SWAC partners in Africa

CILSS - www.cilss.bf

The Permanent Inter‐State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) was created in 1973 to carry out research on food security and curb the effects of drought and desertification.

The SWAC and CILSS have worked together for more than 30 years. They created and co‐animate the Food Crisis Prevention Network (RPCA ‐ www.food‐security.net ) of which one of the main achievements was the adoption of the Food Aid Charter in 1990. In October 2006, CILSS and the SWAC adopted a Co-operation Framework that outlines major joint initiatives including the revision of the Food Aid Charter, as well as joint work on food security, land tenure and livestock issues.

CILSS member countries: Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Gambia (the), Guinea‐Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal.

ECOWAS – www.ecowas.int

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen countries, founded in 1975 and lead since 1 January 2007 by a Commission.

In November 2006 ECOWAS and the SWAC signed a “Framework for Co-operation” that outlines priority areas for joint activities. The SWAC and ECOWAS work together in the fields of agriculture (ECOWAP), cross‐border co‐operation, the setting‐up of a regional post‐conflict strategy and the building of a common ECOWAS approach on migration. Joint publications such as the West Africa Report or the Regional Atlas on West Africa, provide reliable and up‐to‐date information on West Africa that contribute to the reflection on West Africa’s development prospects.

ECOWAS member countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia (the), Ghana, Guinea, Guinea‐Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

UEMOA - www.uemoa.int

Created in 1994, the West African Economic and Monetary Union's (UEMOA) brings together eight West African countries in one monetary zone (F CFA). Within this common market, the UEMOA aims to strengthen the economic and financial competitiveness of its member states.

The SWAC signed a Partnership Agreement (French) with UEMOA in October 2007. Co‐operation acivities focus on the following topic areas: food security, water and land resource management, combating desertification, rural transformation, agricultural and trade policies, cross‐border co‐operation, and prospective strategic thinking.

UEMOA member countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea‐Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo.

DNF

The National Borders Directorate (DNF) of the Ministry of Regional Planning and Local Communities of Mali has played a driving role in the political evolution of the “cross-border cooperation” issue since 2004. As a founding member of the West African Borders and Integration network (WABI), the DNF participated in the establishment of the ECOWAS Cross-Border Initiatives Programme (CIP), notably in the Sikasso-Korhogo-Bobo-Dioulasso zone on the Burkina Faso border. It facilitates the dissemination of WABI publications in Malian border zones. The DNF is playing an active role in the establishment of the African Union’s Borders Programme. The DNF contributed to the organisation of the Experts meeting on the setting-up of the AU Borders Programme held in Bamako (Mali) in March 2007.
Contact: Mr. Ladji Sogoba: sogoba_l@yahoo.fr

Enda-Diapol - www.endadiapol.org

The Senegal-based NGO Enda-Diapol is a founding member of the West African Borders and Integration network (WABI). Since its creation, Enda Diapol has facilitated the implementation of WABI’s local cross-border actions, notably through the co-ordination of the pilot operation in the Senegambian region (Sénégambie méridionale). In addition, the SWAC relies on Enda Diapol’s local network for the dissemination of WABI publications on border dynamics to local actors. Enda-Diapol contributes to the strategic development of the ECOWAS Cross-Border Initiatives Programme (CIP) and AU meetings on the Borders Programme. Over the years, Enda-Diapol has become the key partner of the “Local Development & the Process of Regional Integration” Unit sharing the same priorities for defining a common strategy in the promotion of cross-border co-operation as a driver of regional integration: orientations and field activities are discussed and defined in joint working sessions.

Contact: interafriques@endadiapol.org

GRDR - www.grdr.org

The Research Group and Achievements for Rural Development (GRDR) supports development dynamics through activities in the areas of regional planning; strengthening border economies and their integration; and the shared management of natural resources. As an active member of the West African Borders and Integration network (WABI), the GRDR co-ordinates the CIP pilot operation in the Karakoro Basin between Mali and Mauritania. Following the launching workshop held in September 2006 in Nouakchott (Mauritania), the GRDR organised a second meeting in February 2007 bringing together representatives of local and national authorities as well as representatives from civil society. The GRDR also facilitates the dissemination of WABI publications to local actors in Mauritania.

Contact: grdr@mauritel.mr

GTZ-Procas

Since 2006, the Socio-Economic Development Programme for Peace in Casamance (GTZ-Procas), a Senegalese-German co-operation structure based in Ziguinchor (Casamance/Senegal), has been co-organising local workshops within the framework of the CIP pilot operation launched in the Senegambian region (Sénégambie méridionale). It is involved in particular in the development of the beekeeping and community radio stations networks which cover the cross-border zone between Guinea Bissau, the Gambia and Senegal. The Programme is particularly active on the ground and is one of the last to remain based in Ziguinchor during severely tense periods.

Contact: Mr. Laye Diallo : dia@arc.sn

LandNet

The regional West African land network, LandNet, is specialised in land issues at the West African national and regional levels. The SWAC collaborated with LandNet within the framework of its work on land reform in West Africa which resulted in a publication on the theme: “Land, Agricultural Change and Conflict in West Africa: Historical Review to contribute to future debate and action”. The SWAC will continue to rely on LandNet’s expertise for all land policy-related analyses.
Contact: Mr. Koffi Alinon: wa_landnet@yahoo.com

PDM - www.pdm-net.org

The Municipal Development Partnership (MDP) established in 1991 by African leaders and the donor community in order to support decentralisation policies and strengthen local communities’ capacities in Africa. The MDP’s starting point involves more particularly regional planning issues: www.amenagement-afrique.com. As a long-time SWAC partner, the MDP is associated with the pilot operation in the Sikasso-Bobo Dioulasso zone between Mali and Burkina Faso within the framework of the ECOWAS Cross-Border Initiatives Programme (CIP). In particular, it provides support to the development of the community radio stations network in this border zone.
Contact: Mr. Edmond Sougué : edsoug@yahoo.fr

ROPPA -  www.roppa.info

The Network of Farmer Organisations and Agricultural Producers of West Africa (ROPPA), bringing together agricultural professional organisations’ national platforms, was created in 2000 by West African farming leaders in order to promote and defend the values of family farms so as to be sustainable and competitive as well as to improve the livelihoods of agricultural producers. Since its establishment, the SWAC  has provided support to ROPPA, notably in the logistical organisation events such as the meeting on the Five Year Assessment of ROPPA. The SWAC has also contributed to strengthening the network’s capacity for it to be able to participate in the PAU-UEMOA. In 2006, the SWAC and ROPPA collaborated on several joint initiatives such as: (i) supporting ROPPA in the organisation of the Food Sovereignty Forum, held in Niamey (Niger) from 7 to 10 November 2006; and (ii) the development of the ROPPA initiative on access to land by female agricultural producers. ROPPA also contributes to the initiative on “The Future of Livestock in the Sahel and West Africa”. The partnership with ROPPA was strengthened over the past three years and should result in the signing of a co-operation framework during 2008.

Contact: cet_roppa@yahoo.fr; roppa@roppa-ao.org

WANSED

The West African Network on Security and Democratic Governance (WANSED), with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation's Regional Security Programme, brings together 24 civil society organisations and regional training and research institutions addressing such issues as security, peace, democracy and/or governance. The mission of WANSED is to mobilise civil society with a view to engaging security sector actors in a strategic partnership for the democratic control and the reform of the sector. In 2005, the SWAC’s activities with regard to security issues took place within the framework of the WANSED network. WANSED is structured into four areas of work brought under two permanent working groups: “Policy Dialogue and Advocacy” (coordinated by the SWAC), and “Training and Research” (National War College, Nigeria). WANSED’s founding members, excluding the SWAC and the DSAF (Switzerland), come from ten West African countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal. The Friedrich Ebert Foundation provides support to WANSED and houses temporary their administrative coordination offices in Abuja (Nigeria).

WARDA - www.warda.org

Created in 1970 by 11 West African countries, the African Rice Centre (WARDA ), based in Bouaké (Côte d'Ivoire) and temporarily located in Cotonou (Benin), has today become the primary research centre for the development of rice growing in sub-Saharan Africa. Fostering partnerships with actors also helps link R&D rice growing networks of the region. WARDA and the SWAC are currently strengthening their collaboration through issues related to optimal management and control of water resources in the Sahel and West Africa. This initiative aims to reinforce sustainable food security and poverty reduction. Hence, the SWAC plays a stimulator and facilitator role in the implementation of a regional initiative on “the optimal use of inland valley water resources in order to increase agricultural productivity and improve income”.

Contact: Mr. Vincent B. Bado: v.bado@cgiar.org

WECARD - www.coraf.org

The Dakar-based West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (WECARD) is a sub-regional organisation responsible for the co-ordination and implementation of agricultural research and development policies in West and Central Africa. WECARD is the technical arm of ECOWAS for all that concerns the implementation of regional policies with regard to agricultural research.  The collaboration between the SWAC and WECARD intensified over the last few years, notably in relation to food security through the promotion of agricultural innovation, medium- and long-term development perspectives of the region and the role of science and technology.
Contact: Mr. Bamazi Kassalo : bamazi.kassalo@coraf.org