The Sahel is as much a land of opportunities as it is of challenges. Home to over 135 million people, the region has abundant human, cultural and natural resources, offering tremendous potential for rapid growth. Yet deep-rooted environmental and socio-economic challenges—from stability and food security, to desertification and climate change—affect the prosperity and peace of the Sahel.

Established in 2007, the Green Great Wall (GGW) is one of the earliest international land restoration initiatives, bringing together African countries and international partners, under the leadership of the African Union. Its vision has evolved into an integrated ecosystem management approach with a mosaic of different land use and production systems. By 2030, it aims to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land, sequester 250 million tons of carbon and create 10 million green jobs.

Faced with coordination challenges and technical barriers, a GGW Accelerator was established in 2021 to ensure more coordinated support to GGW Member States and institutions, while supporting the implementation of the GGW. Through its programme of loans and grants, IFAD coordinates its actions with the Accelerator and other partners to scale-up the GGW, taking part in several task forces to better coordinate, develop and measure the impact of GGW programmes.

IFAD plays a leading role in developing regional support programmes, funded by the Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility. Through collaboration, IFAD ensures that knowledge is shared among GGW stakeholders, including the private sector and farmers’ organizations. We map innovation and digital transformation technologies and are building a digital and innovation platform to share this knowledge.

IFAD supports more than 30 projects in the Sahel and has launched several multi-country projects with partners, including IGREENFIN, which supports access to credit for green agricultural investments, and the Africa Integrated Climate Risk Management Programme, which restores degraded land and provides agricultural insurance in six GGW countries.

Working with FAO and WFP, the Regional Joint Programme Sahel for emergency and rural development in the Sahel (SD3C programme) aims to revitalize economic activities and food systems in the Sahel.