Adaptive practices and governance structures for building climate resilient agrifood systems value chains in Sub-Saharan Africa

Climate change is increasingly disrupting agricultural and food value chains in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where reliance on rain-fed farming and fragile infrastructure heightens vulnerability. This systematic review, conducted using the PRISMA framework, synthesizes findings from 80 peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2025. The review examines climate-induced stressors such as erratic rainfall, droughts, and extreme temperatures and their impact on value chain functions including production, storage, transport, and market access. Evidence is concentrated in East and West Africa, with innovations such as mobile weather platforms, AI-based logistics planning, and solar-powered cold storage emerging as adaptive solutions. However, adoption remains constrained by weak institutional coordination, limited financing, and inadequate rural infrastructure. The review aims to identify how climate adaptation practices are evolving across SSA agrifood value chains, and the governance mechanisms supporting or hindering their implementation. Findings emphasize that resilience requires not only technologies but also integrated policy frameworks and inclusive institutional arrangements. This review provides a roadmap for policymakers and practitioners to build climate-resilient, inclusive, and future-proof food systems across SSA by aligning innovations with governance and infrastructure reforms.