Côte d’Ivoire is stepping up efforts to protect its coastline, forests, and marine resources, aiming to place environmental policy at the center of its development model.
The country, home to some of West Africa’s most diverse ecosystems, faces mounting pressure from overfishing, pollution, and climate-related degradation. Yet, officials said these challenges are driving a national pivot toward sustainable growth.
Across the country, the shift is already visible. In regions where deforestation has erased more than 80% of natural forests in the last half-century, young farmers are replanting degraded land as part of restoration projects, according to government officials.
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About the authors
Jacques Assahoré Konan
Jacques Assahoré Konan is the minister of environment, sustainable development, and ecological transition of Côte d’Ivoire. Appointed on Oct. 17, 2023, he leads national efforts in environmental protection, sustainable development, and ecological transition — including actions against plastic pollution. He also works at strengthening environmental governance and climate action, and at promoting sustainable agriculture.
Blerta Cela
Blerta Cela is the resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme office in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. With over 25 years of experience, Cela has devoted her career to the management, design, and implementation of development programs. Before her appointment in Côte d’Ivoire, she headed the UNDP Regional Stabilization Facility in Dakar, Senegal, and also served with UNDP in New York, Bangladesh, and Ukraine, contributing her expertise to diverse and often complex contexts.
