What is the Great Green Wall?

The Great Green Wall is a symbol of hope in the face of one of the biggest challenges of our time
– desertification.  Launched in 2007, this game-changing initiative aims to restore Africa’s degraded landscapes and in the process transform millions of lives in one of the world’s poorest regions, the Sahel. Once complete, the Wall will be the largest living structure on the planet – an 8000km natural wonder of the world stretching across the entire width of the Continent.

The Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel initiative is now being implemented in more than 20 countries across Africa’s Sahel region and more than 8 billion dollars have been mobilized and/or promised in its support. The initiative brings together African countries and international partners, under the leadership of the African Union Commission.

An African Dream

The Great Green Wall is already boosting food security and resilience to climate change, whilst creating thousands of jobs for the many communities who live along its path, especially women and young people. Moreover, it promises to be a compelling solution to the many urgent threats that plague the people of this region – notably drought, famine, conflict and migration.  A decade after it was launched, the initiative is already empowering local people not only to survive in this harsh environment, but to thrive once more.

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