Transforming Climate Awareness Through Local Innovation

The “Cop Sahel, Sahara, Savane” initiative—launched in January 2024 in Ouagadougou—is a pioneering movement to elevate climate dialogue and grassroots climate action across the Sahel region. With investment support from the Green Fund, the program aims to spark community engagement around pressing climate issues, including desertification, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and sustainable infrastructure development. Spearheaded by local changemakers like Lanssina To, this initiative encourages young people and communities to engage in meaningful discussions and implement tangible environmental solutions.

Born from the vision inspired by COP27, the Cop Sahel platform is organized quarterly or annually and brings together civil society representatives from six West African countries: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Chad, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire. Through activities like reforestation campaigns, climate education, and local COP-style convenings, the initiative fosters behavioral change and public awareness. By integrating regional cooperation with on-the-ground action, Cop Sahel strengthens the climate movement across the Sahel and positions Burkina Faso as a leader in inclusive climate advocacy.