|
> A New SWAC President
> Regional Dimension within the DAC's Peer Review
> K2M Cross-border Co-operation
> Climate Change in West Africa
> RPCA Policy Note
> Emersion in the Karakoro Basin
> ECOWAS Workshop on Conflict Systems
> Workshop on Security Sector Reform
> Task Force Meeting - Cocoa Initiative
|
|
Director's Editorial
Why not announce good news at the beginning of the year? The regional dimension of aid is being included in the peer reviews of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC). This is only a first step. We will continue to urge the international community to do more for regional co-operation. In these troubled times, it is vital to help developing countries to act together and strengthen their regional blocs. > read on...
|
|
Niger: Land of Transit
Interview with Mr. Guy-Michel Bolouvi
Despite the scope of migratory flows transiting through Niger, the phenomenon still scarcely generates any concern. “Travelling is not a crime”, and in this regard, Niger implements and complies with the ECOWAS provision in favour of the free movement of its nationals within its member countries. Niger has for a long time been a gateway for migrants heading for Maghreb countries, and now for Europe. However, Niger finds itself confronting the negative trends brought about by tougher border controls... >> read the interview
|
|
|
The Regional Dimension within the DAC’s Peer Review
In response to the SWAC’s Strategy and Policy Group (SPG) member’s request, the SWAC Secretariat had proposed incorporating regional co-operation into the DAC's Peer Review Programme by adding new questions to the “DAC Peer Review Content Guide”. This document has now been revised. Austria, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Sweden and Switzerland will undergo peer review in 2009 using this revised questionnaire. In addition, the SWAC Secretariat will conduct a regional aid mapping study on West Africa. Outcomes could feed into more general strategic thinking on regional aid effectiveness. > learn more
K2M: Cross-border Co-operation in the Kano-Katsina-Maradi Area
The SWAC Secretariat provided support to the governments of Niger and Nigeria for the preparation of two feasibility studies on the implementation of a two-year cross-border co-operation programme in the Kano-Katsina-Maradi area: 1) K2M Initiative Programme Phase 1, aiming to improve food security and cross-border trade in cereals and livestock, and 2) K2M Programme on the Setting-up of a Cross-border Radio Station Network (French). The two cross-border co-operation programmes shall be implemented under the auspices of the Niger-Nigeria Joint Commission for Co-operation.
|
|
A New SWAC President: Mr. de Donnea
The Sahel and West Africa Club welcomes its new President, Mr. François-Xavier de Donnea, Belgium Minister of State (Member of the Crown Council) and member of the Belgian House of Representatives. Mr. de Donnea was nominated by the SWAC's Strategy and Policy Group (SPG) and will take up his new functions for a three-year period.
>> visit Mr. de Donnea’s website
|
 |
|
|
Climate Change in West Africa:
Sahelian Adaptation Strategies
While Africa produces less than 4% of worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it is considered the world’s most vulnerable region with regard to the effects of climate change due to the fragility of its economies. Like all other regions, West Africa must take-up this challenge – essentially that of vulnerability and uncertainty. In addition to the analysis of the climate change impacts and a presentation of some adaptation strategies developed by agricultural producers in the Sahel, this SWAC Briefing Note presents opportunities and makes recommendations for West African leaders and development partners on how to address West Africa’s climate change challenges.
> download the SWAC's Briefing Note 3 |
 |
Emersion in the Karakoro Basin
Cross-border Diaries, Issue 10
This issue focuses on the Karakoro basin, situated in the pre-Sahelian zone between Mali and Mauritania. Local border populations and their respective governors are demonstrating a strong commitment to border development. Farming, sedentary and transhumant livestock breeding are the main activities of the populations on both riversides. The Karakoro basin is one of the four pilot initiatives conducted within the ECOWAS Cross-border Co-operation Initiatives Programme (CIP). This issue presents the Karakoro basin settlement programme co-ordinated by the GRDR (Research and Project Implementation Group for Rural Development) natural resources, cross-border issues as well as interviews with local, national and international representatives.
> download this issue (2Mb) |
 |
RPCA Policy Note
The 24th annual Food Crisis Prevention Network (RPCA) meeting, held in Dakar (Senegal) in November 2008, focused on the market’s role and its importance in the promotion of food security in the Sahel and West Africa. Network members also exchanged on the agricultural, food and nutritional situation for the 2008/09 campaign. This policy note highlights the main conclusions of this meeting as well as lessons learned from the rise of food commodity prices. It outlines recommendations for West African states, development partners and the RPCA network co-ordinators (CILSS, SWAC/OECD) aiming to facilitate decision-making.
>> download this policy note |
|
ECOWAS Workshop on Conflict Systems and Risk Assessment
Conakry (Guinea), 16-18 December 2008
This workshop focused on the operational process of the ECOWAS Early Warning and Response System (ECOWARN). The ECOWAS Commission and the SWAC Secretariat conduct joint work on risk assessment, the analysis of root causes of conflict and regional crisis prevention. With a view to developing a regional conflict prevention policy, Mr. Massaër Diallo presented his analysis of conflict systems in ECOWAS countries.
> download Mr. Diallo’s Statement (French)
|
|
ECOWAS Workshop on Security Sector Reform
Abuja (Nigeria), 19-21 January 2009
The workshop's aim was to identify the challenges related to security sector reform in West Africa. Mr. Massaër Diallo (SWAC) made a presentation on the “Issues and Political Environment of Security System Reform in West Africa" (French). He also participated in various meetings, in particular with the ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Mohamed Chambas and the ECOWAS Commissioner in charge of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Colonel Touré. They discussed the regional security situation, early warning mechanisms and work priorities of the SWAC/ECOWAS joint work on conflict prevention. > learn more
|
|
Combating Child Labour on West African Cocoa Plantations
Task Force Meeting, 9 February 2009, OECD/Paris
At the initiative of the Belgium Development Co-operation Directorate, in collaboration with several Development Co-operations Agencies, the SWAC has launched collaborative work on “Child Labour on West African Cocoa Plantations”. Conclusions of the Regional Desk Study (draft) will be presented at this first Task Force meeting which will bring together involved actors (West African governments, interested OECD countries, private sector representatives, West African producer associations, NGOs, etc.).
|
|
