AFR100

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AFR100, the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative, is a pan-African partnership that brings together African countries, donors and investors, businesses, technical groups, and local communities. Its goal is to restore more than 100 million hectares of land in Africa by 2030 to boost food security, reduce poverty, and help the continent cope with climate change. It is part of the Bonn Challenge, which aims to restore 150 million hectares by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030. By late 2021, commitments had already surpassed the target, coming from 31 African countries.

Planning for AFR100 began in September 2015 at the 14th World Forestry Congress in Durban, South Africa, and the plan was endorsed by an African Union technical committee in October 2015. It officially launched in December 2015 during the Global Landscapes Forum at the UN Climate Change Conference, with partners including NEPAD, BMZ, and WRI. The New Partnership for Africa’s Development hosts AFR100’s secretariat, which coordinates political support, technical help, investments, and knowledge sharing, and serves as the central hub for program monitoring. It also liaises with Africa’s Regional Economic Communities and handles outreach and communications.

The secretariat manages meetings and budgets, and oversees member recruitment. The Management Team, which confirms budgets and new members, includes BMZ, GIZ, IUCN, NEPAD, the World Bank, and WRI. Technical and financial partners can join working groups to provide knowledge and support; they gain access to program data and can use AFR100 as a test platform, with some compensation for specific requests. Working groups are largely self-organizing and operate virtually, welcoming partners from countries, donors, and the private sector.

The AFR100 partner meeting, held annually in a different member country, gathers representatives from all partner groups and includes donors, media, and other stakeholders. It serves as the main forum for sharing results, plans, and public information, and helps build connections and knowledge between partners. Members serve two-year terms, with the Secretariat proposing new members and the Management Team approving them, in order to support advocacy, partnerships, and strategic planning.

AFR100 operates under eight guiding principles and focuses on three main land-use categories: fully forested land, agricultural land, and protective or buffer lands. Fully forested land involves silviculture to restore forests. Land without forests can regenerate naturally or be actively managed as productive forests. Partially forested agricultural lands can be restored through fallow practices or agroforestry, where trees are grown with crops at varying densities. Buffers include mangrove and other wetlands for biodiversity and storm protection, and protective strips along steep slopes and watercourses to reduce erosion and flooding.