FAO.org

The Great Green Wall is Africa's flagship initiative to combat climate change and desertification and address food insecurity and poverty. It can be a game-changer for Africa, transforming the lives of millions of people by creating a great mosaic of green and productive landscapes across North Africa, the Sahel and the Horn.

Endorsed by the African Union in 2007 as the ‘Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative’ (GGWSSI), it brings together more than 20 African countries with international organizations, research institutes, civil society and grassroots organizations.

The Great Green Wall must not be seen as a wall of trees to hold back the desert. This idea that initially inspired the initiative has given way to the vision of a mosaic of sustainable land use practices. At the same time, the wall is a metaphor to express the solidarity between African countries and their supporters.