Growing a world wonder 

The Great Green Wall is an African-led movement with an epic ambition to grow an 8,000km natural wonder of the world across the entire width of Africa. 

A decade in and roughly 15% underway, the initiative is already bringing life back to Africa’s degraded landscapes at an unprecedented scale, providing food security, jobs and a reason to stay for the millions who live along its path. 

The Wall promises to be a compelling solution to the many urgent threats not only facing the African Continent, but the global community as a whole – notably climate change, drought, famine, conflict and migration. Once complete, the Great Green Wall will be the largest living structure on the planet, 3 times the size of the Great Barrier Reef.

A Buena Vista Social Club meets Years of Living Dangerously, renowned Malian singer Inna Modja takes us on a music-driven journey of hope, hardship, and perseverance across Africa's ambitious Great Green Wall.

Improving millions of lives

The Great Green Wall is taking root in Africa's Sahel region, at the southern edge of the Sahara desert - one of the poorest places on the planet.

More than anywhere else on Earth, the Sahel is on the frontline of climate change and millions of locals are already facing its devastating impact. Persistent droughts, lack of food, conflicts over dwindling natural resources, and mass migration to Europe are just some of the many consequences. Yet, communities from Senegal in the West to Djibouti in the East are fighting back. 

Since the birth of the initiative in 2007, life has started coming back to the land, bringing improved food security, jobs and stability to people’s lives.

 
GGW_LINE_world4.jpg
green line-06.png
 

A GLOBAL SYMBOL

 

The Great Green Wall isn’t just for the Sahel. It is a global symbol for humanity overcoming its biggest threat – our rapidly degrading environment.

It shows that if we can work with nature, even in challenging places like the Sahel, we can overcome adversity, and build a better world for generations to come.

green line-06.png
 
 

Growing more than trees

More than just growing trees and plants, the Great Green Wall is transforming
the lives of millions of people in the Sahel region.    

The Great Green Wall makes a vital contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (known as the SDGs)
-  a global agenda which aims to achieve a more equitable and sustainable world by 2030.

 
01- Containing2.jpg

Growing a new world wonder across the entire width of Africa.

Growing fertile land, one of humanity’s most precious natural assets. 

Artboard 21 copy 10@0.5x.png

Growing a wall of hope against abject poverty.

Growing food security, for the millions that go hungry every day. 

Artboard 21 copy 11@0.5x.png

Growing health and wellbeing for the world’s poorest communities. 

Artboard 21 copy 12@0.5x.png

Growing improved water security, so women and girls don’t have to spend hours everyday fetching water. 

Artboard 21 copy 9@0.5x.png

Growing gender equity, empowering women with new opportunities.

Artboard 21 copy 14@0.5x.png

Growing sustainable energy, powering communities towards a brighter future. 

04- jobs.jpg

Growing green jobs, giving real incomes to families across the Sahel. 

Artboard 21 copy 5@0.5x.png

Growing economic opportunities to boost small business and commercial enterprise. 

GGW_ILLUSTRATIONS_WHITE-15.png

Growing a reason to stay
to help break the cycle of migration.
 

Artboard 21 copy 13@0.5x.png

Growing sustainable consumption patterns,
to protect the natural capital of the Sahel. 

Growing resilience to climate change in a region where temperatures are rising faster than anywhere else on Earth. 

Growing a symbol of peace in countries where conflict continues to displace communities. 

Artboard 21 copy 8@0.5x.png

Growing strategic partnerships to  accelerate rural development across Africa

Artboard 37@0.5x.png

Growing a symbol of interfaith harmony across Africa. 


Learn how the Great Green Wall directly supports the Global Sustainable Development Goals.