AGP Executive Report

Cross-Border Livestock: Burkina Faso and Togo agreed on joint checks to track livestock, verify documents and flag suspected theft, aiming to improve oversight of trade across their border. Mining Pollution: Burkina Faso customs seized hazardous substances, including mercury and cyanide, in a three-month anti-smuggling operation—chemicals that pose risks to people and the environment. Land Restoration: A new $78 million initiative aims to restore land and support livelihoods across Great Green Wall countries, including Burkina Faso. Mercury-Free Health Care: African experts are working to phase down mercury dental fillings, which can contaminate soil and water when installed, removed or discarded. Waste Skills: Researchers from Burkina Faso and other countries are developing postgraduate training in waste reduction, recycling and sustainable waste management. Farmer-Led Restoration: Yacouba Sawadogo’s decades of work in northern Burkina Faso turned degraded land into a thriving forest, showing how local knowledge and simple soil-restoration methods can help revive drylands.

Livestock Trade: Burkina Faso and Togo agreed on joint checks for cross-border livestock, including shared alerts for stolen or illegally sourced animals and better document tracking. Illegal Mining: Burkina Faso’s recent customs crackdown seized cyanide and mercury, chemicals often used in mining; a separate report highlights how gold smuggling across Africa drains public revenue. Food Systems: A new state-run rice mill in Bagré can process 100 tonnes of paddy daily, supporting local producers and reducing reliance on imported processed rice. Land Restoration: A US$78 million Great Green Wall programme will help Burkina Faso and eight other countries restore degraded land and support livelihoods. Sahel Regreening: The work of Burkinabè farmer Yacouba Sawadogo shows how traditional zaï planting pits and manure helped revive degraded land and grow a forest in Yatenga.

Climate-Smart Farming: A displaced person in Burkina Faso is growing vegetables in a soil-less garden after resettlement, an example of practical food production shared at an international sustainable-agriculture symposium. Land Restoration: A new US$78 million Great Green Wall programme will target 270,000 hectares of degraded land and support livelihoods for five million people across nine countries, including Burkina Faso. Waste Management: Burkina Faso is among the countries involved in a West African initiative to develop postgraduate training in waste reduction, recycling and sustainable management. Sahel Restoration: The late Burkinabè farmer Yacouba Sawadogo’s decades of work turning degraded land into forest offer a powerful local model for restoring drylands.

Environmental Law: Burkina Faso’s newly adopted penal code reduces prison terms for some environmental offenses while increasing fines, alongside its broader overhaul of criminal penalties. Food and Climate Risks: A looming global food shock—driven by disrupted grain and fertilizer supplies and a possible strong El Niño—could deepen food and water insecurity across the Sahel. Waste Management: A new regional postgraduate initiative involving institutions from Burkina Faso aims to train specialists in waste reduction, recycling and sustainable management. Land Restoration: A US$78 million Great Green Wall programme, including Burkina Faso, targets restoration of 270,000 hectares and improved livelihoods for five million people across nine countries. Sahel Reforestation: A profile revisits Burkinabè farmer Yacouba Sawadogo’s decades-long work restoring degraded land and growing a forest in the north.

Waste Skills: A regional university partnership involving Burkina Faso is developing postgraduate training in waste reduction, recycling and sustainable waste management, aiming to address a shortage of technical expertise. Land Restoration: A new US$78 million Great Green Wall programme will support Burkina Faso and eight other countries to restore 270,000 hectares of degraded land and improve livelihoods for five million people. Climate Displacement: Nearly four million people have been displaced across Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger—more than double the 2020 figure—with UNHCR citing attacks, climate shocks and funding shortages among the pressures. Local Conservation: Yacouba Sawadogo’s decades of work in northern Burkina Faso turned degraded land into a thriving forest, showing how locally rooted restoration can help revive Sahel landscapes.

Mercury Pollution: African experts meeting in Senegal are working to phase out mercury dental fillings, which can contaminate soil and water. Only 13% of countries in the WHO African Region had met the phase-down target by 2024. Restoring the Sahel: A new US$78 million Great Green Wall programme includes Burkina Faso among nine countries and aims to restore 270,000 hectares of degraded land and improve livelihoods for five million people. Local Example: Burkina Faso farmer Yacouba Sawadogo transformed degraded land in Yatenga into a forest spanning about 40 hectares, showing how local restoration can revive dry landscapes. Climate and Displacement: UNHCR says climate-related shocks are worsening a displacement crisis affecting 3.8 million people across Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Climate Finance: The Green Climate Fund has committed US$7.6 billion to Africa over the past decade, with future funding tied partly to countries’ readiness to present viable projects.

Land Restoration: A new US$78 million Great Green Wall programme will target 270,000 hectares of degraded land and support five million people across nine countries, including Burkina Faso. Local Example: Yacouba Sawadogo’s decades of digging planting pits and adding manure turned degraded land in northern Burkina Faso into a forest, a reminder of the power of locally rooted restoration. Sahel Displacement: Nearly four million people have been displaced in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger; UNHCR says climate-related shocks, attacks on civilians and funding shortfalls are deepening the crisis. Climate Finance: African women climate leaders are calling for dedicated funding to put gender commitments into action, warning that women and girls risk being left behind without it.

Land Restoration: A new US$78 million Great Green Wall programme will include Burkina Faso in efforts to restore 270,000 hectares and improve livelihoods for five million people across nine countries. Climate Finance: African women leaders are calling for dedicated funding to ensure climate action addresses women’s needs; the Green Climate Fund says Africa has received US$7.6 billion over the past decade, with more support dependent on countries presenting investment-ready projects. Displacement: Nearly 3.8 million people have been displaced across Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, UNHCR says, as climate shocks, attacks and funding shortfalls deepen the crisis. Weather Services: African meteorological leaders urge investment in weather monitoring and early warnings, noting the continent has major gaps in observation infrastructure.

Sahel Displacement: Nearly four million people have fled their homes across Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, more than double the 2020 figure. UNHCR cites attacks, climate-related shocks and funding shortfalls as pressures driving families from their livelihoods. Climate Finance: African women’s advocates are calling for dedicated funding to put gender commitments into climate action, while the Green Climate Fund says Africa’s share of future finance will depend on countries bringing forward investment-ready projects. Weather and Water: African meteorological leaders are urging investment in weather stations and early-warning systems to help communities prepare for climate risks. Burkina Faso is also among nine countries represented at a regional workshop in Benin this week on water, hygiene and sanitation.

Sahel Displacement: Nearly four million people have fled their homes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, more than double the 2020 figure. UNHCR says attacks, climate shocks and funding shortfalls are driving families from their homes; almost 500,000 Burkinabè refugees and asylum-seekers had sought safety in neighboring countries in 2026. Climate Finance: African women leaders are calling for dedicated funding to put the Belém Gender Action Plan into action, warning that climate commitments risk falling short without resources for women and girls. Weather and Early Warnings: African meteorological leaders say the continent has just 12.5% of the weather station coverage recommended by the World Meteorological Organization, leaving major gaps in climate data and early-warning systems. Funding for Africa: The Green Climate Fund has committed $7.6 billion to Africa over the past decade, but future allocations will depend on countries’ readiness with investable climate projects. Water and Sanitation: Burkina Faso will join delegates from eight other countries at a regional workshop in Benin on strengthening civil society’s push for water, hygiene and sanitation rights.

Sahel Displacement: Nearly 3.8 million people have been displaced across Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, more than double the 2020 figure. UNHCR says climate shocks, attacks on civilians and funding shortfalls are worsening the crisis and eroding livelihoods. Climate Finance: The Green Climate Fund has committed $7.6 billion to Africa over the past decade, but says more funding will depend on countries developing investment-ready projects. African women’s groups are also calling for dedicated climate finance to put gender commitments into action. Weather Preparedness: African meteorological leaders are urging investment in weather stations, climate data and early-warning systems, which support farming and disaster planning. Water and Sanitation: Burkina Faso is among nine countries set to discuss stronger civil-society advocacy on hygiene and sanitation at a regional workshop in Benin.

Climate Finance: African women are calling for dedicated funding to put the Belém Gender Action Plan into practice, warning that climate commitments will fall short without resources. The Green Climate Fund has committed $7.6 billion to Africa over the past decade, but says countries need investment-ready projects to attract more. Weather Readiness: African meteorological leaders are urging investment in climate stations and early-warning systems; the continent has only 12.5% of the weather station density recommended by the World Meteorological Organization. Sahel Food Security: The World Food Programme warns hunger is rising amid drought, conflict and displacement, with 10.5 million people expected to face hunger across five Sahel countries. Land Restoration: A regional initiative is backing locally led restoration that combines land recovery with community knowledge, rights and livelihoods.

Climate Finance: African women leaders are calling for dedicated funding to put the Belém Gender Action Plan into action, warning that climate commitments will fall short without resources. Resilience Funding: Ministers from climate-vulnerable countries want longer-term, affordable finance for clean water, health, education and infrastructure, amid debt pressure and repeated climate shocks. Green Climate Fund: The fund has committed $7.6 billion to Africa over the past decade and says countries need stronger project pipelines to attract more support. Weather Services: African weather agencies say the continent has major observation gaps and are urging investment in stations, data systems and early warnings to help protect lives and livelihoods. Sahel Restoration: Locally led land restoration is being promoted as a way to link climate action and nature with community knowledge and livelihoods. Food and Displacement: Conflict, drought and rising costs are driving hunger and displacement across the Sahel, including Burkina Faso; WFP warns millions face food insecurity.

Climate Finance: Climate-vulnerable countries are urging longer-term, affordable funding for resilience, including clean water, health and education. The Green Climate Fund has committed $7.6 billion to Africa over the past decade, but says countries need stronger project pipelines to attract more. Weather Services: African agencies are calling for investment in weather stations and early-warning systems; the continent has just 12.5% of the minimum station density recommended by the World Meteorological Organization. Land Restoration: Sahel initiatives backed by local organizations are putting communities’ knowledge and priorities at the center of efforts to restore land and strengthen climate resilience. Water and Sanitation: Burkina Faso will join regional civil-society groups in Benin to press for stronger hygiene and sanitation services, which remain underfunded across sub-Saharan Africa.

Climate Finance: The Green Climate Fund has committed US$7.6 billion to Africa over the past decade and unlocked more than US$4 billion for the coming year. Countries’ ability to secure more depends on preparing investment-ready climate projects. Weather Readiness: African weather agencies say the continent has only 12.5% of the minimum recommended weather-station density, leaving major gaps in forecasts and early warnings. Water and Sanitation: Burkina Faso is among nine countries represented at a regional workshop on hygiene and sanitation, areas still underserved across sub-Saharan Africa. Sahel Resilience: WFP warns that conflict, drought and rising costs are deepening hunger and displacement. Community-led restoration is also gaining attention for connecting land recovery with local knowledge and climate resilience.

Climate Finance: The Green Climate Fund has committed $7.6 billion to Africa over the past decade and unlocked more than $4 billion for investment next year. Countries’ share will depend on their ability to prepare bankable climate projects. Sahel Restoration: A UN-recognized resilience initiative highlights the value of locally led land restoration, with community knowledge and priorities central to building climate resilience. Climate Risks: New research warns that hotter conditions, erratic rainfall and flooding threaten Ghana’s wetland communities. Burkina Faso’s Naturama is among the project partners working on practical adaptation. Water and Sanitation: A regional workshop in Benin will bring together Burkina Faso and eight other countries to strengthen civil society advocacy, as nearly two-thirds of sub-Saharan Africa’s population lack basic hygiene and sanitation services.