Fresh insights from new research shaping Africa’s food systems, resilience, and economic development
Key Insight of the Week
Expanding irrigation is critical to improving agricultural productivity and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa; but the long-term cost of solutions will depend on how they perform under climate change.
New evidence shows that climate change is likely to increase investment costs and reduce the cost efficiency of solar-powered irrigation systems across much of the region. Because solar systems are more sensitive to weather conditions than diesel-powered alternatives, their performance is more exposed to climate variability. However, the expected decline in cost efficiency is moderate and could be offset by continued reductions in solar panel prices.
As countries across Sub-Saharan Africa seek to expand irrigation to address food insecurity and climate risks, ensuring these investments remain cost-effective will be essential. Ensuring that climate-smart technologies remain economically viable under changing conditions will be essential for sustainable investment and long-term resilience.
Featured Report of the Week
”Impact of climate change on cost and cost efficiency of solar irrigation in Sub‐Saharan Africa”
This study by IFPRI assesses how climate change affects the cost and performance of solar-powered irrigation systems across Sub-Saharan Africa. The findings show that while climate change may reduce cost efficiency compared to diesel systems in many areas, the impact is moderate and may be offset by declining solar technology costs.
Read the study [Link]
Other Recent Publications
- Essential commodities prices, availability, and market actors’ perceptions: January 2026 [Read the report]
- Implications of food trade policy for domestic and international food price volatility [Read the report]
- Leveraging social protection to strengthen women’s and girls’ climate-resilience in agrifood systems [Read the report]
- Ozone pollution reduction partially offsets the negative impact of climate change mitigation efforts on global hunger [Read the report]
- Relevance of more stringent discharge standards for acute malnutrition treatment: A pooled analysis of post-treatment relapse in 21 studies [Read the report]
About Evidence for Africa
Evidence for Africa highlights every week recent IFPRI research and insights relevant to the continent’s food systems, economic development, and policy priorities.