Action Against Desertification

New report identifies key learning needs for a successful Great Green Wall implementation

Capacity and learning needs assessment help guided key first steps of capacity strengthening activities of the K4GGWA project


11/12/2024

The « Knowledge for Great Green Wall Action (K4GGWA) » project supports the implementation of the Great Green Wall (GGW) in combating desertification, restoring degraded land, and improving livelihoods across the Sahara and Sahel.

Specifically, it aims to equip GGW actors « with actionable knowledge and support on land restoration techniques, sustainable land management, inclusion policies, governance mechanisms, agroforestry, agroecology, and associated value chains developmentof non-timber forest products (NTFPs).

The K4GGWA team initiated and presented a summary report, answering to the critical key questions of what type of capacity, of which stakeholder, and how the GGW would/could be implemented efficiently and successfully. To identify capacity related issues and learning gaps in implementing the initiative, the report looks into several capacity assessments and recommendations from workshops carried out in the context of the GGW during the last decade. Most of these gaps pertain to insufficient knowledge, skills, competencies or organizational capacity and can be addressed through the provision of learning support, whichincludes training activities, but also mentoring, coaching and blended learning.

The report analyses and summarizes the main learning needs and gaps of key stakeholders which would allow a successful acceleration of GGW implementation on the ground. It presents existing strength and assesses capacitiesof actors and identifies 29 learning needs critical to GGW implementation. These needs are organized into six domains:

1.     Technical learning needs and adoption of good practices for large-scale land restoration and rehabilitation: Stakeholders require training in advanced land restoration approaches and methods, including efficient rainwater harvesting, restoration seed collection (in required quality and quantity), native species propagation techniques, nursery seedlings production and planting and direct seeding techniques.

2.     Process learning needs to design processes of stakeholder engagement and collaborative projects planning and delivery.

3.     Innovative monitoring and evaluation (M&E) learning needs including database establishment and management, biophysical and socio-economic baselines and progress on interventions and actions against desertification: Emphasizes the need for robust monitoring systems (in the field and digitally), using remote sensing tools and socio-economic indicators.

4.     Value chain development of NTFPs learning needs for products development, sustainability and marketing: Focuses on enhancing market potential through business planning, producer association development, and the sustainable exploitation of non-timber forest products, like gum arabic, honey, balanites, etc.

5.     Managerial and coordination learning needs for institutions and community organisations: Encompasses community mobilization, conflict prevention, and local integration of restoration efforts. Activities include community mobilization and sensitization, setting up management committees, negotiation, stakeholder engagement, and developing bankable projects that attract innovative funding sources such as carbon finance and private investments.

6.     Institutional learning needs of stakeholders to navigate across policy networks and spaces of decision making.

The summary report also proposes learning activities and resources that can contribute to answer these gaps and needs. Where relevant and not available within FAO and CIFOR-ICRAF, potential implementing, facilitating and supporting partners have been identified.

Key learning activities identified include technical workshops and trainings such as on large-scale land restoration techniques, mechanized land preparation using the Delfino plough for soil permeability and efficient rainwater harvesting, restoration seed collection and species propagation, land management techniques, orthe use of new technologies, such as agricultural drones for direct seeding at scale. Further examples include training on the use of data collection tools such as FAO’s Collect Earth for biophysical data collection and analyses, Kobo Collect for household-level digital data collection and the GGW land restoration monitoring App for assessing success or failure of restored lands.

By addressing these learning needs, the K4GGWA project seeks to build the capacity of the wide range of GGW stakeholders, ensuring effective and successful implementation for greater achievement of the Great Green Wall’s overall objectives.