This document discusses land degradation in Africa and strategies to address it. It provides background on causes and impacts of land degradation. It then summarizes recent policy responses and projects to promote land restoration and sustainable land management. Going forward, it calls for a more integrated approach aligned with Agenda 2063 and the SDGs. This includes support for nexus projects and a strengthened TerrAfrica partnership to provide technical support while respecting priorities of member states. The conclusion emphasizes the severity of land degradation challenges and the need for enhanced capacity and assistance to strengthen the African Union Commission's leadership role.

1. “Enhancing agricultural transformation and
environmental sustainability for food security and
employment for Africa’s Youth”
16th TERRAFRICA Executive Committee
Meeting
3rd -5th November 2017
Bonn
The emerging global and continental
political vision and agenda for
addressing DLDD

2. OUTLINE
1. Background on Land Degradation
2. Extreme Climatic conditions and Shattering impact of
extreme in the 60s, 70s, 80s & Responses

3. Background on Land Degradation
Land degradation is any process in which leads to
change in the condition of the land which reduces its
productive potential. This includes the loss of topsoil,
the loss of vegetation and increasing soil salinity. ...
Factors that have contributed to land degradation
include: a combination of human-induced processes
acting upon the land & natural causes to a lesser
extend.
Picture:JLL:AfricaUnionHub@
2016

4. Causes of land Degradation

5. Impacts of Land Degradation
Results of Land Degradation
unfertile soil, and limited retention of
water and nutrients.
the energy, nutrient and water cycles are
damaged or dysfunctional
 productivity is low.
 the soil surface may be unstable due to
soil erosion which pre runs plant
establishment
Can lead to desertification
 These are very real and at times severe
issues.
The effects of soil erosion go beyond the
Impacts and Degradation
• Social
• Environmental
• Economic

6. Land restoration
‘
Land restoration:
Land restoration is the process of ecological
restoration of a site to a natural landscape and
habitat, safe for humans, wildlife, and plant
communities
Aspects successful restoration by
• good understanding of the site conditions and the
barriers that impede the system's self recovery.
• Clear goals and objectives that are agreed upon
among the different stakeholders help us to choose
the right interventions that speed up and direct the
restoration towards our goals
• Adaptive management that allows timely
adjustments of plans and interventions, if things do
not go according to plan, is also an essential
component of successful restoration projects.

7. History: Early occurrence, impacts &
responses to extreme Climatic conditions
1. Extreme climatic conditions
with dire impacts Early 60s,
70s and 80s
2. RESPONSES
• Humanitarian
• Green belts
• Country based
• Very Limit in Scope
First Regional political efforts
CILSS in the Sahel etc.

8. History
“Enhancing agricultural transformation and environmental sustainability for food security and employment for
Africa’s Youth”
In Africa then
Politics was the
order of the day
• Independence
• Apartheid
• Advent of so
called
Democacy ,

9. The Circum Sahara region esp. Sahel
“Enhancing agricultural transformation and environmental sustainability for food security and employment for
Africa’s Youth”

10. Advent of the Rio Convention and
triplets and modern Environmental
Diplomacy
• Advent of the
devastating impacts
of Climate change
and exacerbation of
known challenges of
DLDD
• Compromise of
Reversal of earlier
efforts
• Need for more
robust and global

11. Lake Chad exemplifies the degree of the problem
and challenges in solving them
“Enhancing agricultural transformation and environmental sustainability for food security and employment for
Africa’s Youth”

12. Click to edit Master title styleMore awareness , Call for paradigm shift eed for more
regional approach to combat the challenges
Change in
political
landscape
Failures of the
earlier responses
and increase in
the challenges
The RIO
Conventions
The role of
NGOs and
Development
partners
Establishment of
first Regional
programs

13. Click to edit Master title styleMost Recent policy responses to THE IMPACTS DLDD &
Climate change
1. Setting up of NEPAD ( NPCA )
TERAFRICA Partnership :
• Mainstreaming of the DLDD
• Garnered Regional and National Political
interest
• Development of Plans
2. Setting up of Great Green Wall for Sahara
and Sahel initiative
3. The Bonn Challenge,

14. Increase in known challenges and
emergence of NEXUS Impacts

15. Current projects/ programmes on Land degradation
GGWSSI
RES
AD SOS
CAR
I
ENDA
DRYNET
• Evergreen Network
• Climate Smart Agriculture Network
• Land Care networks
• Conservation Agric Networks
Africa
Land
Policy
Centre

16. Shortcoming identified in the sector
“Enhancing agricultural transformation and environmental sustainability for food security and employment for
Africa’s Youth”
Thematic level :
Fragmentation,
little correlation
Silo approach/
many small
projects
Political
leadership gaps
Narrow interpretation of the
problems
Very
inadequate
resources
Prioritization
at the National
levels
Inadequate
support for
UNCCD
Short termism
Capacity gaps /

17. Current Global and Continental strategies & policies
that will influence future DLDD
Africa
Regional
Strategy on
DRR Sendai
framework for
DRR 2015-
2030 be borne
in mind
The AGENDA
2063:
aspiration 1
and Goal 7
Peace and
security
concerns
AU
institution
al
reforms:
The
future of
AUC /
NEPAD

18. Current Global and Continental strategies that will
influence future DLDD
“Enhancing agricultural transformation and environmental sustainability for food security and employment for
Africa’s Youth”
SDGs
Goal 15
& 15.3
LDN
Launchi
ng of
LDN
Fund
Paris
Agreemen
t with its
NDCs One Belt
One Road
GREEN
Climate Fund

19. Continental political orientation on DLDD
Emerging Continental policy strategies for addressing LD
1. Thematic
• Nexus Projects – WEF
• Recognition of LDN as tool for implementation
of LD on the continent & make use of the
opportunities of the LDN Fund
• Undertake Landscape approaches : ( Sustainable
Land Management )
• Focus to also be shifted on Watersheds
management
• Multi sectorial and multi ministerial approach in
the Member states

20. Continental political orientation on DLDD
2. Project / Programme implementation Approach
 Large scale sustainable Land Management and restoration
 Promote Strong Collaboration between all projects and initiatives
 Forge stronger links with Paris Agreement, UNCCD & CBD
 Projects and programmes in LD should be continental wide and focus
on investments and solving real challenges in MS
 Projects / initiatives should support the enhancement of
negotiation capacity in global negotiations and enhance the
attainment African Common position esp. in UNCCD negotiations

21. 3. Continental Policy level
 Implementation of the LD should clear show alignment with AU
AGENDA 2063 , SDGs
 Projects and initiatives aimed at supporting AU resolutions be
undertaken under the supervision of the AU organs, Agency and the
AUC responsible for coordination and reporting to the Summit and
& The Specialised Technical Committee
 Bilaterals with member states on the implementation of projects
in support of AU resolution should be undertaken under the
Supervision of AU Agency and AUC
 Seek to Work closely with the RECs and their organs

22. . Continental Policy level
 Projects and programmes implemented in support
of AU resolution should support AU Agencies and
AUC in it their Coordination, supervision
Knowledgement and reporting duties , and
especially to continue to influencing continental
and Global Policies
 On financial mechanism, the AU Strongly believes,
after listening to its MS that there is a need for it
to be more inclusive
“Enhancing agricultural transformation and environmental sustainability for food security and employment for
Africa’s Youth”

23. Advocacy
Take advantage of Recognised Events to advocate for
DLDD
• Africa Union Days
• The Africa Environment and Wangari
Maathai Day
• The African Dry land Week
• The Regional Steering Committee of the
GGWSSI

24. The Future of TERRAFRICA
The TERRAFRICA Partnership Platform has been
crucial in promotion and advocacy that have
brought Land issues in the limelight generally
The Partnership has been instrumental the
mainstreaming of SLM & restoration in domestic
policies in the Member states
 The AUC strongly believes that the work of
TerrAfrica remains very relevant considering the
emerging policy and thematic issues
“Enhancing agricultural transformation and environmental sustainability for food security and employment for
Africa’s Youth”

25. Future of TA
 To enable the platform to be more efficient and able to
contribute in seeking sustainable solution to the current
increasing and multi faceted challenge related to land and soils ,
AUC proposes
 A robust TA with stronger mandate & Autonomy to undertake its
objectives
 The TA platform to work according the needs of Ms, priorities of the
MS and in closer collaboration with the AUCs GGWI unit
 The implementation of the programme be undertaken within the
strategic documents and approaches adopted my the MS through
the AUC

26.  The TA continue to provide technical support to the MS while
supporting the AUC’s GGWI Unit to undertake its coordination
and reporting rule as per the mandate of the AU
 The TA should be robust and flexible enough to be able to adapt
and able to absorp emerging issues
 At the level thematic areas ,
 Land restoration, and SLM remains the focus but the platform
should be able to support nexus projects

“Enhancing agricultural transformation and environmental sustainability for food security and employment for
Africa’s Youth”

27. Conclusion
DLDD and impacts will continue to be more
severe in the foreseeable and may be worse
 The AU C recognizes the challenges it has faced in
playing the leadership role as the main political
body of the continent.
The Commission commits to step up its acts and
endeavor to play its role as per its mandate.
there is an urgent need for assistance and support
to enhance the capacity for the Commission to
effective play its role
“Enhancing agricultural transformation and environmental sustainability for food security and employment for
Africa’s Youth”

28. Conclusion
 The AUC will work with its MS to ensure a more streamlined and
multi sectorial approach Restoration and SLM sector
 The role of the GGWI unit in maintaining the Agenda of restoration
and SLM cannot be emphasized , so far the unit remains unique in its
role and its influence and mandate is recognized , supported and
playing increasing important role in supporting comprehensive
development of development strategies especially in Peace and
Security, Climatne change and
“Enhancing agricultural transformation and environmental sustainability for food security and employment for
Africa’s Youth”

29. Conclusion
 The AUC is not in competition with any other institution,
the role and mandate of the Commission is clear, and as
far as DLDD is concern the value proposition is to keep up
with its support to MS, RECs & Partners and to ensure that
the Position and interest of the continent are highlighted
and supported at the highest level
 Keep the Issues of DLDD at the highest Political level
 The DLDD sector is now determinant in global politics and
Finance, meaning the sector is getting very interesting in
a positive way , and we hope to work closely for the next
Terrafrica , TerrAfrica 2.0
“Enhancing agricultural transformation and environmental sustainability for food security and employment for
Africa’s Youth”

30. THANKS/ SHUKRAN/ ABREGADO
“Enhancing agricultural transformation and environmental sustainability for food security and employment for
Africa’s Youth”