Centre for Action-Research on Ecological and Social Transformations
CREATES
Research. Action. Transformation.
The context
The Sahel is at a turning point.
Land degradation, food insecurity, rural exodus. Top-down solutions have failed. Yet Sahelian communities hold knowledge, practices, and resilience that remain largely invisible to mainstream approaches. CREATES was born from this conviction: lasting change must emerge from the territories themselves.
65%
of Africa's farmland degraded
300M
people affected
70%
of population under 30
CREATES
Our response
CREATES brings together researchers, communities, and practitioners around action-research rooted in the territories. We don't design solutions for communities. We design them with them. Our approach bridges natural and social sciences, local knowledge and innovation, art and data - because the Sahel's challenges don't respect disciplinary boundaries.
Learn MoreTransformation Pathways
Our work is structured around five transformation pathways, from food to governance, from energy to knowledge.
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Resilient and Healthy Food Systems
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Governance of Land and Natural Resources
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Social and Solidarity Economy
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Renewable Energy and Sustainable Infrastructures
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Politics of Knowledge Production and the Arts
News
All news
Community4 Nov 2026
Kaffrine: preparing the market gardening season, from planning to the nursery
On 4 and 5 November 2026, 27 farmers from the Kaffrine ObSAT trained in planning an agroecological market gardening season and raising seedlings in a nursery.
AgroVoiceS contest: the call for short film projects is extended until 16 November
A short film contest about what is changing in farming, food and the environment in Mbour and Lower Casamance. Ten projects will be supported and funded.
Thiafoura: doing the sums before planting
On 1 and 2 October 2026, farmers from Thiafoura and Sorohassap, joined by market gardeners from Popenguine and Ngaparou, trained in planning and managing the economics of a farm, at Tolou Keur.
Thiafoura: a food system diagnostic with local stakeholders
On 30 September 2026, farmers, community organisations, elected officials and technical services met at Sindia town hall to map who produces, processes and sells food around Thiafoura.
In the field
Our projects
6 ongoing projects
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2025 - 2027
Bey Diiwaan
Petite Côte, Saloum, Casamance (Senegal)
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2026 - 2029
NICE
Bambilor, Kaffrine (Senegal)
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2026 - 2027
TERAL
Thiafoura, Mbour - Petite Côte (Senegal)
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2026 - 2027
AI and Agroecology
Casamance (Senegal)
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2024 - 2026
AgroVoiceS
Senegal
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2023 - ongoing
PRATAM
Basse Casamance (Senegal)
- All projects
Living lab · TERAL and Bey Diiwaan
The Thiafoura living lab
With the village of Thiafoura, in the municipality of Sindia, we are building a local food system: producing, processing, selling.
Where the system stands
- Produce (In progress)
- Process (In progress)
- Store (Planned)
- Deliver (Planned)
- Sell (In progress)
- Decide together (In progress)
- Train and show (In progress)
Productions
Publications, interactive maps, a film, field videos and a podcast: what our action research produces.
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Reports, articles, books
Publications
The results of our research: reports, scientific articles, book chapters and books.
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Mapping
Platforms
The Mbour Department Geoportal and the atlas of agroecological initiatives: field data as interactive maps.
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Documentary
Films
White Forest: in Bandia, limestone extraction has covered the forest in dust. A beekeeper refuses to leave.
Discover -
YouTube
Videos
Workshops, field reports and podcast episodes, on screen.
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Cultiver les Territoires
Podcast
Giving the floor to those who cultivate change.
Discover
Our partners
