Greening the Sahel, Building Resilience and Fostering Peace: Examining the Transformative Role of the Great Green Wall Initiative

Chikaodili Orakwue, University of Johannesburg (South Africa)

The Sahel region stands at an unstable crossroads, where the deteriorating impacts of climate change, desertification, resource scarcity, and land degradation expose communities to vulnerability, tension and conflict. This research argues that the Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI) presents a groundbreaking, although underexplored, opportunity to bridge this gap. It moves beyond the common perception of the GGWI as merely a reforestation and afforestation strategy against land degradation, but repositions it as a potential strategy for environmental peacebuilding. This study assesses the peacebuilding potential of the GGWI by examining how its intervention projects and activities actively foster the conditions for community resilience and peace. The study focuses on how land restoration can contribute to the development of sustainable livelihoods, enhance food security, and mitigate conflict between crop farmers and cattle breeders.

Additionally, the GGWI can foster community cooperation and social cohesion through active participation, including governance at the local and regional levels, by promoting collaboration and partnership for stability. Findings, drawn from qualitative methodology, suggest that the GGWI integrated approach offers a pathway to community resilience. The research concludes that the true success of the Great Green Wall will be achieved not only by the number of trees planted by implementing Agencies, but also by its ability to sow the seeds of lasting peace, security, and resilience to climate change across the region.