International Development Grant
Support to the Great Green Wall in Senegal for the resilience of communities and ecosystems
Project Number: CA-3-P011581001
Status: Operational
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $25,000,000.00
Start Date: March 31, 2023
End Date: March 31, 2028
Duration: 5.0 years
Project Description
This project aims to strengthen the resilience of ecosystems and vulnerable populations especially women and youth to climate change in the regions bordering the Great Green Wall in Senegal. It does so through reforestation nature-based solutions climate-resilient agriculture inclusive climate governance and advocacy. The Great Green Wall is a flagship initiative of the African Union that involves 11 countries and aims at countering the effects of desertification. Project activities include: (1) restoring degraded land using sustainable methods; (2) constructing rainwater harvesting facilities (cisterns ponds solar wells); (3) creating local platforms for land and natural resource management; (4) providing technical capacity building particularly for women and young people to implement agricultural practices adapted to climate change; (5) supporting women and young people's organizations to improve their management and skills in agricultural and environmental entrepreneurship in the management of rural micro-businesses; (6) promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency including the use of improved stoves; and (7) providing capacity-building in advocacy leadership negotiation representation and participation of women and young people in local decision-making on natural resource management. This project benefits vulnerable populations living along Senegal’s portion of the Great Green Wall particularly women and youth. It also directly benefit about 110 000 people ( 51 % women) .
Expected Results
The expected outcomes of the project Include: (1) improved promotion and strengthening of climate change responsive agricultural practices for women and youth; (2) increased adoption of nature-based ecosystem restoration solutions for climate change mitigation sustaining biodiversity; and (3) enhanced inclusive governance for climate change mitigation and adaptation through capacity building of responsible institutions.
Progress & Results Achieved
The results achieved by March 2025 include: 1) restoring 610 hectares of degraded land through protection and restoration measures reforestation and water and soil conservation actions which have led to significant ecological recovery; 2) establishing 17 agroecological farms covering a total of about 36 hectares along with four Integrated Community Agricultural Farms (FACI) spanning 40 hectares fostering sustainable agricultural production with certified and resilient seeds and integrating complementary activities such as agroforestry beekeeping poultry farming sheep and goat rearing fodder cultivation and biogas production; 3) installing 2 500 mobile improved cookstoves in vulnerable households reducing energy consumption by nearly 5 933 tons of wood fuel per year; 4) strengthening advocacy and leadership skills for 174 people including 164 women (94%); and 5) supporting the economic activities of 20 000 direct beneficiaries including 16 000 women (80%) and 4 000 young men (20%).
Key Information
Executing Agency:
FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
WGM Africa
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Contributions to single-donor funding mechanisms and contributions earmarked for a specific funding window or geographical location
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Department-Initiated