The African Development Fund has approved a grant of $9.48 million to support the Community and Ecosystem Resilience and Adaptation in the Wetlands of the Sahel Catchment Basins Project. The funding, provided through the Climate Action Window, aims to strengthen climate resilience in key wetlands across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Senegal. These ecosystems face severe degradation due to unsustainable resource use, weak management systems and climate change impacts, which have undermined the stability of local agroforestry, pastoral and fisheries livelihoods.
The project’s first phase focuses on improving the conservation and sustainable management of fragile ecosystems. A detailed vulnerability assessment of eight targeted wetlands will be conducted with strong participation from local communities. Insights from this study will guide the selection and support of priority green economy activities, particularly those empowering women and youth groups.
The second phase promotes sustainable water resource management and boosts agroforestry and fisheries production. This will be achieved by strengthening community-level capacities and enhancing local governance structures to ensure more equitable and efficient resource use.
The third component strengthens the Climate Commission for the Sahel Region by improving local climate services and developing early warning systems. These upgrades aim to help communities better anticipate and respond to climate-related hazards, thereby reducing vulnerability.
The fourth component ensures effective project coordination through a regional Project Management Unit linked to the Climate Commission. This unit will oversee administrative, financial and technical management, facilitate regular governance meetings, and ensure careful planning, monitoring, performance evaluation and the sharing of best practices.
Implementation will span critical wetland areas in all four countries. In Burkina Faso, activities will focus on the Oubri and Kuilsé regions within the Volta and Niger basins. In Mali, the project will operate in Bougouni (Yanfolila), covering protected forests, wildlife reserves and wetlands. In Niger, interventions will target two Ramsar sites—Dallol Bosso and Mare de Tabalak—within the Niger basin. In Senegal, work will take place in the Senegal River Biosphere Reserve, particularly in the Saint-Louis and Dagana departments.
