Southern Africa has taken a decisive step towards unlocking large-scale investment in land restoration, climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods, following the conclusion of the Southern African Great Green Wall Initiative (SA GGWI) Regional Capacity Building Workshop held in Johannesburg.
Hosted by South Africa through the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), in collaboration with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification’s (UNCCD) Global Mechanism, the five-day workshop advanced a regional pipeline of investment-ready projects and proposals across Southern African Development Community member states.
The workshop, held from 27 April to 1 May 2026, brought together governments, development finance institutions, private sector partners and regional bodies to accelerate the transition from policy commitments to bankable projects and programmes.
Unlike traditional engagements focused on strategy and dialogue, the workshop was structured as a practical platform for investment and project development. Participants were equipped with tools to design, finance and implement bankable programmes in land restoration, climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods.
Member states were also given an opportunity to engage with the private sector, donors and funders on financing instruments, project concept development and matching proposals with funding opportunities, culminating in a clear post-workshop implementation roadmap.
Key outcomes of the workshop include the development of a pipeline of priority project concept notes across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states, identification of regional and national investment gaps and priority intervention areas, strengthened capacity among stakeholders to structure bankable and blended finance-ready projects, and enhanced collaboration between governments, development partners and the private sector.
Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Bernice Swarts, emphasised the importance of shifting from ambition to implementation.
“The Southern African Great Green Wall Initiative represents a critical opportunity for our region to restore ecosystems while unlocking sustainable economic opportunities. What is required now is not only commitment, but the ability to translate that commitment into investable programmes that deliver real impact on the ground,” Swarts said.
Managing Director of the UNCCD Global Mechanism, Louise Baker, underscored the role of partnerships and financing innovation.
“Through the Great Green Wall Initiative, we are seeing a shift toward integrated, multi-sectoral solutions that bring together public and private finance. The focus on investment readiness is key to unlocking the scale of resources required to transform landscapes and livelihoods,” Baker said.
The workshop also saw strong participation from financial institutions, including the African Development Bank, Climate Investment Funds and the Global Environment Facility, as well as private sector players engaging on innovative financing models such as blended finance, carbon markets and nature-based investment instruments.
South Africa’s hosting of the workshop reinforces its role in advancing biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management, climate resilience and sustainable development, while strengthening efforts to mobilise resources to address land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change.
The outcomes of the workshop are expected to inform the next phase of the SA GGWI, including refining project pipelines, mobilising financial resources and implementing priority interventions over the next six to 12 months. – SAnews.gov.za
