There are many reasons for these setbacks. There has been an increase in political instability in the Sahel region, which has prevented any action in vast areas. The short-term nature of the project’s funding makes it hard to plan for the long term. There are insufficient human and financial resources in the environmental sectors of the target states, and a lack of viable markets for the products of tree-based businesses.

Another challenge is to integrate the key economic sectors in these regions. In many countries, farming is treated as a separate sector to ecological restoration, and is managed by a separate government ministry. Many development projects, too, are based on specific thematic sectors. This limits the effectiveness of some of the programme’s activities.

Looking to the future

The future of the project lies in increased innovation. For example, the project needs to encourage people to use renewable energy, replacing the traditional biomass energy from charcoal and wood with affordable alternatives like solar, thermal, wind and water.

It may be possible to use drones and artificial intelligence to monitor deforestation, and even to plant tree seedlings. The project needs to tap into indigenous knowledge, and use this to underpin new businesses. It needs to innovate in the ways it communicates and engage with communities, to help them see the value in regeneration, and to inspire them with a new vision for the future.

The Great Green Wall aims to encourage “ecopreneurship”, fostering businesses that use trees sustainably, and encouraging farmers to use sustainable methods. Tree products such as gum arabic, shea butter, baobab and tamarind are the mainstay of many families and communities, providing off-farm income and subsistence especially during the lean seasons. They have huge potential to generate more income and create decent jobs.

The project also needs to innovate in the way it raises funds, bringing in the private sector, impact investors and national investment. If it can harness the power of innovation, the Great Green 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.