4 Implementation framework
4.1 Implementation plan
4.1.1 Scoping and development of implementation support tools
Scoping and development of implementation support tools are envisaged to establish baseline information about the current situation or baseline information. Baseline information is useful in guiding preparation for implementation of soil and water conservation interventions. Baseline information will also support monitoring impacts of soil health interventions.
Scoping will entail review and documentation of existing institutional arrangements, identification of soil health champions, development of baseline soil degradation status, identification of conservation typologies and their success strategies, etc. at the country and local levels. Development of implementation support tools (such as moble Apps, guidelines, templates, etc.) will also be undertaken simultaneously with the scoping exercise. However, the tools should be developed at the continental levels and guidelines or prototypes shared with the countries for further customization. The tools will include standards, design guidelines, mobile apps, soul health monitoring dashboard (and AUSO), etc.
4.1.2 Supporting national soil health strategies
National soil health strategies will be necessary to charter the path for attaining soil health in each country. The national strategies must be aligned with the continental strategies for soil health. Therefore, the draft continental strategy will be first developed and used to guide national strategies in AU member countries. A national coordination team, a coalition of implementers, and national stakeholders are expected to be part of the team for guiding the development of national soil health strategies.
Progress in implementing the national strategies and their impacts on soil health will be monitored using agreed-upon and harmonized monitoring indicators. The monitoring outcome will be reflected in the AUSO soil health monitoring dashboard.
4.1.3 Incorporating scaling strategies (deep, horizontal and vertical scaling)
The implementation plan will need to incorporate the scaling strategies in Section 3.3. Scaling will be the omnibus for popularizing soul conservation efforts in Africa. Deep scaling (for increasing intensity and scope of conservation efforts), horizontal scaling (expanding the geographic coverage) and vertical scaling (for enhancing stakeholder involvement and enabling environment) are expected to address soil degradation at all levels in Africa.
Scaling toolkits are envisaged to help implement scaling strategies at various levels. The toolkits are expected to be first developed at the continental level, then shared, and thereafter appropriately customized at the regional, national, and local levels.
4.2 Implementation framework
4.2.1 Conceptual framework
Phased implementation is anticipated where the initial preparation will be undertaken in Phase 1 to establish the necessary background information as the foundation for sizing the implementation requirements and for future monitoring. Phase 1 will entail commissioning of scoping studies described in Section Scoping and development of implementation support tools. Data emanating from the Phase 1 scoping study is expected to contribute to the Africa Soil Data Center (ASDAC) (Figure 4.1).
Figure 4.1: Implementation Framework
Phase 2 of the Implementation Framework will develop implementation tools to guide and harmonize the implementation of soil health and conservation efforts throughout the continent. The tools will include survey tools for data collection, software and mobile apps (for e-extension, for tracking degradation status, for designing conservation measures, etc.), contribution to the development of AUSO and Africa soil health and soil water monitoring dashboard, guidelines and standards for management and reporting soil conservation, etc. The tools will be co-developed at the continental level to facilitate uniform and the harmonized application at scale. The tools will form the toolkit for the implementation of soil health and water management in Africa.
Phase 3 will target the implementation of national strategies for soil health and soil water to reverse soil degradation, and support increased sustainable soil management in Africa. These strategies will address institutional and political challenges, capacity building, incentives for sustainable practices, promotion of scaling of successful soil conservation measures, solutions for marginalized groups, land tenure issues, and the delivery of effective advisory services. The strategies will also include roadmaps to highlight trends in soil health in response to policy instruments. The roadmaps will include how soil health and soil water indicators will respond to the policy and regulatory frameworks, investments, subsidies, land use, and land management recommendations. Phase 3 is expected to deliver improved policies and legislation supporting soil health and water management at the country and regional levels, a register of stakeholders for soil conservation at the country level, and a clear roadmap for mainstreaming soil health and water management in all countries and regions in Africa.
Phase 4 will implement the scaling strategies in Section Strategies for scaling soil health and water management. It is expected that Phase 4 will produce a scaling toolkit and coverage of the extent of soil conservation and water management in Africa.
4.2.2 Indicator monitoring
The progress of the implementation of soil health and water management will need periodic monitoring, which will trigger actions to ensure that the implementation remains on track. Although the monitoring will follow the procedures outlined in the AFSH Action Plan and the CAADP evaluation systems, a clear indicator set will be necessary to guide the soil conservation results framework. Table 4.1 proposes a potential indicator set which can be customized for monitoring the progress of implementation of soil conservation and soil health and water management activities.
| Main.activity | Milestone | Monitoring.indicator | Target.level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategies for improving soil health and water management | National soil health and water management policy and legislation | Soil health policy and act of parliament | Countries and regions |
| Annual budgetary allocation for soil health and water management activities | % budgetary allocation for soil health and water management activities | ||
| Adoption of soil and water conservation in croplands, grasslands, and forest areas | % area covered with different types of soil and water conservation measures | ||
| Reduced threats to soil health in Africa | % area coverage for soil degradation | ||
| Soil health and water management implementation toolkit | AUSO and soil health dashboard | Searchable AUSO website | Africa |
| Toolkit for implementation of soil and water conservation in Africa | Customizable toolkit for soil health and water management | ||
| Database of soil and water conservation typologies | Online database of soil and water conservation measures and stakeholders involved | Countries | |
| Database of stakeholders in soil health and water management | Online database of soil and water conservation measures and stakeholders involved |