On 26 August, at the UN desertification conference in Mongolia, the Sahel resilience initiative received World Restoration Flagship recognition. By June 2026, the World Food Programme-led initiative covered more than 335,000 hectares under restoration and had benefited over four million people. [1][2]

The work spans Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. Soil restoration and water management go alongside support for livelihoods and school meals. The project’s profile describes practical techniques: water harvesting, agroforestry, small basins dug into the ground and stone barriers. [1][2]

The award recognises results already achieved, while the expansion planned by 2030 remains a target. In a region affected by conflict and food crises, making land productive again gives communities resources to cope with drought and other shocks. [1][2]