(Gemini Audio)
Main points of the texts on a UNOWAS working group meeting, analytical means as to drought dynamics, and the policy implementation of the Great Green Wall
(sahara-sahel.org) – The Sahel region faces a complex crisis spanning security, climate, and policy implementation, all pointing to a need for more robust solutions.
The articel on the UNOWAS working group, WGWYPS-WAS, of which we republished a glimpse on sahara-sahel.org today, focuses on the socio-political and security dimensions of the greater region. It summarizes the 2025 annual meeting, which was dedicated to reinforcing commitments to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agendas. The core emphasis is on governance and inclusion, specifically strengthening the leadership roles of women and youth in peacebuilding and conflict prevention. The primary objective is to incorporate gender and youth perspectives into existing peace and security frameworks, recognizing that inclusive, coordinated efforts are essential to addressing the region’s complex security concerns.
The second text referenced, on SHAP-enhanced insights into drought dynamics, focuses on the climate drivers of instability. It details a study on the increasing variability and intensification of drought in the Sahel. Using climatic indices and Explainable AI (SHAP-based clustering), the research identifies significant regional drought intensification, particularly in the western and southeastern Sahel. Crucially, the study establishes that Global Mean Temperature (GMT) and the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool (IPWP) are the dominant factors escalating the drought risk. The implication is a direct, measurable climate threat that necessitates advanced water resource planning and effective climate adaptation strategies.
Finally, the article on the Sahel’s Great Green Wall, published in full by The New Humanitarian, offers a critical perspective on a major environmental policy implementation failure. The Great Green Wall initiative, intended to combat desertification and create jobs, is characterized as a “cautionary tale” due to poor performance, donor-driven mismanagement, and a lack of materialized results despite billions committed. The central critique is that foreign aid often bypasses native agencies, resulting in projects that lack local impact. This narrative highlights the immense difficulties of top-down environmental assistance and stresses the demand for more open, locally driven climate action.