United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification turns spotlight on the African Great Green Wall (GGW) Initiative
The 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) hosted a significant high-level event focusing on scaling up investments and political support for the African Great Green Wall (GGW) Initiative. The event, organised in collaboration with the African Union Commission and the African Development Bank, celebrated the initiative's expansion to include 24 additional member states across North, West, East, and Southern Africa by 2023, effectively elevating it to a continental-scale project. Key stakeholders, including Nigeria's Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal and Zimbabwe's Minister of Environment Sithembiso G.G. Nyoni, emphasised the widespread impact of desertification across Africa and the critical role of the GGW in fostering stability and sustainable development.
The African Development Bank highlighted its comprehensive support for GGW implementation, including technical assistance to strengthen the GGWI Secretariat's capacity and the development of regional resilience programs benefiting up to 10 million farmers and pastoralists. The Bank is also launching a drought resilience project in Southern Africa starting in 2025. The event, moderated by CNN's Eleni Giokos, showcased new investment opportunities and emphasised the importance of partnerships among regional economic communities, governments, NGOs, and the private sector in combating desertification, while reinforcing the GGW's role as more than just a tree-planting project but as a symbol of Africa's determination to restore its ecosystems and build a sustainable future.
Source: African Development Bank Group
