Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge for Climate-Smart Agri-Food Systems: A Review of Adaptation Strategies, Food Security, Ecosystem Services, Governance, and Digital Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces escalating climate challenges that threaten agricultural productivity, food security, ecosystem sustainability, and rural livelihoods. Indigenous knowledge (IK), developed through generations of interaction with local environments, offers context-specific and culturally embedded solutions for climate adaptation and resilient agri-food systems. This scoping review synthesizes evidence on the role of indigenous knowledge in advancing climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and resilient agri-food systems across SSA. Guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), the review analyzed 17 studies published between 2000 and 2026. The findings reveal that indigenous knowledge contributes significantly to climate resilience through traditional weather forecasting, crop diversification, indigenous seed preservation, agroforestry, water harvesting, soil fertility management, and community-based natural resource governance. These practices enhance food security, livelihood resilience, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem service provision while strengthening adaptive capacity among smallholder farmers. The review further highlights the importance of inclusive governance frameworks, knowledge co-production, and policy support for integrating indigenous knowledge into climate adaptation and agricultural development strategies. Emerging digital technologies and innovation platforms also present opportunities for documenting, preserving, and scaling indigenous agricultural knowledge. However, challenges related to weak policy recognition, inadequate documentation, knowledge erosion, and limited digital infrastructure continue to constrain its effective utilization. The study concludes that integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific innovation is essential for building inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient agri-food systems in SSA.