Great Green Wall Initiative: Africa’s Fight Against Desertification

Great Green Wall Initiative: Learn about Africa’s landmark project to combat desertification across 11 countries in the Sahel region, its goals, progress, challenges, and global significance.

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Despite its ambitious objectives, the Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI) continues to face major implementation challenges across Africa.
The project, launched to combat desertification and land degradation in the Sahel region, has shown progress in certain areas, but funding gaps, political instability, and climate stress are slowing its overall success.

What is the Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI)?

The Great Green Wall Initiative is an African-led global movement launched in 2007 by the African Union (AU).

Main Goal:

To restore degraded land, combat desertification, and build climate resilience across the Sahel region — the semi-arid zone stretching south of the Sahara Desert.

Geographical Extent

The Great Green Wall spans 11 African countries, from Senegal (West Africa) to Djibouti (East Africa).
The initiative aims to create a mosaic of green and productive landscapes across nearly 8,000 km of the Sahel.

Participating Countries:

Objectives of the Great Green Wall

Objective	Target
Restore degraded land	100 million hectares by 2030
Sequester carbon dioxide	250 million tonnes (CO₂)
Create green jobs	10 million jobs for local communities
Enhance food security	Increase agricultural productivity in arid regions
Reduce poverty & migration	Improve rural livelihoods and reduce migration pressures

Why the Initiative is Important

1. Combatting Desertification

The Sahel region faces severe land degradation due to overgrazing, deforestation, and climate change.
The GGWI aims to halt the desert’s southward expansion by restoring vegetation and soil fertility.

2. Climate Change Mitigation

By restoring vegetation and soil carbon, the project helps sequester greenhouse gases, contributing to climate mitigation efforts.

3. Improving Livelihoods

Reviving degraded land supports agriculture, water security, and employment, reducing poverty and food insecurity.

4. Preventing Conflict and Migration

As desertification worsens, competition for natural resources often fuels conflicts and forced migration.
A greener Sahel promotes stability and resilience in fragile communities.

Funding and Implementation

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) oversees the coordination and monitoring of the project.
Major financial commitments include:
- World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), European Union, France, and Global Environment Facility (GEF).
- In 2021, during the One Planet Summit, $14 billion was pledged to accelerate progress.

However, only a fraction of pledged funds has been disbursed, leading to implementation delays.

Challenges in Implementation

Challenge	Description
Funding Shortfalls	Many countries lack sustained financial support to scale up restoration projects.
Political Instability	Conflicts in regions like Mali, Niger, and Sudan disrupt long-term environmental planning.
Climate Extremes	Erratic rainfall and rising temperatures threaten restored vegetation.
Local Participation Issues	Limited involvement of local communities has affected project sustainability.
Monitoring Difficulties	Inadequate tracking systems to measure on-ground progress.

Progress So Far

As of recent UNCCD reports, over 20 million hectares of land have been restored, mainly in Ethiopia, Senegal, and Niger.
Successful local projects include:
- Senegal: Over 25,000 hectares of trees planted.
- Niger: Farmer-managed natural regeneration (FMNR) techniques improved soil fertility.
- Ethiopia: Sustainable land management projects have revived degraded hillsides.

Despite these successes, the 2030 targets remain distant, with only about 20% of goals achieved.

Global Support and Partnerships

UNCCD acts as the global coordinator.
Supported by international organizations like:
- FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)
- UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)
- World Bank
- African Union Commission (AUC)

The initiative aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially:

SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 15: Life on Land
SDG 1 & 2: No Poverty, Zero Hunger

Way Forward

Strengthen Local Governance:
Empower local communities to manage land and natural resources sustainably.
Ensure Continuous Funding:
Establish a transparent funding mechanism to ensure long-term financial flow.
Integrate Climate Resilience:
Use drought-resistant crops and trees to withstand changing climate patterns.
Enhance Monitoring and Data Sharing:
Deploy satellite mapping and digital tracking tools to measure progress.
Promote Regional Cooperation:
Encourage cross-border collaboration for water and resource management across the Sahel.