REGREENING AFRICA

Designer: World Agroforestry (Kenya); Collaborators: CARE International, Catholic Relief Services, Oxfam, World Vision (international); Sahel Eco (Mali); Locations: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia; Years: 2017–22

More than 80 percent of people living in sub-Saharan Africa are dependent on land, yet almost half of the land is degraded, making the soil vulnerable to droughts, storms, and nutrient deficiencies. This massive loss of productive land increases competition for dwindling resources, which can lead to migration and conflict. The Regreening Africa initiative was developed to meet this urgent challenge. Its mobile app tracks and disseminates local and scientific knowledge. Farmers can record and share their own proven regreening approaches and applied restoration efforts. Collected data is analyzed to adjust and optimize the sustainable practices underway.

The Regreening Africa mobile app helps farmers and extension agents collect data on key indicators of land restoration using easily identifiable icons. Image: Community, Fodder, and Tree Planting Icons (left to right), 2021; Designer: The Noun Project (United States), adapted by World Agroforestry (Kenya)