Combating Desertification: Local Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships to Strengthen Resilience and Food Security
On 10 December 2024, in conjunction with COP 16 of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), the Sahel Alliance organised a meeting on multi-stakeholder partnerships at local level. The aim of this event was to share experiences and perspectives in combating desertification, building resilience and ensuring food security in the Sahel. The event was organised with the support of the World Food Programme (WFP).
Replay of the conference (in French)
At the opening session, Ms Kanouté Fatoumata Kone, Director General of Water and Forests at Mali’s Ministry of the Environment, emphasised the scale of the desertification issue for the region.
She pointed out that two thirds of Mali’s territory is desert. The challenges are many:
- excessive logging (it is estimated that more than 13 million tonnes of wood are used every year for Malians’ domestic needs)
- degradation of soils and forests by agriculture
- livestock farming and mining sites, loss of biodiversity and a decline in people’s incomes.
According to Ms Kone, overcoming these challenges calls for greater coordination between the actors involved, more regional and sub-regional synergies and synergies with the 3 COPs, as well as the implementation of inclusive projects.
Climate change challenges in the Sahel
Climate change and land desertification in the Sahel require urgent, appropriate and coordinated responses. The Sahel region is one of the areas most exposed to the impacts of climate change, with temperatures rising at a rate 1.5 times higher than the global average, according to IPCC scenarios.
Land desertification, which translates into the degradation of arable and cultivable land, is one of the consequences. Yet land is an essential resource for survival in the Sahel. More than two out of three Sahelians depend on agriculture and pastoralism for their main income.
In the long term, land desertification leads to lower agricultural yields, disruption of traditional livelihoods, food and social crises, migration and a rise in insecurity and instability.
Various Modes of Action
These common concerns are shared by all Alliance Sahel members. They are taking action to combat desertification, in particular by funding projects in the Sahel. 10% of current projects labelled Alliance Sahel (107 projects out of 1000) have a significant or main objective for the desertification marker.
In addition, the members of the Sahel Alliance support the efforts made by Sahelian communities as part of programmes contributing to the objectives of the Great Green Wall.
Christian Geosits, head of the Sahel Alliance coordination unit, stressed in his speech that:
The close correlation between adaptation to climate change, food security and the resilience of populations has been recognised on several occasions by the members of the Sahel Alliance. We encourage the partner countries to implement the structural reforms needed for resilient and sustainable rural development, better management of natural resources and remunerative production systems, and economic, social and environmental resilience for their populations. These are common objectives that we share with the Great Green Wall, and I applaud the efforts made by governments and partners to implement this regional initiative. »
Through reforestation, agroforestry and sustainable land management practices, communities restore degraded land while ensuring soil health and water efficiency. This approach focuses on local knowledge and resources, enabling communities to strengthen their own ecosystems and livelihoods. By focusing the resilience-building process on local stakeholders, these efforts are closely aligned with community priorities to ensure a lasting impact.
The Sahel Alliance engages with civil society and local governments at both strategic and technical levels, recognising the key role of these actors in addressing the challenges posed by climate change and desertification in the region.
COP 16: A Catalyst Event
COP 16 provides an opportunity to share experiences and best practices, and to encourage multi-stakeholder partnerships to combat desertification, improve food security and increase agricultural production through sustainable, drought- and flood-resistant practices.
The side event provided an opportunity to take stock of progress and discuss the concrete successes of Sahelian actors, in particular projects supported by the joint initiatives of Alliance members. The event highlighted best practices and facilitated dialogue between development partners, civil society, and representatives of Sahelian authorities. Synergies were encouraged, along with improved coordination in the implementation of projects contributing to land restoration, including within the framework of the Great Green Wall initiative.
The speakers contributed their expertise and experience, moderated by Paola Agostini, Lead Natural Resources Management Specialist, World Bank:
- Ms Kanouté Fatoumata Kone, Director General of Water and Forests, Ministry of the Environment, Sanitation and Sustainable Development, Mali
- Mr Paul Djiguemde, Technical Adviser, Ministry of the Environment, Water and Sanitation, Burkina Faso
- Mr Amadou Diallo, Technical Adviser, Ministry of the Environment, Sanitation and Sustainable Development, Mali
- Mr Abdou Ibrahim, Director General, National Agency for the Great Green Wall of Niger
- Mr Abakar Zougoulou, Technical and Scientific Director, Pan-African Agency of the Great Green Wall
- Ms Patricia Mbaireogou, representative of the Green Caravan of Great Green Wall Youth
- Mr Adama Doulkom, civil society representative
- Edward Kilawe, Senior Forestry Officer, FAO Africa Regional Office
- Mr Adamou Issaka, Regional Office, World Food Programme
Among the recommendations made by the speakers were the importance of taking into account the endogenous knowledge of local populations, the predominant role of Sahelian women in land management, the need for greater collaboration with the region’s universities and research centres to combat soil degradation, and the need for collaboration between the various players at all levels…
This event contributed to the Sahel Alliance’s second and third strategic priorities, linked to resilience and territorial development.
This side event was an important step in the efforts of the members of the Sahel Alliance to pursue dialogue with civil society and local governments in order to find synergies and high-impact solutions, including at local level.
Photo gallery
More info
- COP 16 on the UNCCD website
- COP 16 official website
- The Sahel and the Challenges of Climate Change
- Resilience in the Sahel: How Universities are in Strengthening Food and Agricultural Security
