CREATE Inspires Sustainable Development in Rural West Africa

Earth Rising is proud to support the work of CREATE. CREATE has been leading the charge to combat climate change in rural West Africa for over a decade by engaging, mobilizing and supporting trusted leaders in rural villages to come up with solutions that prioritize the strengths of their communities while transforming the livelihoods of local residents. Specifically, CREATE provides training and support in the four developmental sectors of renewable energy, water, agriculture and income generation. 

This past year CREATE worked with the community Keur Mandongo, in the Nioro district of rural Senegal. This project integrated renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, and community empowerment to address ecosystem degradation, water and food insecurity, malnutrition, gender inequality, and poverty. 

To start, CREATE, with community partners from Keur Mandongo, successfully cleaned and rehabilitated the existing colonial era well to reveal a water column of 15 meters. Once the well was functioning properly, the next step was to clear the area earmarked for the community garden and install the fence that would provide protection against animals and other pests. Following that, the required infrastructure for the gravity fed irrigation system was built, including the basins and the platform for the reservoir. Soon after, the drip irrigation system and the solar pumping system were installed, providing the community with year-round access to fresh water, a crucial element for sustainable agriculture and daily consumption.

With the garden site cleared and ready, CREATE technicians met with the community cooperative members to start the sustainable and regenerative agriculture training with a goal to fill the site with healthy crops based on the principles of agroecology. This training focused on  composting as an essential step in improving soil fertility naturally. Working with their technician, local women prepared compost based on plant and animal debris and ash to obtain a rich and balanced compost, conducive to improving soil fertility in the sandy Sahelian site. The compost was then used to set up nurseries and vegetable beds to grow a diverse variety of seasonal crops, rotating them to maintain soil fertility and reduce pest and disease.

Active community involvement is central to CREATE’s focus on regenerative agriculture. In Keur Mandongo, 100 women are participating in the project, learning new techniques and contributing to its design, implementation and maintenance. CREATE is empowering these women through training in sustainable practices, promoting self-sufficiency and resilience, bridging gender disparities, and equipping them with skills and resources to manage agricultural tasks. By involving the community members in planning, we ensure that the project is culturally sensitive and tailored to Keur Mandongo’s needs.

CREATE enhanced resource management and crop diversity, reduced reliance on cash crops, boosted soil health, and increased food production, directly tackling food insecurity. With solar pumps and regenerative practices, it is anticipated that over 7,000 kg of carbon will be saved annually. Together, this past year has  seen huge strides towards a sustainable future for the people of Keur Mandongo. Earth Rising is proud to support such a multifaceted project, rooted in respect for local experience and expertise.