LandScale workshop in Abuja: Advancing soil health across the Sahel

Context and Purpose

This workshop operates under the umbrella of the Soil Values Programme, a project funded by the Netherlands Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS). The initiative carries an ambitious goal: improving the productive capacity of 2 million hectares of farmland to benefit 1.5 million farmers, particularly women, throughout the Sahel.

Central to this mission is LandScale. Relaunched in mid-2025, the refreshed platform offers a streamlined, user-friendly framework for monitoring landscape initiatives. It breaks the assessment process down into three clear steps:

1. Platform registration and setup.
2. Metric selection and data sourcing.
3. Metric assessment.

While SNV teams had previously undergone online training, this in-person workshop provided the necessary support to finalize landscape profiles and ensure the metrics are ready for real-world application.

Workshop Goals and Objectives

The primary aim was to ensure LandScale is effectively utilized as the monitoring and evaluation engine for the Soil Values Programme. Specific objectives included:

• Refresher Training: Updating LandScale Assessment Teams and Knowledge Partners on the latest platform features.

• Profiling & Registration: Completing the setup and assessments for the five target landscapes.

• Validation: Confirming the assessment parameters with direct input from Knowledge Partners.

Highlights from the Workshop

Day 1: Foundations and Training

The event opened with a welcome address from the SNV Team Leader and an official launch by the SNV Country Director. Following introductions of participants from Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria, the focus shifted to the LandScale approach. Attendees participated in demonstrations of platform functionalities and guided exercises to select indicators aligned with the Soil Values Programme’s specific needs.

Day 2: Collaborative Group Work

Collaboration was the theme of the second day. Participants divided into groups based on LandScale’s four pillars – Ecosystems, Human Well-being, Governance, and Production – to review and refine metrics. Country-specific teams then proposed new indicators, verified data sources, and integrated existing data from SNV projects. Cross-group presentations ensured alignment and harmonization across all landscapes.

Day 3: Finalization and Roadmap Development

The final day focused on refining analyses and engaging Knowledge Partners via an online session. Each country group presented its metrics for feedback on expectations and best practices. The workshop concluded with the co-production of a roadmap designed to finalize the evaluation process by February 13, 2026.

Key Outcomes and Recommendations

The workshop successfully achieved several critical milestones:

• Team Readiness: Teams are now fully trained on the LandScale platform with clarified roles and responsibilities.

• Metric Refinement: Indicators and performance metrics have been refined by pillar and landscape.

• Data Mapping: Data sources are mapped, and gaps are identified for consolidation.

• Strategic Planning: A detailed roadmap is in place to complete assessments and validate results.

Moving forward, recommendations include adopting a participatory approach to finalize core indicators, harmonizing data practices with standardized templates, and ensuring early integration of Knowledge Partners into the platform.

Looking Ahead

The LandScale Workshop in Abuja marks a significant leap forward for the Soil Values Programme. With a clear roadmap and strengthened collaboration among stakeholders, the initiative is well-positioned to achieve its goals of fostering sustainable development and improved livelihoods for millions of farmers across the Sahel region.