Partnership of Sub Saharan countries to develop green wall in Sahel to face desertification and climate change

Drylands of the world

In previous posts I have talked about the successful adoption of traditional farming techniques to face desertification in the Sahel region (Zai farming). However positive experiences at local level need to be supported by joint initiatives at national and international level for durable sustainability.

The Great Green Wall for Sahara and Sahel project to combat desertification, improve food security and climate change adaptation (29/09/2011) in Sub Saharan Africa is a new international programme aiming at scaling up the positive results of local projects. This African Union project  to address desertification, land degradation and drought in the Sahara and Sahel, was launched in Addis Ababa on 26 September 2011.
A first contribution of 1.75 million € by the by European Union  will then be followed by more substantial funding in the coming years.

The project will develop activities in Algeria, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Mauritania, Nigeria, the Gambia, Senegal and the Sudan. Other partner countries include Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Mali and Niger which are being supported through a Technical Cooperation Project (TCP) provided by the FAO, which is also the implementing agency for the EU funded project.

The two day meeting, held in occasion of the launch, was attended by all 13 project focus countries representatives and stakeholders, namely: African Union Commission, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, representative of the Regional Economic Communities (ECOWAS), the pan-African Agency for the Great Green Wall, CILSS, Pan-African Farmers Organisation (PAFO), the African Forest Forum (AFF), the Global Mechanism (GM) of the UNCCD, the European Union Delegation to the African Union, the FAO and the World Bank. The meeting was officially opened by the Ethiopian State Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, Ato Sileshi Getahun.
Discussion to clarify the roles of countries and partners in the project’s implementation, including ensuring the involvement of the pan-African Great Green Wall Agency in the project and offering an avenue for strengthening collaboration between the agency and the African Union Commission also took place. The work plan for the next 2 years was examined and approved, including planning of the second Africa dry lands week in 2012.
Background information:

The GGWSSI is not only a tree planting initiative, but it is based on an integrated approach for improved livelihoods, with the purpose to tackle the detrimental social, economic and environmental impact of land degradation and desertification in the Sahara and Sahel region, in particular by supporting local community's efforts in sustainable management and use of natural resources (land, water and vegetation).
The project is developed in the framework of the Africa-EU strategic partnership (under theme 6-Climate change). It will focus on capacity development for the planning and implementation of best practices at local level and international levels, establishing a networking platform for knowledge sharing and technology transfer, developing a harmonized strategy for the Great Green Wall initiative and setting up a platform for partnership and resource mobilization.

More information at:
Africa-EU Strategic Partnership
AU-EU Study on The Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative
europa africa net