Approximately 1.66 million hectares are currently undergoing restoration in the Sahel region of Africa, situated between the Sahara Desert and the Sudanese savannah. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the Great Green Wall Accelerator initiative, which has recently celebrated its five-year anniversary, as detailed in a report released by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
Key Achievements and Impact
The UNCCD’s report highlights several key metrics from the initiative:
- 24 million tons of CO₂ equivalent have been sequestered or mitigated.
- 4.6 million jobs have been created.
- 46 million people have been directly impacted by the initiative.
According to the UNCCD, the restoration efforts encompass a variety of landscapes, agricultural areas, water systems, and communities. The primary aim is to integrate land recovery with food security, economic opportunities, access to clean energy, and enhanced resilience to climate change and drought.
Background of the Initiative
The Great Green Wall was established in 2007 by the African Union and the UNCCD, currently involving 11 founding countries across an area of 156 million hectares, stretching from western Senegal to the Horn of Africa. The Accelerator program was launched in 2021 to improve coordination, track financial resources, and assist countries in measuring restoration outcomes.
Monitoring and Challenges
Despite notable progress, the report indicates that significant limitations remain in tracking results. The Great Green Wall Observatory monitors over 389 projects, but fewer than 90 currently provide data that align with the harmonized indicators established by the initiative. The UNCCD considers the results preliminary, as the full extent of the restoration projects is still being assessed.
In addition to the 1.66 million hectares under restoration, the available data suggests the creation of 4.6 million jobs, falling short of the 10 million target set for 2030, along with the generation of 2,315 megawatt-hours of clean energy. The UNCCD emphasizes that land restoration processes can take years or even decades to yield complete results.
Efforts to Improve Coordination
To address the fragmentation of information, the Great Green Wall Observatory was established in 2024 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. This platform consolidates information on projects, funding, outcomes, and geospatial data. According to the UNCCD, the system has been endorsed by ten of the eleven founding countries.
Additionally, national coalitions have been formed in nine of the eleven countries, bringing together ministries, civil society, universities, the private sector, and media to enhance coordination and transform financial commitments into verifiable results on the ground.
Financial Challenges Ahead
The Accelerator was initiated following the One Planet Summit in 2021, during which technical and financial partners pledged over $19 billion to support the Great Green Wall initiative. The program now serves as a framework to coordinate efforts, monitor resources, and strengthen the capacity of countries to demonstrate results.
However, the report notes that the gap between commitments and actual results remains a challenge. In addition to incomplete data, the UNCCD cites coordination difficulties among various stakeholders and the time needed for financial resources to translate into tangible actions.
Future Directions
The next phase of the initiative will emphasize communication strategies, innovative financial mechanisms, and cross-border management of land and water resources. Potential avenues include green bonds, carbon credits, and blended financing mechanisms.
The initiative also aims to enhance the social dimension of restoration efforts. The report highlights income-generating initiatives for women, youth training, and the strengthening of local enterprises. For instance, women in Mali received equipment and training to expand an agricultural processing cooperative, while women in Chad were trained to install and repair solar panels, turning energy access into a source of income.
Topics such as drought, land degradation, and soil restoration will be central to the upcoming 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) on Desertification, which will take place from August 17 to 28 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Agência Brasil will cover the event in collaboration with the UNCCD.
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