The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has taken significant strides towards the implementation of its Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI) to combat desertification, climate change, and biodiversity loss in the region. The recent SADC GGWI Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Building Workshop, held in Pretoria, South Africa from 2nd to 4th August 2022, brought together key regional and international partners, government representatives, and technical experts to strategise and accelerate progress.

The Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI) is a flagship project of the African Union, aiming to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land, sequester 250 million tons of carbon, and create 10 million green jobs by 2030 across 11 countries in the Sahel region. Inspired by this success, SADC launched its own GGWI in 2016 to address environmental challenges in the region.

Mr Mamadou Diakhite opened the workshop on behalf of H.E. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, AUDA-NEPAD CEO, reaffirming commitment to the development of the SADC GGWI's National Action and Investment Plans. "Together with our partners, we will work continuously to enhance political buy-in as well as mobilise resources GGWI.

Speaking during the workshop, Mrs Catherine Mutambirwa , UNCCD,  applauded the initiative the SADC region is undertaking.  “The Great Green Wall Initiative is a testament to what can be achieved when nations come together to address shared environmental challenges. Let us continue to learn from each other's experiences and build a resilient future."

The workshop's participants reviewed progress on the GGWI implementation, with a particular focus on the development of National Action and Investment Plans (NAPs) to align national priorities with the regional strategy. Significant progress was made in mainstreaming gender equality, communication plans, and private sector and civil society engagement in the NAPs. Additionally, a roadmap for political and resource mobilisation was discussed, along with the preparation of the SADC GGWI Investment Plan and operational modalities.

Six investment pillars were identified as crucial to the success of the initiative:

1. Water for all – addressing drought and water scarcity
2. Access to renewable energy
3. Productive and resilient ecosystems (land, biodiversity, and climate change)
4. Climate resilient green infrastructure
5. Strengthened agricultural productivity and resilient food systems
6. Transformative economic and business development

In light of these developments, the participants formulated key recommendations and next steps, emphasising the need for high-level political support, economic analysis, branding, and narrative development, as well as the establishment of a harmonised results framework for monitoring implementation progress.

The SADC GGWI Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Building Workshop marks a pivotal moment in the initiative's journey towards achieving its ambitious goals. The SADC Secretariat, African Union Commission, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), UNCCD, AUDA-NEPAD, and the Commonwealth Secretariat have joined hands with regional and international technical and financial partners to support this transformational initiative.

The SADC GGWI Investment Forum or pledging conference, scheduled for 2025, is anticipated to provide further impetus to this green transformation. The initiative also seeks to learn from the experiences and lessons of the GGWI in the Sahel to strengthen its operational modalities and coordination framework.

SADC member states play a vital role in guiding actions at the national and regional levels and demonstrating political will globally. Together with strong partnerships and collective efforts, the SADC GGWI aims to make a significant contribution to sustainable development, environmental restoration, and socio-economic growth in Southern Africa.