Global Transformation of Forests for People and Climate
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are collaborating on a 5-year project: “Global Transformation of Forests for People and Climate: a focus on West Africa”. This project is key to the rollout of the ECOWAS Convergence Plan for the Sustainable Management and Use of Forest Ecosystems in West Africa, adopted by ECOWAS’s 15 member states (at the time) - Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
The project’s objective is to strengthen decision-making on forests and land management across West Africa, specifically addressing the loss of forest cover and biodiversity, as well as transboundary challenges, while supporting local livelihoods.
The project supports the implementation of the priorities outlined in the Forest Convergence Plan, through the following focus areas:
The project’s focus areas are complemented by a component on gender mainstreaming, which aims to strengthen and advocate for the role of women in forestry across West Africa
Latest impact stories
Education matters: Sierra Leone’s rural communities partner with academia to protect forests
An initiative led by FAO and Njala University brings together academic expertise and community leadership to restore and protect Sierra Leone's forests.
A hive of activity: Beekeeping supports forests, livelihoods in Gambia’s mangrove communities
In the mangrove-lined village of Kiang Jattaba, along the Bintang Bolong river in southern Gambia, golden honey is doing more than sweetening tea.
A hive of activity: Beekeeping supports forests, livelihoods in Gambia’s mangrove communities
In the mangrove-lined village of Kiang Jattaba, along the Bintang Bolong river in southern Gambia, golden honey is doing more than sweetening tea.
Working to: improve decision-making and capacity on forests and land management across the West Africa subregion.
Working with: ECOWAS, 15 Governments from ECOWAS member states, civil society, research centers, regional institutions and community groups.
Working thanks to: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
Working in: Globally, with a focus on West Africa.
Latest news
- 2025 news piece on Tackling Forest Crime in West Africa, training curriculum
- 2024 In the news: Workshop in Dakar on Forestry law
- 2024 In the news: Sénégal:plaidoyer pour le renforcement du cadre juridique forestier
- 2023 In the news: Afrique de l’Ouest : La FAO prône la coopération transfrontalière pour une lutte efficace contre la déforestation
- 2023 Outreach highlights
- 2023 Strengthening capacities for solid national forest inventories in West African countries
- 2023 Project Steering Committee
- 2019 Project Steering Committee
- 2019 The work begins: FAO and ECOWAS kick off a new Sida-funded project to protect West African forests in Dakar
Contacts
Mohamadou Aw
Programme Officer, FAO Subregional Office for West Africa, Dakar, Senegal
María Ruiz-Villar
Programme Officer, FAO Forestry Division, Rome, Italy