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Improving soil fertility management in African farming systems has become a major issue of concern on the development policy agenda. A number of international initiatives and donor programmes have been established which aim to address the problem of soil fertility decline, and would imply major investment of public funds. This report reviews the evidence used to define the nature of the soil fertility problem in Africa, and examines a series of case studies to identify key factors which help explain patterns of soil management. It discusses whether there is a case for public intervention to improve soil fertility and assesses the range of strategies available for encouraging more sustainable soil management practices.