• Funding targets wetlands in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Senegal under a regional climate adaptation project.
• Project financed through the AfDF’s Climate Action Window, supporting ecosystem conservation, water management, and community resilience.
• Initiatives include early warning systems, sustainable agriculture, fisheries management, and strengthening local governance.

The African Development Fund (AfDF) has approved a $9.48 million grant for the Community and Ecosystem Resilience and Adaptation in Wetlands of the Sahel Catchment Basins Project. The funding, provided through the AfDF’s Climate Action Window, aims to strengthen the ecological protection of wetlands across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Senegal while supporting communities that rely on these ecosystems for agriculture, livestock, and fisheries.

The Sahel’s river catchments — including the Volta, Niger, and Senegal basins — face increasing pressures from climate change, population growth, and unsustainable land use practices. Wetlands in the region have been degraded by soil erosion, reduced vegetation cover, and declining water availability, threatening livelihoods, food security, and biodiversity.

The project is structured around four integrated components. First, ecosystem conservation efforts include vulnerability assessments of eight key wetland sites, community engagement, and support for green economy activities targeting women and youth. Second, sustainable resource management will improve water governance, expand agroforestry systems, promote responsible fisheries management, and strengthen village-level governance.

The third component focuses on climate services and early warning systems. The Climate Commission for the Sahel Region (CCRS) will enhance localized early warning mechanisms, improve climate data collection, and train local institutions to manage climate-related risks more effectively. The fourth component ensures project governance through a regional Project Management Unit under CCRS to coordinate activities, monitor performance, and share best practices across participating countries.

Country-specific interventions include the Oubri and Kuilsé regions in Burkina Faso, Bougouni in Mali, Dallol Bosso and Mare de Tabalak wetlands in Niger, and the Senegal River Biosphere Reserve. These initiatives target critical wetlands that support tens of thousands of households dependent on seasonal water resources for agriculture, fishing, and livestock management.

By Cynthia Ebot Takang