SOS Sahel launches Acacia 3 pilot to restore land and boost rubber production

SOS Sahel launched the pilot phase of the Acacia 3 program in N’Djamena, Chad, on November 5, 2026.

The organization began the project with support from the French Embassy in Chad to expand agricultural and environmental restoration efforts across the country. The pilot phase focuses on the Awiya and Dourbali sites in the Chari-Baguirmi province. This new stage expands the scope of the program to six provinces, including Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Batha, Wadi Fira, Hadjer-Lamis, and Kanem.

The initiative utilizes Agricultural Service Centers and the development of Sahelian agroforestry hedges to help sequester carbon while supporting local farmers. Guillaume Doulkom, the Country Director for SOS SAHEL International in Burkina Faso, explained that the program combines acacia trees with market gardening. This approach allows producers to earn an income during the first seasons of growth, rather than waiting for the first gum arabic harvest.

The project aims to align with national goals for land restoration and the Great Green Wall initiative. The French Embassy and the company Nexira co-financed the project. Gaëtan Pellan of the French Embassy stated that the goal is to prove the success of this pilot to encourage international donors to fund more agricultural service centers.

Idriss Oumar Idriss of the Ministry of Finance noted that the program supports the Vision 2030 plan by using the gum arabic sector to diversify the economy and build climate resilience.