On Thursday 10 February, TMG conveyed an engagement workshop to kickoff a series of collaborative activities to be implemented as part of the SEWOH Lab project. Consisting of two different components, the collaboration will on the one hand contribute towards determining how digital tools can contribute to cover the “last mile in restoration monitoring”. Building on WOTR's experience in participatory watershed development, TMG and the Society for Promoting Participative Ecosystem Management (SOPPECOM) will investigate existing and current systems for monitoring and impact assessment of ecosystem restoration in agricultural landscapes as well as analyse the way implementation of programmes and projects in the field of landscape restoration is reported to the state and national level.

The second component, a study conducted by TMG and auctusESG, will analyse current public and private sector initiatives related to climate financing in agriculture, agroforestry and ecosystem restoration in India. It will seek to understand how ecosystem restoration and agriculture is currently supported through climate (mitigation and adaptation) financing, and to identify opportunities to support the implementation of projects.

The SEWOH Lab is an action-oriented research project analysing the linkages between digital and social innovations for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2. The cornerstone of the project is unlocking the potential of digital solutions for inclusive rural and agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa. Its primary focus lies on smallholder farmers and marginalised land users, including women. It is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).