Launched in 2007 by the African Union, the Great Green Wall initiative was designed to create a green barrier across the Sahel region, stretching from Senegal in the west to Djibouti in the east. Its original goal was to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land and create ten million green jobs by 2030. However, as of 2024, the project has restored only 18 million hectares and generated 350,000 jobs—far short of its ambitious targets. A 2020 report by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification noted that only four million hectares had been planted by that year, and an official 2019 report indicated that just 72,450 hectares were planted in that single year alone. The initiative has encountered numerous obstacles, including inconsistent funding, ongoing armed conflicts, and poor coordination among the 11 participating countries. Only Senegal and Ethiopia have shown strong commitment to the project, while others have made limited progress. Two independent evaluations conducted in 2023—one by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the other by Transparency International—pointed out serious institutional and governance issues that have hindered the initiative’s effectiveness. Despite these challenges, the Great Green Wall has evolved from a concept of a continuous line of trees to a more practical approach that involves a mosaic of productive landscapes. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) now describes the initiative as an integrated ecosystem management strategy, focusing on sustainable land use, natural vegetation recovery, and improved water conservation. This shift reflects a more realistic and adaptable approach to restoring the region’s environment. Financial support has been mobilized, with the French Development Agency contributing nearly 501 million euros between 2021 and 2024—over 80% of the 600 million euros pledged during the One Planet Summit in 2021. However, turning these funds into actual land restoration has proven difficult. Some areas, however, have seen success. A cost-benefit analysis published in the journal Nature Sustainability found an average return of 1.2 dollars for every dollar invested in land restoration. In several regions, the cultivation of shea nuts has provided concrete income to local communities. The project’s monitoring has also improved, with the Great Green Wall Observatory now tracking more than 300 projects across the affected area.