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As part of CIMMYT’s mandate to strengthen technical capacity within the Water & Soil Accelerator (WSA) Program, a Training of Trainers (ToT) was conducted from 23–27 October 2025 targeting technical, research, and extension staff from the two consortia they are supporting, namely Conservation Farming Unit (CFU), and Total LandCare (TLC), with their collaborating partners along, including Farmers’ Outgrower Foundation (FoF), African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP), Pelum, and the Ministry of Agriculture. The overall goal was to standardize the implementation of the 2025/26 WSA Mega Demonstration Protocols and to equip partners with hands-on skills in Conservation Agriculture (CA), basin digger technology, and legume seed multiplication and management. The trainings also aimed to strengthen data quality, consistency, and inclusivity across implementation areas in Zambia and Malawi. Three ToT sessions were held across the two countries: • Session 1: CFU staff training in Chongwe District, Central Zambia (16 participants – 38 % women, 44 % youth). • Session 2: TLC (Zambia) and FoF staff training at Msekera Research Station, Chipata, Eastern Zambia (7 participants – 29 % women, 43 % youth). • Session 3: TLC (Malawi), AFAP, Pelum, and Ministry of Agriculture staff training in Mchinji District, Malawi (22 participants – 27 % women, 22 % youth). The training combined classroom presentations, practical field demonstrations, and interactive group discussions. It focused on the design, layout, and management of demonstration plots; legume seed multiplication, and strengthening data management, in accordance with the training schedule outlined in the WSA work plan. Key outcomes include: • 45 technical staff trained on standardized CA demonstration establishment (EG.3.2- 24). • Improved partner capacity to apply WSA data protocols and digital monitoring tools (HL.8.5-2). • Strengthened legume seed systems and quality-declared seed (QDS) knowledge (CUST-1). • Enhanced women and youth participation, with gender and age disaggregation integrated into MELIA tracking (CUST-2). • Greater awareness of basin digger business opportunities for local mechanization service providers (EG.3.2-24 and EG.3.2-25). • Deeper understanding of the need for robust data management • Technical guidelines on establishing demos, legume seed multiplication and strengthening data collection were shared with all participants These trainings contribute directly to the program’s targets of reaching 1,300 lead farmers and bringing 450 hectares under improved management. They also reinforce CIMMYT’s support toward Outcome 1 (resilient soil and water systems) and Outcome 2 (adoption of climate-smart agriculture and soil and water management practices) under the Accelerator Results Framework.

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