Regional Workshop on Highly Hazardous Pesticides in West Africa: PAN Africa and the GFC Lay the Foundations for Sustainable Agriculture
A Historic Milestone for West African Agriculture
On May 18 and 19, 2026, the Azalaï Hotel in Dakar hosted the regional launch workshop of the project on Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) in West Africa. Organized by PAN Africa with the financial and technical support of the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC) , the event brought together representatives from public institutions, regional organizations, research centers, NGOs, and agricultural stakeholders from Senegal, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Guinea over two days.
The workshop was held as part of the regional project entitled: “Highly Hazardous Pesticides in West Africa: Analysis of the Situation, Regulations, and Opportunities for Substitution with Healthy and Sustainable Alternatives for the Effective Implementation of the Global Framework on Chemicals.”
Day One: Situation Assessment and Regional Mechanisms
A Strong Opening Ceremony
The first day was chaired by Mr. Baba Dramé, Director of DIREC and GFC Focal Point in Senegal. The official opening ceremony brought together several key personalities.
Ms. Ndeye Maimouna DIENE, Regional Coordinator of PAN Africa, opened the proceedings by recalling the context of the project and its subregional dimension. She emphasized the urgent need to progressively eliminate highly hazardous pesticides from agriculture by promoting healthy and sustainable agroecological alternatives particularly to protect farmers, who are among the most vulnerable to poisoning risks.
John Maughan, representative of the GFC, reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to eliminating hazardous pesticides and praised the involvement of the beneficiary countries. Mr. Modou GUEYE, Director of Financing and Partnerships at Senegal’s Ministry of Agriculture, stressed that protecting soil health, farmers, and the environment remains a national priority aligned with Senegal’s National Agroecological Transition Strategy.
An Alarming Situation: Pesticide Imports Have Doubled
Morning presentations highlighted a worrying trend. Pesticide imports in West Africa doubled within five years, rising from 218,900 tonnes in 2015 to 437,930 tonnes in 2020. This increase has led to major health and environmental risks, including poisoning-related diseases, land degradation, threats to biodiversity, and climate change.
Mr. Papa Sam GUEYE, Director of the CNGPC, presented the regional mechanisms for pesticide registration and control, notably the gradual transition from the Sahelian Pesticide Committee (CSP) to the West African Pesticide Registration Committee (COAHP), involving ECOWAS, CILSS, and UEMOA.
The afternoon focused on Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs), presented by Manon from PAN International, as well as the T-MAPP tool, a data collection system designed to support decision-making. GFC Focal Points from Benin, Burkina Faso, and Senegal shared their national experiences, while a video presentation from Guinea complemented these testimonies.
Day Two: Agroecology in Action and the Roadmap Ahead
Concrete Success Stories Demonstrating That Agroecology Works
The second day began with a summary of the previous day’s discussions, followed by presentations of agroecological case studies from the four participating countries.
🇧🇯 In Benin, Dr. Adetonah Sounkoura from LARCASS presented highly compelling field data. Agriculture accounts for 24–27% of Benin’s GDP and supports more than 70% of households. Five agroecological practices were documented along with their measurable impacts:
| Practice | Key Impact |
|---|---|
| Integrated Pest Management (IPM) | 20–30% reduction in chemical inputs, 25% increase in yields in dry areas |
| Agroforestry and composting | Carbon sequestration of 1.5–2 t COâ‚‚/ha/year, 40% increase in biodiversity |
| Water management and cover crops | Improved drought resilience and soil fertility |
| Vermicomposting (BSF) | Nutrient recycling and reduced chemical inputs |
| Biological control | Reduced chemical pesticide use and healthier crops |
The multidimensional impacts are remarkable: a 40% reduction in poisoning cases, a 25% increase in dietary diversification, and women representing 45–50% of beneficiaries. Benin’s vision for 2035 is a pesticide-free agriculture resilient enough to meet sustainability standards and certified under Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS).
Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Guinea also presented their national experiences, highlighting the specificities of each context while identifying common challenges: insufficient funding for alternatives, the circulation of illegal pesticides, and the need for stronger regulatory frameworks.
An Inspiring Continental Perspective
Dr. Tadesse Amera, PAN Africa representative for East Africa, presented a parallel project implemented in Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Kenya, also supported by the GFC/UNEP. The initiative aims to directly empower at least 3,000 smallholder farmers to transition from highly hazardous pesticides to sustainable practices through Farmer Field Schools (FFS), Communities of Practice (CoP), and policy dialogues with GFC Focal Points.
This initiative directly contributes to GFC Target A7 — the elimination of HHPs in agriculture by 2035 — and GFC Target D5, which promotes support for agroecological practices by 2030.
The Project Logical Framework: A Three-Year Roadmap
Ms. Ndeye Maimouna DIENE, Regional Coordinator of PAN Africa, presented the project’s detailed three-phase action plan:
Phase 1 2026: Launch and Assessment
Establishment of coordination mechanisms, baseline studies on HHPs in the four countries, stakeholder mapping, regulatory analysis, and capacity-building activities.
Phase 2 2027: Implementation and Advocacy
Deployment of 40 agroecological pilot plots, organization of national and regional policy dialogues, media campaigns, and midterm evaluation.
Phase 3 2028: Capitalization and Sustainability
Documentation of best practices, PGS certification, integration of recommendations into public policies, independent final evaluation, and a regional closing workshop.
Letters of Commitment: A Strategic Lever
The workshop also highlighted the importance of institutional commitment letters, presented as a strategic governance tool to formalize public institutions’ support, strengthen the project’s credibility with technical and financial partners, and encourage national and regional ownership of the project’s objectives.
Recommendations from the Workshop
At the end of the two-day workshop, participants formulated operational recommendations in four key areas:
Policy
- Adopt national legal frameworks banning HHPs;
- Strengthen ECOWAS/CILSS regional mechanisms for regulatory harmonization.
Technical
- Scale up Farmer Field Schools (FFS);
- Deploy T-MAPP and CPAM tools to monitor poisoning cases;
- Develop training tools in local languages.
Financial
- Mobilize subsidies for biological inputs;
- Develop green microfinance initiatives;
- Sustain support from the GFC and technical and financial partners.
Gender and Inclusion
- Ensure women’s participation reaches at least 45–50% across all activities;
- Integrate youth into Farmer Field Schools;
- Develop income-generating community gardens.
Closing Ceremony: Renewed Commitment
The closing ceremony, led by Ms. Ndeye Maimouna DIENE and the GFC representative, celebrated the success of the workshop and reaffirmed the collective commitment of all stakeholders.
“The transition toward safer and more sustainable agriculture is not only possible, but essential to ensure resilient agricultural development, protect future generations, and effectively contribute to the implementation of the Global Framework on Chemicals.”
This workshop marks the beginning of a strong and promising collective momentum. By bringing together four countries around a shared vision and benefiting from the strategic support of the GFC/UNEP, PAN Africa is laying the foundations for a sustainable transformation of West African agriculture — for the benefit of farmers, communities, and the environment for generations to come.
