65 Years of Partnership With West Africa: Advancing Climate Justice

Why It Matters

By integrating community rights into climate‑responsive value chains, the partnership could reshape West Africa’s resource economy, driving sustainable growth and mitigating climate risks for investors and governments alike.

Key Takeaways

• Ford Foundation backs West African climate justice initiatives.
• Resource extraction threatens land, livelihoods, and cultural rights.
• Young activists receive support to co‑create sustainable futures.
• Policy influence aims to integrate communities into new value chains.
• West Africa faces both challenges and redemption opportunities.

Summary

The video marks the 65‑year partnership between the Ford Foundation and West African nations, highlighting a renewed focus on climate justice and sustainable development across the region.

Foundation officials note that despite abundant fossil fuels, minerals and forests, many communities remain in abject poverty as mining expands into forest reserves and regulatory reforms loosen protections. The resulting loss of arable land and cultural disruption underscores the tension between economic growth and environmental stewardship.

In Senegal, the foundation’s support has empowered young activists to understand their rights, mobilize against polluting projects, and co‑create alternative futures. Ford’s policy work has also contributed to national climate strategies, ensuring community voices are embedded in emerging value chains.

The initiative signals both a challenge and an opportunity: if West Africa can align resource extraction with inclusive climate policies, it could unlock socio‑economic benefits while preserving ecosystems, offering a model for other resource‑rich, low‑income regions.

Original Description

For more than six decades, the Ford Foundation has supported individuals and institutions creating a more just future for the people of West Africa. Today, as climate change reshapes value chains and strains natural resources across the region, communities are mobilizing to ensure the new green economy benefits everyone. We are proud to support their efforts.