Southern Africa has taken a decisive step towards unlocking large-scale investments 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.
Organized by South Africa through the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE), in collaboration with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Global Mechanism, the five-day workshop put forward a regional pipeline of projects and proposals ready for investment in Member States of the Southern African Development Community.
Held from 27 April to 1 May 2026, the workshop brought together governments, development finance institutions, private sector partners and regional bodies to accelerate the transition from policy commitments to bankable projects and programmes.
In contrast to traditional engagements focused on strategy and dialogue, the workshop was structured as a practical forum for investment and project development. Participants were equipped with tools to design, finance and implement bankable programs in land restoration, climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods.
Member States were given the opportunity to engage with the private sector, donors and funders on financing instruments, project concept development and matching of proposals with funding opportunities, culminating in a clear implementation roadmap following the workshop.
Key outcomes of the workshop include the development of a pipeline of priority project concept notes Southern African Development Community (SADC) The capacity to structure bankable and hybrid finance-ready projects among Member States, identification of regional and national investment gaps and priority intervention areas, among stakeholders was strengthened, and cooperation between governments, development partners and the private sector was enhanced.
Bernice Swarts, Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, stressed the importance of the shift from ambition to implementation.
Swarts said, “The Southern African Great Green Wall Initiative represents a significant opportunity to restore ecosystems while unlocking sustainable economic opportunities for our region. What is required now is not only commitment, but the ability to translate that commitment into investable programs that deliver real impact on the ground.”
Lewis Baker, Managing Director of the UNCCD Global Mechanism, underlined the role of partnerships and financing innovation.
“Through the Great Green Wall Initiative, we are seeing a shift towards integrated, multi-sector solutions that bring together public and private finance. Focusing on investment readiness is key to unlocking the scale of resources needed to transform landscapes and livelihoods,” said Baker.
The workshop also saw strong participation from financial institutions including the African Development Bank, the Climate Investment Fund and the Global Environment Facility, as well as private sector players on innovative financing models such as blended finance, carbon markets and nature-based investment instruments.
South Africa's hosting of the workshop strengthens its role in advancing biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management, climate resilience and sustainable development, while strengthening resource mobilization efforts 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, mobilizing financial resources and implementing prioritized interventions over the next six to 12 months. – SAnews.gov.za