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The Social Impacts of Sustainable Land Management in Great Green Wall Countries: An Evaluative Framework Based on the Capability Approach

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  • David O’Byrne

    (Centre for Sustainability Studies, Lund University, 22362 Lund, Sweden)

  • Altaaf Mechiche-Alami

    (Centre for Sustainability Studies, Lund University, 22362 Lund, Sweden
    Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, 22362 Lund, Sweden)

  • Anna Tengberg

    (Centre for Sustainability Studies, Lund University, 22362 Lund, Sweden
    Stockholm International Water Institute, Swedish Water House, 10055 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Lennart Olsson

    (Centre for Sustainability Studies, Lund University, 22362 Lund, Sweden)

Abstract

The Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI) is a pan-African program launched in 2007 to combat land degradation and bring about both ecological and socio-economic benefits in the Sahel. With projects in place on only one-fifth of the targeted land and uncertainty about the extent of positive impacts, there is a need for improved monitoring and evaluation of current projects to inform the design of future projects. In this paper, we focus on the evaluation of socio-economic impacts, drawing on development theory, to relate investments in sustainable land management (SLM) to outcomes in terms of human well-being. We deploy a conceptual model, which draws on both the capability approach to human development and the sustainable livelihood framework. To contextualize the framework to the Sahel, we undertook a literature review of scientific studies of the facilitative social conditions and socio-economic impacts of SLM interventions in four countries: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger and Ethiopia. We further refined the framework by examining project evaluation reports of Global Environmental Facility (GEF)-funded SLM projects. Our analysis of GEF projects shows that current monitoring and evaluation pays only limited attention to achieved outcomes in terms of well-being. We briefly discuss the application of the framework to SLM interventions and make recommendations for how it should be operationalized, including recommending more comprehensive measurement of the well-being impacts of these projects.

Suggested Citation

  • David O’Byrne & Altaaf Mechiche-Alami & Anna Tengberg & Lennart Olsson, 2022. "The Social Impacts of Sustainable Land Management in Great Green Wall Countries: An Evaluative Framework Based on the Capability Approach," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-26, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:3:p:352-:d:760044
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    1. Abou-Soufianou Sadda & Maud Loireau & Nouhou Salifou Jangorzo & Hassane Bil-Assanou Issoufou & Jean-Luc Chotte, 2023. "Standardized Description of Degraded Land Reclamation Actions and Mapping of Actors’ Roles: A Key Step for Action in Combatting Desertification (Niger)," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-17, May.
    2. Orou Sannou, Ramoudane & Guenther, Edeltraud, 2025. "Exploring the resource nexus between forest-based land restoration and food security: The case of the African great green wall initiative countries," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).

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