Transforming Lives and Landscapes: ACReSAL Wins World Bank and Stakeholders’ Praise at the Marketplace

The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project has emerged as a flagship initiative for land restoration, water conservation, and livelihood improvement across Nigeria’s semi-arid regions. Since its launch in 2022, the project has made significant strides in delivering on its objectives, with stakeholders and beneficiaries alike praising its impact.

Aligning with the Federal Government of Nigeria’s initiative to restore four million hectares of degraded landscapes by 2030, ACReSAL aims to deliver one million hectares of restored land. Impressively, the project has already achieved 84.3% of its target, with 843,889 hectares restored through interventions such as afforestation activities, civil works, drainage desilting, and irrigation activities.

The project’s impact extends beyond environmental sustainability, with over 275 tractors distributed across 14 states, increasing harvest yields and reducing labor and time for farmers. In the Federal Capital Territory, proceeds have reached over N9 million, while Benue State has recorded N5 million. Additionally, 724 solar-powered boreholes have been drilled, providing access to water, reducing farmer-pastoralist conflicts, and improving hygiene and economic activities in communities.

The Project Community Revolving Fund (CRF) activities have commenced, benefiting 361 communities and 18,371 individuals, who have invested in agriculture value chain activities that contribute to sustainable environment and community livelihoods. With 8,708,191 beneficiaries, including 4,120,649 women (47%), ACReSAL’s impact is far-reaching.

At the recent ACReSAL Marketplace event in Abuja, stakeholders and beneficiaries gathered to showcase results, impacts, technology, lessons learned, and provide an evidence-based update of actual implementation activities happening on the ground across states.

Dr. Joy Agene, Senior Environmental Specialist at the World Bank and Task Team Leader for ACReSAL, described the Marketplace as a platform where huge investments are saving millions of hectares of land in targeted watersheds.

“It is where huge investment is saving millions of hectares of land in targeted watersheds,” she said. According to her, the model also applies innovative technologies to conserve water in drylands, enabling communities to produce, sell, and generate income despite climate constraints.

World Bank’s Environment Practice Manager, Mrs. Ellysar Baroudy, commended ACReSAL’s impact, calling it an example within the Bank’s global portfolio. “I am impressed with the passion and energy with the results I have seen. Very striking seeing the before and after photos of what the project has been able to do. ACReSAL has been a glowing example within the World Bank portfolio. When we are discussing finance at the World Bank, we look at results and how things can continue, ACReSAL has shown results and deserves all the applause.”

The National Project Coordinator, ACReSAL, Abdulhamid Umar, emphasized that the heart of ACReSAL lies in its people-centered design, touching the lives of many, especially vulnerable groups in rural communities.

Similarly, Dr. Segun Babarinde of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation lauded the collaborative efforts of states and stakeholders in pushing the project forward.

Mr. George Stanley from the Ministry of Finance affirmed that ACReSAL interventions have delivered results across agriculture, environment, and water resources, improving resilience and livelihoods through wide-ranging interventions carefully implemented by institutional partners. “In special terms, the project has improved resilience and livelihoods through wide-ranging interventions carefully implemented by institutional partners,” he said.

Beyond government and donor voices, traditional rulers and communities also testified to the tangible benefits. The Etsu of Kwali, His Royal Highness, Luka Ayodee Nizassan 111, said: “The project has come to terminate hunger in our community. The intervention has impacted us for good and I want to say the World Bank has invested rightly.” He congratulated the World Bank for investing in a noble venture ‘ACReSAL’, congratulated the government of Nigeria for pulling the necessary human resources to coordinate the intervention and congratulated everyone who is in the field for ACReSAL for the results we have recorded.

For the Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC), ACReSAL has been pivotal in strengthening institutional capacity. Its Executive Director, Dr. Abdulmumin Aminu-Zaria, revealed that the project has enabled the preparation of 20 Strategic Catchment Management Plans (CMPs) covering Nigeria’s five Northern Hydrological Areas. He also pointed to the establishment of a Hydrological Modelling Centre, which now supports decision-making on water allocation, flood control, and drought response.

“These initiatives have significantly improved our ability to adopt Integrated Water Resources Management practices,” Aminu-Zaria explained. “The Commission deeply values this partnership and remains committed to ensuring these interventions deliver lasting benefits to both people and the environment.”

The Abuja event, themed “ACReSAL Stakeholders Engagement/Marketplace,” brought together representatives from the World Bank, federal ministries, state governments, development agencies, Traditional Institutions, local communities and NGOs. Together, they celebrated ACReSAL’s progress and reaffirmed their commitment to building resilient landscapes, sustainable water governance, and better livelihoods for millions of Nigerians.

During a tour around the exhibition booths where communities beneficiaries showcased their outputs and produces, there were countless testimonies of transformative changes in the lives, livelihoods, environment and agricultural yields from beneficiaries.

As part of the project sustainability plan, Catchment Management Plans are being developed, alongside policies that promote effective natural resource management in key areas such as water conservation, land restoration, and climate resilience. These policies are crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainability of project interventions, improving agricultural productivity, enhancing livelihoods, and promoting environmental sustainability.

The development of these policies will provide a framework for coordinated efforts, informed decision-making, and effective implementation of sustainable practices.

Again, ACReSAL project is providing relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) with technology, capacity-building support, and operational tools to strengthen their operations and ensure lasting impact.

ACReSAL Marketplace is an energy hub of development as put by a stakeholders

In conclusion, ACReSAL’s impact is a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, resilience, transformation and community-driven development. With its people-centered design and focus on sustainability, the project has improved lives, landscapes, and livelihoods across Nigeria’s semi-arid regions.

As aptly described by Dr. Ellysar Baroudy, the World Bank’s Environment Practice Manager, ACReSAL has been a shining exemple within the World Bank portfolio. ‘When discussing finance at the World Bank, we look for results and sustainability. ACReSAL has delivered on both fronts, and it truly deserves all accolades.

ACReSAL….greening the environment, saving live.