27 February 2013: The World Bank has granted the “Green Team Award” to the Sahel and West Africa Program in Support of the Great Green Wall Initiative (SAWAP/GGWI), in recognition of its work in 12 African countries to address land degradation, climate change adaptation and mitigation, as well as biodiversity and forests.

SAWAP/GGWI is collaborative project between the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the World Bank which addresses: the integration of environmental aspects and natural capital in the development agenda; the inclusion a multi-stakeholder dialogue to ensure country ownership; and the deployment of scaled-up investments based on successful experiences on the ground. The programme is funded by $108 million in GEF grant resources, leveraging a co-financing of $1.8 billion dollars, and implementation is supported by the African Union (AU).

The award recognizes the excellency of the experts involved in the programme, which aims to expand sustainable land and water management in targeted landscapes and in climate-vulnerable areas in West African and Sahelian countries. [GEF Press Release] [Great Green Wall Initiative Website] [Publication: Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative]