Sahel and West Africa Club

The Sahel and West Africa Club (OECD/SWAC) promotes regional policies to improve the economic and social well-being of people in the Sahel and West Africa.

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Intra-regional Food Trade in West Africa: New Evidence, New Perspectives

2025

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Who we are

The Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC) is an international platform whose Secretariat is hosted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). OECD/SWAC produces and maps data, provides informed analyses and facilitates strategic dialogue, to help better anticipate transformations in the region and their territorial impacts. Through our retrospective and prospective approach, we promote more contextualised policies as levers for regional integration, sustainable development and stability. Our areas of work include food dynamics, urbanisation, climate and security.

How we work

The core objective of SWAC's mandate is to contribute to the effectiveness of the actions taken by its Members by providing them with data and informed analyses and facilitating strategic dialogue, to help better anticipate transformations in the region and their territorial impacts. SWAC’s outputs feed the formulation processes of contextualised policies as levers for regional integration, sustainable development and stability.

The Strategy and Policy Group (SPG) is composed of our Members and partners who are responsible for governing and monitoring our work. They meet once a year to approve activity and financial reports as well as our Programme of Work and Budget. They also provide financial contributions for the implementation of our work programme and nominate our President. This position is currently held by Hadizatou Rosine Sori-Coulibaly. The SWAC Secretariat is in charge of implementing the work programme.

Read the mandate (PDF, 365 KB)

Read the Programme of Work and Budget (PDF, 810 KB)

Our President

Our Members and financial partners are:

Leadership

Nana Touré

Director

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What we are working on

Food systems, food security and nutrition

As the food and nutrition security situation deteriorates in many parts of the world, it is more important than ever to provide evidence and tools to assess and address the challenges. Through the Food Crisis Prevention Network (RPCA), OECD/SWAC provides a critical space for policy dialogue and co-ordination for the Sahel and West Africa region. At the same time, food systems are changing rapidly. West Africa’s population is projected to grow from 400 million in 2020 to 540 million in 2030, with two-thirds of the increase taking place in urban areas, where incomes are relatively higher. We analyse and engage with policy makers on how these structural forces are transforming food production, purchasing and consumption patterns.

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Security, borders and development

Violence in West Africa is at an all-time high. The number of violent events and fatalities is constantly rising. Violence is also spreading to coastal states along the Gulf of Guinea. To better understand these trends, SWAC examines both the geographical dimensions of conflict, as well as the relationships between actors in conflict. Innovative spatial and dynamic social network analyses provide insights into security challenges in the region.

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Cities, climate and development

Climate hazards have always affected African territories, but climate change is now increasing their variability and the continent's vulnerability. With rapid population growth and urbanisation, African cities need to anticipate these changes to improve their preparedness. Positioned at the forefront of the response to climate change, African cities have a key role to play in ensuring the future viability, resilience and sustainability of these territories.

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Urbanisation and development

Africa’s cities are the most rapidly growing cities in the world; they are the youngest and they are changing fast. Their impact on Africa’s economic, social and political evolution/development in the coming decades is likely to be profound. Urbanisation, therefore, presents immense opportunities to accelerate progress towards the 2030 and 2063 development agendas. The OECD provides unique data and relevant policy analysis on this vital issue, from the Africapolis database to our forward-looking report series, Africa's Urbanisation Dynamics.

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Data and dialogue

Food Crisis Prevention Network (RPCA)

For over 40 years, the Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC/OECD) has been crucial in leading the Food Crisis Prevention Network (RPCA).

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Mapping Territorial Transformations in Africa (MAPTA)

Africa is undergoing enormous territorial transformations driven by factors such as climate change, rapid urbanisation and a growing population. The Mapping territorial transformations in Africa (MAPTA) platform provides data and analyses to help policy makers design more effective and integrated development policies. MAPTA focuses on the three key challenges: climate change, security and gender equality issues.

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Africapolis urban data platform

Africapolis data platform

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Transport systems in Ghana: towards sustainable, accessible and inclusive mobility

Rapid urbanisation across Africa brings opportunities, but it also puts pressure on transport systems. Rising emissions, pollution and congestion are just some of the challenges transport planners face. In the cities of Accra and Kumasi in Ghana, basic services such as markets, healthcare facilities and primary schools are out of reach for many people who walk and use popular transport - minibuses known as trotros. People who can afford cars opt for them, as they offer greater access to services, but they also represent the most unsustainable mode of transport.   Policy choices are therefore crucial in shaping future mobility for more liveable cities in Ghana. Decision makers in Accra and Kumasi, alongside development partners, are reflecting on redesigning the transport system. To support this work, new data and evidence pinpoints four levers to help transport systems overcome rising emissions, pollution, and congestion, and at the same time improve quality of life, economic opportunities, and social inclusion for city residents.  

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ECOWAS Agricultural Trade (EAT) Programme

The food economy accounts for one-third of West Africa's GDP and employs two-thirds of the population, in agriculture but also, increasingly, in mid- and downstream segments such as processing, transport, wholesale and retail.

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