Water Access, Agri-Food Systems and Resilience
31/08/2026
Location: AD10 – Breakout Room 2 | Kigali Convention Centre | Kigali, Rwanda
Interpretation: Portuguese/English/French
Access to water is fundamental to food security, sustainable food production and the resilience of rural communities facing drought and climate change. Across the Global South, low-cost social technologies for water harvesting and storage are helping communities strengthen local food production, generate income and adapt to increasingly difficult climate conditions.
This side event at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026 will bring together governments, civil society and international institutions to share experiences with water access, sustainable food production and locally led approaches to resilience. Particular attention will be given to Brazil’s Cisterns Program, developed by government and civil society over more than 20 years, and its experience using social technologies to support productive inclusion and climate resilience in semi-arid communities.
The discussion will also consider how these experiences connect with wider efforts to strengthen coherence across food systems, climate adaptation, water security and sustainable rural development. The Hub’s Convergence Initiative will provide a framework for examining how national food systems pathways can align with climate strategies, including in areas affected by drought, land degradation and desertification. Participants will exchange lessons on public policies, social technologies and international cooperation, with a focus on family farmers, women and traditional communities.
Organizers
The session is organized by the Ministry of Social Development and Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger of Brazil, in coordination with the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub.
