The Great Green Wall Initiative is a direct contribution to a joint implementation of the Three Rio Conventions (UN Convention to Combat Desertification, UN Framework Convention on Climate change and UN Convention on Biodiversity) and particularly to Climate Risk Management in the Africa drylands. This was recently emphasized by the fourteenth (14th) Session of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) held in September 2012, Arusha, Tanzania which decided to consider the GGWSSI, in the framework of the Environmental Action Plan of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), as a flagship programme that represents the African contribution to the achievement of a Land degradation neutral world in the context of sustainable development, as recommended by the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. Since early 2011 an African Union Commission programme in support to the implementation of the GGWSSI, is being implemented by FAO in collaboration with 13 partner countries. The programme is funded by the European Union within the framework of the theme 6 “Climate Change and Environment” of the AU-EU strategic partnership and benefits from technical and financial support of FAO and the GM-UNCCD. Furthermore, the GEF and the World Bank are also supporting the implementation of the initiative in 12 countries through the Sahel and West Africa Program (SAWAP). The 18th session of COP/UNFCCC offers an opportunity to inform the international community and African countries on the results so far achieved by the initiative and to discuss the way forward to build a solid and wider partnership/coalition to support Africa for the implementation of the GGWSSI. the objectuves of the side event are the following: (i) Presenting and reviewing the status of implementation of the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative (GGWSSI) and (ii) Formulating recommendations for a wider collaborative partnership and resource mobilization in support to the implementation of the GGWSSI.

• Side event on the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative (GGWSSI) - Flyer
• Evénement parallèle sur l’initiative de la grande muraille verte pour le Sahara et le Sahel - Brochure
• An African response to desertification, land degradation, drought, climate change and loss of biodiversity and livelihoods - Presentation
• Report on the side event jointly organised by AUC, EC, FAO, GM-UNCCD and Ministry of ecology, sustainable development and energy of France
• The Sahel and West Africa Program (SAWAP) in support of the Great Green Wall initiative