Special features

Tribune d’Asmaa Niang, Championne Sport4Land de la CNULCD pour la lutte contre la désertification Dans les communautés rurales du Maroc, les femmes sont en première ligne d’une crise grandissante. J’ai rencontré de nombreuses femmes qui affrontent chaque jour avec une détermination silencieuse, jonglant entre les responsabilités de prendre soin de leur famille et la lutte contre les dures réalités de la dégradation des terres. À mesure que la désertification progresse, leur quotidien devient plus difficile : les champs produisent moins, l’eau se fait plus rare, et le travail est de plus en plus éloigné. Ces femmes portent un lourd fardeau, mais restent souvent invisibles dans les politiques et décisions qui déterminent leur avenir. Sans terres fertiles, sans accès aux ressources et sans reconnaissance, elles se retrouvent seules à lutter sur un sol épuisé. Le coût de la désertification Partout dans le monde, la désertification érode silencieusement les moyens de subsistance ruraux – et le Maroc n’échappe pas à cette réalité. Dans ce pays, la dégradation des terres menace la sécurité alimentaire et les revenus de 1,5 million de ménages. Cette crise environnementale ne transforme pas seulement les paysages ; elle déstabilise les vies, creuse les inégalités, et pousse les plus vulnérables vers la pauvreté et le déplacement. On estime que le coût économique de la dégradation des terres dans la seule région arabe atteint 9 milliards de dollars par an. Aussi, cette crise ne touche pas uniquement la terre – elle frappe les personnes, les familles, et en particulier les femmes et les filles. Dans de nombreuses zones rurales, ce sont principalement les femmes qui cultivent la terre, nourrissent leur famille et maintiennent la vie communautaire. Mais bien qu’elles portent cette charge, elles se voient souvent refuser le droit fondamental de posséder la terre sur laquelle elles comptent. Dans la région arabe, 23 % des femmes travaillent dans l’agriculture, mais des millions n’ont toujours aucun droit légal sur les terres qu’elles exploitent. Au Maroc, seules 4,4 % des propriétaires fonciers sont des femmes. À mesure que la terre se dessèche, leurs options s’amenuisent – les exposant davantage à la faim, à la pauvreté, au déplacement et à la violence. Désertification : une histoire de résilience L’adversité – qu’elle vienne de la sécheresse ou de la discrimination – exige de la force. Pour moi, cette force est venue par le sport. Le judo m’a appris la discipline, la stratégie et la résilience – des compétences qui vont bien au-delà du tatami. Comme dans le sport, la vie exige de savoir se relever après chaque chute. Le sport peut être une force puissante d’émancipation, permettant aux femmes et aux filles de gagner en confiance, en autonomie et en espoir. C’est pourquoi je collabore avec la Fondation Yzza Slaoui, une ONG locale active à Tendrara – une ville désertique du Maroc confrontée à de graves défis sociaux et environnementaux. Ensemble, nous créons des opportunités grâce au sport, car dans la lutte contre la désertification, l’un des plus grands combats est mental. Le sport aide à forger l’état d’esprit nécessaire pour persévérer. Investir dans les femmes rurales Soutenir les femmes rurales commence par la reconnaissance de leur droit à la terre. Être propriétaire ne se limite pas à un titre légal – c’est une base de stabilité économique, d’autodétermination et de dignité. La campagne « Her Land » de la Convention des Nations Unies sur la lutte contre la désertification (CNULCD) est une initiative essentielle qui sensibilise aux droits fonciers des femmes et appelle à des politiques publiques inclusives. Il y a de l’espoir. Au Maroc, les femmes rurales luttent depuis plus de dix ans pour faire valoir leurs droits. Des réformes juridiques permettent désormais un accès égal aux terres collectives, et même les structures de pouvoir traditionnelles commencent à évoluer. Des familles qui s’opposaient autrefois à ces droits les soutiennent désormais. Ce progrès ouvre des portes vers la propriété, les opportunités et l’émancipation. Lorsque les femmes prospèrent, leurs familles et l’ensemble de la communauté s’élèvent avec elles. À propos d’Asmaa Niang La judokate sénégalo-marocaine Asmaa Niang est Championne Sport4Land de la CNULCD pour la lutte contre la désertification. Ayant lancé sa carrière sportive professionnelle à la fin de sa vingtaine, elle a été six fois championne d’Afrique et a représenté le Maroc aux Jeux olympiques de Rio 2016 et Tokyo 2021. Au-delà de ses performances sportives, Asmaa est une fervente défenseuse des droits des femmes rurales à travers la Fondation Yzza Slaoui. Elle est également fondatrice de Kintsugi-Vibes, une organisation dédiée au soutien en santé mentale des athlètes vulnérables et des communautés touchées par la désertification au Maroc. À propos de Sport4Land Sport4Land est une campagne mondiale lancée par la Convention des Nations Unies sur la lutte contre la désertification (CNULCD). Elle a pour objectif d’engager le monde du sport dans la lutte contre la dégradation des terres, la désertification et la sécheresse. Avec le changement climatique qui intensifie les sécheresses, les vagues de chaleur et la dégradation des sols, les répercussions ne se font pas seulement sentir sur les terrains de sport, mais aussi dans nos assiettes, nos moyens de subsistance et notre environnement commun. 

Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, discusses the environmental disaster that has occurred at the Aral Sea.

The sun beats down on the dusty streets of Bol, a small town on the shores of Lake Chad. As the locals go about their daily lives, the sounds of laughter and chatter fill the air. For many, living here is a constant struggle, threatened by drought, insecurity, and poverty. But against all odds, the people of Bol have shown remarkable resilience.   It all begins with the land. The Lake Chad region, home to approximately 30 million people, has been grappling with the impacts of drought and desertification for decades. Since the 1960s, the lake has shrunk by 90% due to climate change and overuse of resources. The arid land requires significant effort to cultivate and sustain livelihoods, yet the people of Bol have never lost hope. By finding new ways to farm and care for their land, they have learned to adapt to the changing climate and boost drought resilience.  One such solution is land restoration. Bol is one of the many communities along the Great Green Wall and has been actively involved in this Africa-led initiative spanning 11 countries across the continent, from Senegal to Djibouti. With the help of local communities, the Great Green Wall Initiative is restoring degraded land, creating a vital source of income for families and empowering women and youth.  “We have community farms that are supported by the Agency of the Great Green Wall by providing water and solar panels for the people to work the land,” says Abakar Thiéré, Head of the Lake Chad branch of the Great Green Wall Initiative. Head of the Lake Chad branch of the Great Green Wall Abakar Thiéré The Sahel region has long faced severe, complex security and humanitarian crises. The Boko Haram insurgency is one of the many threats facing the Sahel region. The story of Hassan Amad Muhamad, a resident of Bol, is a powerful example of the town’s resilience. Hassan escaped a life of violence and found hope and a new livelihood as a tractor driver in Bol after completing a three-year training programme. His story is emblematic of the town’s ability to overcome adversity and build a better future.  Hassan Amad Muhamad Similarly, the people of Bol have displayed their adaptability and determination in the face of environmental challenges. In response to the extreme drought affecting Lake Chad, they have collaborated with local authorities to develop innovative water management solutions. They have constructed underground cisterns and implemented drip irrigation systems, enabling them to grow crops even in the driest seasons. These techniques have provided essential food and income for families in the community. Central to Bol’s resilience is its strong sense of community. Women, in particular, have formed support groups, pooling resources and knowledge to help one another thrive. These groups have been critical in fostering economic empowerment and resilience in the face of adversity. “When we talk about Lake Chad, women matter. They are the first to get affected by all the crises surrounding the Lake. Men usually respond to the challenges by leaving. Women stay and take care of everything. Women have development of their knowledge in the face of these adversities, they have been resilience in the face of the challenges,” says Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim , President of the Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad (AFPAT).  Bol’s story is a remarkable testament to the power of resilience in the face of adversity. Through collaboration and innovation, the people of Bol have shown that it is possible to find hope and build a better future, even in the most difficult of circumstances.  This story is part of a series that seeks to shed light on community drought resilience strategies from various regions around the world. By showcasing these often-untold stories, we hope to inspire and share best practices with others facing similar challenges.   Recognizing the urgent need to shift from reactive to proactive approaches in tackling drought and its impacts, the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) was launched by the leaders of Spain and Senegal at the UN Climate Summit in November 2022, with 30 countries and 20 entities as founding members.   

The COVID-19 pandemic and climate change are stealing our future. But they have also opened and exposed us, as young people worldwide, to countless opportunities for digital possibilities and a more sustainable future. But will we really run with these opportunities and transform the world to the future we really want?

Green jobs present a sustainable solution to create better prospects for the growing young population of Africa, which represents 50 per cent of the continent’s population and is expected to double to more than 830 million by 2050.

Turkana in northern Kenya is one of the driest regions of the East African nation. This 77,000 square kilometre county receives an average of just 200mm of rain annually, compared to a national average of 680mm. And with three consecutive rain seasons failing since 2020, many residents are now faced with food scarcity, one of the painful effects of an ongoing  drought.  According to Peter Eripete, Turkana County’s Head of Public Service, the effects of drought are hardest felt by the residents who are mainly pastoralists. Their reliance on livestock means that when their livestock die, their income levels fall drastically, affecting entire families’ food security.   In Kangirenga Village in Katilu, an administrative Ward in southern Turkana, we found Lokutan Amaler preparing her only meal for the day - boiled maize. Food has been hard to come by for Lokutan and her family. “I had nothing to eat. All my food storage containers are empty. If I had not received this maize from a well wisher, I would not have had anything to eat today” Lokutan explained as she stirred the boiling maize in a cooking pot over a three-stone fire.   Traditionally, the Turkana people have always been dependent on their livestock for sustenance. Whenever they need to buy foodstuffs or household supplies, they sell a goat or cow at the market and with the money received, make the necessary purchases. But with the shortage of rains leading to a lack of pasture, many cows, goats and even camels have died, leading to a loss of income for many across this vast county. To get out of the recurring cycle of lack of food whenever drought visits, a few people have now diversified their sources of sustenance.  Lokutan has planted green grams a short walk from her home. Her garden is part of  a 10-acre agriculture project initiated by Panafricaire. Eunice Eseison, who coordinates the farming project for Panafricaire says “Convincing the residents to take up farming was an uphill task. Though a few saw the sense it made, it took us very long to convince many that farming was something they could do profitably because it went against their culture”.   But with time, those who enrolled in the project including Lokutan have seen the benefits after finding an alternative source of food at every harvest, and income when the excess is sold in the local market.  While the work done by organizations like PanAfricaire to mitigate the effects of drought are commendable, food security still remains a concern in Turkana. Greater investments are needed to have more land under cultivation with improved farming practices that will increase productivity from the land. This will allow greater year-round harvests for Lokutan and other farmers, ensuring that they are always cushioned from the harmful effects of the drought.