African Development Bank highlights efforts in land degradation at CCD COP16
The African Development Bank showcased its critical strategies for combating land degradation and promoting sustainable land management during a key side event at the 16th Session of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16),
Titled ‘Scaling Up Land Restoration and Sustainable Land Use Planning: African Development Bank’s Contribution to Combating Land Degradation,’ the December 9 event spotlighted the Bank’s comprehensive approach to addressing environmental challenges across Africa, particularly focusing on land restoration, climate adaptation, and gender-responsive development strategies.
In his opening remarks, Anthony Nyong, Climate Change and Green Growth Director of the African Development Bank, stressed the urgent nature of land degradation. “Land degradation remains a pressing global challenge, particularly in Africa, where its impacts deeply affect food security, water availability, and economic stability,” he said, reiterating the Bank’s unwavering commitment to tackling these challenges. “Through strategic investments and innovative programs, we are restoring degraded lands, promoting sustainable practices, and strengthening the resilience of African communities. Together, we can build a greener, more resilient Africa.”
The Bank presented several transformative initiatives, including large-scale reforestation projects in the Zambezi basin, climate-smart agricultural programs under Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), and land tenure security efforts in the Horn of Africa. The discussions highlighted the critical role of women in sustainable development through projects like the Building Women’s Economic Resilience for Sustainable Peace Project in South Sudan, which aims to enhance women’s land rights and improve food security and resilience.
Maria Mareaelle Saguti, Chief Land Officer at the African Development Bank, articulated the Bank’s comprehensive strategy. “Harmonized land use planning and climate-smart strategies are essential to the Bank’s vision for inclusive green growth,” she explained. “These approaches drive resilience, protect ecosystems, and secure a sustainable future for Africa.”
Husna Mbarak, Land Governance Program Manager at the Food and Agriculture Organization, emphasized the importance of coordinated international efforts, citing collaborative work in Burkina Faso, Liberia, and Togo as exemplary models “where we are really promoting coordination among all the players, combining various approaches, and supporting countries in crafting their statements in a participatory manner.”
The event provided a vital platform for sharing insights and fostering partnerships to advance sustainable land use and restoration in Africa.
Cover photo: Panelists of the African Development Bank’s side event. From left: Anthony Nyong of the African Development Bank, Moise Mbimbe Nlom and the moderator Alain Christian Essimi Biloa of ILC Africa, Husna Mbarak of FAO, Maria Marealle of the African Development Bank and Colonel Baidy Ba, PNGF Senegal
