Our mission
The Sahel Integrated Resilience Programme (Sahel IRP), led by WFP and partners, is dedicated to restoring ecosystems and supporting vulnerable communities across Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. Operating in areas near conflict and protracted food insecurity, Sahel IRP brings together diverse populations, including displaced communities, to promote social cohesion and reduce humanitarian needs. It addresses land degradation and food insecurity through soil and water conservation, agroforestry, and regenerative practices. Community-centered planning revitalizes degraded land and strengthens resilience, equipping people to become more self-reliant amid environmental and economic pressures.
The Sahel offers vast potential for transformative change. Its landscapes can be restored at scale, while its young population can drive progress when empowered. By fostering healthy land, sustainable livelihoods, and community-based systems, Sahel IRP supports long-term resilience, self-reliance, and inclusive development.
Classification
- Farmlands
- Forests
- Freshwaters
- Grasslands, shrublands and savannahs
- Urban areas, human settlements, gardens
- Increases Health & Wellbeing
- Mitigates Climate Change
- Protects Freshwaters
- Reduces Disaster Risks
- Safeguards Biodiversity
- Supports Livelihoods
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Employees140
VolunteersImpact
The Sahel IRP has achieved transformative results in restoring land and strengthening community resilience. Since 2018, it has reached 4 million people across 3,500 villages, restoring over 420,000 hectares of degraded land, 4,000 hectares of vegetable gardens, and 2,790 ponds – amongst others.
More than 2.2 million people contributed to soil and water conservation using zai pits, half-moons, stone bunds, as well as larger infrastructure like dykes, dams, and water-spreading weirs. Hundreds of participatory planning exercises brought together diverse and displaced communities, mobilizing shared goals, strengthening social cohesion, and reducing resource conflicts (IFPRI, SIPRI).
These efforts intercepted an estimated 2.4 billion m³ of runoff, recharging about 475 million m³ of groundwater, and significantly increased vegetation cover (NASA/USAID). In 2022, over 80% of Sahel IRP-supported villages in Niger withstood severe food crises without humanitarian aid, demonstrating stronger self-reliance and reduced dependency.
Beyond land restoration, Sahel IRP invests in supporting social systems and safety nets, mainly through school-based programming and malnutrition prevention. These reduce pressure on natural resources and protect conservation efforts. Over 1.4 million children and women received nutrition support, and 900,000 children in 2,869 schools get school meals, supporting health, education, and human capital.
Partnering with the Sahel University Network (REUNIR), Sahel IRP trains students in soil and water conservation, preparing local leaders for land stewardship and sustainable development. Its scale and context make Sahel IRP unique among land restoration efforts in crisis-affected areas, proving that integrated approaches can drive resilience and recovery in the Sahel.
