• Land degradation: requiring restoration through agroecological and agroforestry practices.

• Climate vulnerability: prompting the need for resilient infrastructure and renewable energy use.

• Water management pressures: requiring boreholes and solar pumping to secure irrigation.

• Socio-economic vulnerability: particularly among women and youth.

• Limited value-chain development: especially around Moringa and other local products.

• Need for integrated management: of agriculture, forestry, and pastoralism.

The Mandelia Living Lab strengthens agro-sylvo-pastoral production while demonstrating WEFE Nexus integration.

• Agroecology & Agroforestry development:

– Establishment of an agroecological farm enabling women’s associations to conduct market gardening and fruit growing.

– Cultivation of Moringa, both for nutrition and income generation.

– Use of protective and fertilising species within a climate-smart production approach.

• Renewable energy integration: solar-powered systems used to operate the farm’s three boreholes, improving irrigation and water access.

• Local value-chain creation:

– Strengthening local processing, especially Moringa-based products.

– Development of income-generating activities led by women.

– Support for sustainable rural job creation.

• Community empowerment & capacity building:

– Employment of 430 beneficiaries, mostly women.

– Agroforestry and agroecology training activities.

– 2025 UNDP-supported exchange mission to Senegal for five women to learn innovative processing techniques.

– Construction of a two-room building to support processing and training.

• WEFE Nexus Demonstration: the site is becoming a pilot Living Lab showcasing the interconnected management of:

– Water: improved irrigation, boreholes, future fishponds, and groundwater monitoring.

– Energy: expansion of solar-powered systems.

– Food: increased agricultural productivity, integrated gardening, agroforestry, and future fish farming.

– Ecosystems: land restoration, introduction of new agroforestry species, erosion control.