01. Libya's Great Man-Made River

Entirely funded by Libya, this is the world's largest irrigation scheme. Libya has tapped into underground reservoirs of over 35,000 cubic km of fossil water beneath the Sahara (Three Gorges Dam = 40 cubic km). Around 2 million cubic meters are delivered to coastal regions daily. At present extraction rates this water should last around 850 years.  

02. South African Solar Power Concentrating Project

Coal-dependent South Africa plans to construct a massive solar park in the sunny Northern Cape region. The first concentrating solar unit of 100 MW is proposed to be expanded to at least 1,000 MW and the whole project could expand to 5,000 MW, making this one of the biggest solar programs in the world.

03. Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

This African Union project is privately funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK Department for International Development. It aims to assist smallholder African farmers, mostly women, through innovative small-scale and applicable technology.

AGRA differs from the industrial green revolution model by using modern agro-ecological approaches. AGRA has attracted criticism for its support of genetic engineering and lack of consultation but nevertheless has potential to improve food production. 

04. The Greening of Kenya

Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai gained international fame as head of the Greenbelt Movement. This women's movement sought to address risks to ecological sustainability caused by removal of trees for fuel wood.

Despite state opposition the Greenbelt Movement has ecologically restored eroded and denuded areas, planting more than 40 million trees to date. This has improved rainfall patterns, daily life and productivity. Large sections of rain forest are presently being restored.

05. Inga Falls Hydroelectric Scheme – Democratic Republic of Congo

Inga Falls on the Congo River could produce over 37,000 MW/hours of electricity, twice as much as the Three Gorges Dam. Only a holding reservoir is required as the river runs strongly all year. There are two small, poorly maintained plants of 2,000 MW/hours in place.

While this mega-project is delayed due to economic and political instability, there is powerful political will to build what could become the world's biggest hydroelectric plant.

06. Railways as the Arteries of Africa

Africa has poor infrastructure but there are plans to link Africa east to west and north to south by rail. This would open up Africa's vast internal resources.

Challenges include the lack of standard gauge railways and funding. Links exist from South Africa to Zambia and from Tanzania to Zambia; the latter was built by China in the 1970s. Plans exist for an African Union of Railways initiative link from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia or Sudan in the east. Railways are the most environmentally efficient means to transport goods on land.

07. Transfrontier Peace Parks Through Africa

Africa remains comparatively ecologically pristine compared to the rest of the world. This is reinforced by the growth of massive Transfrontier Peace Parks through the continent.

Notable parks include the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park spanning South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, encompassing most of the Kalahari Desert, and the Kavango-Zambezi Park between Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia, which will be the size of Italy when finalized.

08. Solar Power for Europe From Africa

The threat of global warming has spurred EU banks, re-insurers, industries and politicians to support building massive solar energy parks in North Africa to provide power for Europe.

Known as the Desertec project, parks covering only 0.3 percent of the Sahara could provide sufficient capacity to power Europe. Massive direct current transmission grids are required but are technically feasible. Total estimated costs are around 600 billion euros.

09. The Great Green Wall of Chad

Unlike the Great Wall of China, built to repel human invaders, Chad faces the insidious enemy of desertification. A severe 2009 drought cost Chad a third of its livestock.

Like other nations bordering the Sahara, Chad needs to combat the southward spread of this desert, accelerated by overgrazing and climate change. The country has begun to plant a 1,000-km long and 15-km wide wall of drought resistant trees to combat the threat.

10. Organic Farming in Uganda

Uganda epitomizes self-sufficiency in food production. The capital, Kampala, produces nearly 70 percent of its food within its periphery. Ugandans realize that integrated agro-ecological farming achieves far greater productivity than industrial farming, producing more than 10 times more food per area.

The number of organic farmers has quadrupled over the past six years, doubling the area under cultivation, bringing in higher incomes through local and export markets, all palpably improving the local quality of life.

 Africa faces many green challenges but is full of solutions.

The writer is an environmental journalist based in South Africa