Policies for Rural Development
Policies are the arteries of development — they connect people, ideas, and institutions, determining whether rural transformation remains a concept or becomes reality.
Across Africa, rural communities face complex challenges: limited employment opportunities, climate stress, social inequality, and migration driven by a lack of prospects. Effective and inclusive rural policies can transform these pressures into opportunities for sustainable livelihoods, food security, and resilience.
The Working Group on Policies for Rural Development brings together more than 200 practitioners from GIZ and partner institutions across Africa. It serves as a collaborative space for peer learning, south–south exchange, and strategic reflection on policy processes in rural development.
What We Focus On
The group explores the how of policy work — strengthening the way policies are designed, managed, and implemented. Key focus areas include:
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Building skills and practical tools for policy advisers
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Supporting reform processes in fragile and dynamic contexts
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Applying digital solutions for more inclusive policy formulation and monitoring
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Facilitating intergenerational and south–south learning exchanges
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Sharing management and leadership experiences across policy teams
By connecting expertise and lessons from across the continent, the Working Group helps make agricultural and rural policies more coherent, participatory, and future-ready.
Within SNRD Africa, it fosters collective learning, trust, and innovation — ensuring that policy processes remain at the heart of sustainable rural transformation.
VIDEOS
How to React to the Rising Demand for Evidence-Based Policy Advice
Brief statement by Ousmane Djibo in Abidjan
Population Growth and Youth Employment
Keynote by Felix Kwame Yeboah of Michigan State University
Globalisation
Keynote address by Steve Wiggins of ODI
On the Task Force Rural Africa — With Albert Engel
Where is the Task Force Rural Africa heading now?
Strengthening agriculture and rural development policy is critical for enhancing food, nutrition and food security in Africa. Our working group encourages knowledge exchange on policy issues and processes which are effective and efficient, whilst also providing feasible options that develop the agriculture sector
UPDATES
The Impact of COVID-19 in Cameroon
Between decline and rise of MSE indicators in agricultural finance
COVID Is Unleashing a Human Development Crisis
Interview with Angelika Friedrich on what the pandemic entails for GIZ
Impact and Learning From the COVID-19 Pandemic
The case of delivering agricultural policy advice
Agricultural Trade Policy Instruments
New online toolbox available
Finding a Joint Answer to COVID-19
The Global Donor Platform for Rural Development sets up a task force
Empowering Women Through Secured Land Rights
Farmer organisations stand up for members developing digital services
