Imagine an 8,000-kilometre corridor of green stretching across eleven countries from Senegal to Djibouti – restoring degraded land, creating jobs, improving food security and generating verified carbon credits.

This is the Great Green Wall initiative, supported by the African Development Bank and partners. It addresses land degradation, climate vulnerability and energy poverty while creating investable outcomes through nature-based solutions.

These projects represent what we call the double bottom line: financial returns alongside measurable environmental and social impact. The potential for youth-led jobs in the circular and green economy is substantial.

Blended finance models combining carbon revenues, grants and ecosystem payments are proving especially effective at building resilience at scale.

The Great Green Wall continues to grow. And so does the serious investment case around it.