Brussels, 14 April 2022 (TDI): Sahel Alliance was launched in 2017, after almost five years, the number of projects financed by the Sahel Alliance tripled. Moreover, the financial commitments made by the members increased from €7.3 billion to €23 billion.
BACKGROUND OF THE ALLIANCE
The Sahel Alliance was launched by France, Germany, the European Union (EU), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) during the 2017 Franco-German Council of Ministers.
The secretariat of the Sahel Alliance is located in Brussels; where the members work on coordinating and promoting the projects financed by the donors.
The financial support provided by the members of the Alliance has a focus on six main areas; which are education and youth employment, agriculture, rural development, and food security, “energy and climate”, “governance”; “decentralization and basic services”, and “regional security”.
Members of the Alliance guide their work based on four key principles. First, target their action priorities. Second, attach importance to accountability among partners for shared goals.
Third, take action with new, innovative, and more flexible modes. Fourth, make specific commitments to fragile and vulnerable regions.
THE PROJECTS OF THE ALLIANCE
The Sahel Alliance is now running more than 1000 projects in 11 different sectors to implement its members’ commitments. Among all sectors, the Alliance is working on, “decentralization and basic services.
According to the Alliance, this takes 30% of the total financial commitment; while the sector of “Agricultural, rural development, and food security” ranks the second with 25% accounts of the total financial commitment.
The third commitment comes from the sector of “energy” which accounts for 14% of the financial commitment. From the perspective of regional states; Mali has the most number of projects which is 222, with a €4.1 G budget.
This budget, together with Niger, ranks first among all countries in the region. Mauritania has the least budget of €1 G with 126 projects; while Chad has the least number of projects, which is 78 with €1.4 G in its budget.
It’s worth noting that the Sahel Alliance does not only have national projects but also 112 regional projects. Moreover, it can be seen that according to the introduction of the projects, the Sahel Alliance attached great significance to working together with regional organizations like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
DEVELOPMENT OF THE ALLIANCEÂ
The development of the Sahel Alliance and its contribution to the region leaves a mark in several ways. That is the increase in financial commitments and the number of projects, but also the diversification and globalization of its membership, and the sustainability of its plans.
Earlier this month, on April 4, at the 3rd General Assembly of the Sahel Alliance, the United States, Sweden, and Canada joined the Alliance as new members. Currently, the Alliance has 26 members including 9 observers which reflects its growing influence.
During the 3rd General Assembly of the Alliance, the entity strengthened commitments to people in the Sahel region and made long-term plans to face regional and global challenges.
According to the Assembly, security, humanity, food security, cooperation, greater socio-economic integration, vulnerable groups, and climate change are priorities. Moreover, the Assembly also emphasized the support from G5 Sahel, it considered the G5 Sahel as a privileged partner for cooperation in the Sahel.
The General Assembly of the Alliance, acting as a regular mechanism, will promote the sustainability and development of the Alliance, and the region.
