios that make it possible to achieve the same objectives of promoting agro-ecology with an action plan adjusted to the effects of the pandemic.
In the field, some activities had to be stopped and resumed little by little according to the evolution of the pandemic in each of the countries:
- In Burkina Faso, the partner NGO ARFA programmes face-to-face workshops in mid-september.
- In South Africa and Brazil, it seems more likely that these same workshops will be conducted remotely by videoconference.
- The international scientific workshop is scheduled for January 2021 instead of September 2020.
It will be held face-to-face or virtually, according to national regulations in force and in strict compliance with health protocols.
At the same time, CARI, the NGO leading the project, has prioritized activities such as: identification of agroecological initiatives and development of five initiative sheets per country, identification of scientific partners, development of advocacy and communication strategies.
Just like peasant populations applying agroecology, Avaclim's partners implement a basic principle: adaptation. Agroecology and the planned activities take on their full meaning in this crisis context.