Soil Values

Soil Values is a 10-year programme (2024–2034), financed by the Netherlands Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS). It is being implemented across Burkina Faso, Mali, northern Nigeria, and Niger, with the aim of embedding sustainable soil fertility management as a cornerstone of farming systems in the Sahelian and Guinea Savanna regions.

The programme promotes Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) within a participatory landscape approach. It seeks to develop viable business cases and incentivize adoption among farmers, market actors, and policymakers.

To ensure regional coherence, the neighboring corridor countries of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire will actively participate in dialogues concerning the south-north trade of fertilizers and regional food security.

• Strategic partnerships have been formalized with coalition members and national stakeholders.

• Mechanisms have been developed to improve the economic and soil fertility valuation of soils, addressing gaps in technical approaches, capacity, and policy frameworks.

• Nine pilot watersheds have been selected based on agroecological conditions, security considerations, and partner presence.

• Baseline studies have been initiated across all target countries to inform tailored interventions.

• A total of 57 technological innovations have been identified, and 501 agricultural service providers selected to support bundled public–private service delivery in Niger and Nigeria.

• Consultations have begun with financial institutions to design tailored financial products for smallholder farmers.

• Regional dialogue is being strengthened through engagement with corridor countries, including Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, on fertilizer trade and food security.

The project is implemented in collaboration with IFDC and Wageningen University & Research (WUR), and supported by key knowledge partners including AGRA, the World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), ISRIC – World Soil Information, and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). It builds on existing national projects, programmes, policies, and institutions, including the World Bank’s Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP).

• 1.5 million smallholder farmers, 800,000 of whom are women, reduce the yield gap and become more resilient to climate shocks.

• 40-plus river basins and landscapes, covering 2 million hectares of farmland, are managed sustainably and with equitable use of water.

• Soil fertility is prioritized within agricultural development programs, regional policies, and the initiatives of governments and civil society organizations in implementing nations.