Food & Trees for Africa (FTA), a leading South African social enterprise spearheading environmental sustainability and food security, is proud to announce its partnership with the Johannesburg Inner City Partnership (JICP) and the Alexandra Water Warriors (AWW) in a transformative greening initiative. The partnership forms part of the Scaling Urban NbS for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SUNCASA) project. SUNCASA aims to enhance resilience, gender equality, social inclusion, and biodiversity protection in urban communities in Ethiopia, Rwanda, and South Africa. The project is implemented by the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the International Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD), with funding support from the Global Affairs of Canada. The highlight in this suite of nature-based solutions is the distribution of 20,000 trees to homes in Alexandra and Lombardy East townships.
As part of this initiative, FTA will train local environmental champions to act as Community Educators (CEs). These individuals will receive specialised training in climate change, tree care, environmental ethics, and community engagement to ensure the success of this ambitious project over the next six months.
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to addressing contemporary urban and environmental challenges through innovative and inclusive greening solutions,” said Chris Wild, Executive Director of FTA. “FTA’s Trees for Homes programme has been at the forefront of township greening efforts for over three decades, and we’re eager to bring its proven methodologies back to Alexandra and Lombardy East.”
2000 trees delivered to our FTA office
2000 trees at the FTA office-ready to be distriputed
Resident Noxolo Mzize with his new trees in his garden
Transforming Townships into Urban Forests
The Trees for Homes (TFH) programme is FTA’s flagship urban forestry initiative. Launched in 1992 with the endorsement of Nelson Mandela, TFH was South Africa’s first township greening project, addressing the environmental inequities caused by apartheid-era settlement policies. Over the past 35 years, the programme has evolved into the nation’s benchmark for sustainable urban forestry, delivering more than environmental benefits—it fosters social cohesion, community pride, and long-term resilience.
Under this initiative, households in Alexandra and Lombardy East will each receive fruit trees and indigenous trees, with substitutions for additional fruit trees if needed. These trees will serve not only as a source of fresh produce but also as a means of improving air quality, combating soil erosion, and supporting biodiversity in urban areas.
Community-Driven Solutions
FTA’s approach places communities at the heart of its projects. A team of 25 CEs from the AWW will oversee tree planting, ensuring that households are prepared to care for their new trees. FTA has managed ongoing monitoring and evaluation, using innovative tools to track tree survival rates and provide ongoing support to recipients.
“Our Community Educators are integral to the success of every project,” said Robyn Hills, Head of Programmes at FTA. “By equipping local champions with skills in urban forestry and environmental stewardship, we empower them to create lasting change in their communities. The Warriors are already doing this; now we’re scaling up,” she added.
Graduates of the training receive a certificate of participation, equipping them for future employment opportunities in the growing green economy.
A Vision for Sustainable Communities
This project is part of a broader vision to create sustainable, resilient communities in South Africa. The SUNCASA partnership integrates tree planting with capacity building, thereby addressing pressing environmental and social challenges while contributing to global climate goals.
FTA’s TFH programme has demonstrated the power of urban forestry to transform landscapes and lives, making it the ideal vehicle for this partnership. In Munsieville, Hammarsdale, and QwaQwa, FTA’s past interventions have left a legacy of vibrant green spaces and empowered communities. With this new collaboration, Alexandra and Lombardy East are poised to become leading examples of sustainable township greening in South Africa.
Resident Zukiswa Rala with her freshly planted tree
Trees planted outside a home
Tree planted at a home
