The economic and social organization of rural societies has a high level of gender differentiation in terms of rights, activities and responsibilities. This interacts with other aspects of social stratification based on factors such as ethnicity, statutory groups, religion and level of wealth. Consequently, women do not represent a homogeneous category, but a group whose interests are sometimes conflicting and which are equally subject to power relations. Some observations:

• The division of work by gender is universal, but varies from one society to another as well as over time. Women are often assigned to jobs (such as unpaid domestic work) that are accorded less value both socially and economically.
• The organization of work is only marginally based on the strictly physical capacities of men and women. More so it arises from complex (...)

The pan-African Great Green Wall (GGW) is an initiative that was meant in 2007, the year of its launch, to involve the planting of a 15 km wide transcontinental forest belt running from Dakar to Djibouti. This major project was designed to combat desertification. The band of vegetation is to be as continuous as possible, but it may be rerouted if necessary to skirt around obstacles (streams, rocky areas, mountains) or to link inhabited areas (see www.grandemurailleverte.org)

Scientists have and are still being queried by people, NGOs and donors on the merits and feasibility of this project. In 2011, members of CSFD drew up a summary of scientific findings to help answer these questions.

This review can be downloaded at: www.csf-desertification.org/great-green-wall

This fact sheet summarizes the key points.

Three misconceptions should be (...)