DAKAR, Senegal, July 25 (IPS) – The Ukraine-Russia conflict is now dominating the global media to the point of overshadowing a protracted crisis that is no longer sensational, but still full of cultivation. Such is the case with the ongoing Sahel crisis, one of the most neglected crises in the world, where poverty is severe, the impact of climate change is intense and domestic armed conflict Boost has been the norm for more than a decade. The situation is further aggravated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Sahel region, known for its nomadic herders and flexible agricultural system, stretches 6000 kilometers across dozens of countries south of the Sahara, including Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Chad with a population of about 150 million people. They share a similar geography, climate and way of life, but they are also among the poorest countries in the world, ranking last in the Human Development Index.
According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, the region is home to more than 4.6 million people today, including 2.7 million internally displaced and fleeing conflict and drought. They no longer have a livelihood and need to rely on humanitarian aid to survive.
Crucially, however, humanitarian aid cannot provide a lasting solution. More coordinated responses are needed to address the underlying causes of the crisis. For this reason, three UN agencies specializing in agriculture and food, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP), have in partnership with the G5 Sahel, the regional organization established in 2014 by the five worst-affected Sahel countries.
With Senegal’s involvement, they launched a $180 million program to improve the livelihoods and economic means of rural producers in the region and scale up their activities. successful pilot. Through this, a common approach is taken, taking advantage of the rural development work of the past decades, especially supporting farmers and ranchers’ associations.
At IFAD, we have a long history of working with rural producers in the region, however, so far, we have tended to roll out programs nationwide, by consensus. of national governments. Currently, IFAD is funding 20 programs and projects in the G5 Sahel countries plus Senegal with a total amount of 1 billion USD.
With the existence of regional Sahel organizations, we can now focus our efforts at the regional level, knowing that many issues cross national borders and in cooperation with all governments and institutions. relevant international agency. This is for the benefit of the poorest, that is the purpose of the Sahel joint program, known as the Sahel Regional Joint Agenda in Responding to the Challenges of COVID-19, Conflict and Climate Change ( SD3C). In addition to finance, IFAD is contributing its long experience in implementing agricultural projects at the local level, FAO is providing in-depth knowledge and research in agriculture, and WFP expertise of I work in conflict zones.
An estimated 25 million people in the Sahel are nomadic herders, who are increasingly desperate to graze their herds because of the effects of climate change. As they expand grazing areas into arable land, conflicts with sedentary farmers are increasing resulting in a decrease in food production, while a growing population. According to United Nations projections, the population in the Sahel will double to 330 million people by 2050. How will they eat if today’s production and productivity problems are not solved through agricultural investment. and full planning?
The program aspires to increase food production and production through climate-resilient agricultural practices, an important aspect in a region where an estimated 80% of agriculture is affected by climate change. With climate experts forecasting temperatures in the region, currently averaging 35 degrees Celsius, to rise by at least 3 degrees by 2050, it is increasingly urgent to take climate resilience measures. more pressing.
In addition to the main issue of agriculture, the program focuses on promoting cross-border trade and commerce and building peace at the community level. Women, who often have limited access to land and finance, make up 50% of the program participants. About 40% are young people, who face high unemployment and receive help in implementing productive activities to create jobs and generate decent income. Landless people and food-converting herders also benefit. The overall strategy is designed to meet the emergency, development and peace challenges with a rapid intervention approach that builds on the scaling of existing approaches and response methods. and efficient. Implemented from 2021, the program will continue until 2027 and expand to other countries in the Sahel region.
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