TRANS-SAHARA will establish a groundbreaking approach for leveraging agroforestry systems to support African communities in their fight against climate change. This innovative approach is based on the well-established Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus approach. This project emphasizes the primacy of ensuring water security when designing, installing and managing agroforestry systems. The translation of this conceptual agroforestry management approach into real-world applications is supported by an array of technical and non-technical innovations. The efficacy of the novel approach and supporting innovations will be rigorously tested and validated through a series of large-scale pilot demonstrations set to take place in key locations across Africa, including Tunisia, Ghana, and Ethiopia. Expected outcomes will contribute to bridging the agroforestry data gaps in Africa, increased crop yield, doubling of farmers annual incomes, and the creation of new carbon sinks across previously degraded territories. Innovation adopters will significantly enhance their communities resilience to threats posed by the climate emergency, and stimulate highly sustainable socio-economic development across their region. The Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering is collaborating with the Professorship of Ecoclimatology and the Institute of Forest Management as well as 14 funded and 6 associate partners. 

The project duration is from 01.11.2024-31.10.2027.