Facing severe challenges like demographic growth and escalating conflicts, the Sahel region benefits from a partnership initiated in September 2022 between the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). This collaboration focuses on transformative, governance-centred growth aligned with the 2030 Agenda and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, promoting climate-smart development and resilience in the Sahel through strategic, inclusive initiatives.
Uncoordinated development investment priorities fail to tackle the multitude of socio-economic, security and structural challenges faced in the Sahel region. The Sahel region faces a multitude of development challenges, including exponential demographic growth, rising food insecurity, escalating conflicts, and sluggish industrial sector growth. These factors hinder job creation, especially for the burgeoning youth population entering the workforce annually. With the agricultural sector as the primary employer, limited diversification and high national debt further constrain economic growth and livelihoods. Moreover, inadequate infrastructure and intra-regional trade barriers exacerbate these challenges. Conflict, exacerbated by a lack of governance in rural and cross-border areas, poses a significant threat to stability and development.
Investing in a unique collaborative model to address development challenges in the Sahel. In September 2022, the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS) initiated a ground-breaking collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), marking a significant leap towards regional development. This partnership, which includes the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and the Arab Coordination Group (ACG), aims to streamline efforts and maximise impact in the Sahel region, aligning with sustainable development agendas.
The primary goal of this collaboration is to craft a cohesive development initiative that drives the Sahel towards governance- and agency-centred, labour-intensive, and climate-smart growth. By aligning with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the initiative seeks transformative change across the region.
The approach of the joint initiative in the Sahel region encompasses leveraging the comparative advantages of diverse partners to provide a comprehensive and integrated approach to development support. This involves promoting climate-smart growth, enhancing data collection and coordination, focusing on neglected demographic groups, and maintaining a balanced investment portfolio. By harnessing these strategic focus areas, including enhanced financial capacity, holistic resilience approaches, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and integration of lessons learned, the initiative aims to catalyse positive change in the Sahel region, fostering resilience, sustainability, and prosperity for its inhabitants.
This Joint Initiative is unique in that it leverages the comparative advantage of the UN, IFIs, the private sector and national governments providing a single window for additional partners to provide development support to the Sahel. The Joint Initiative will also ensure funding and financing provides short- and long-term socio-economic dividends by promoting a climate smart, inclusive and economically diversified growth trajectory.
Key Take-aways
Siloed interventions: Collaborative efforts are crucial to prevent redundant activities and pool resources effectively.
Strengthening government capacities: Investments are needed to empower national partners, enabling them to lead and sustain development projects independently.
Coherence and impact: Aligning regional and national strategies is vital to maximise development efforts' impact and address key demographic groups and challenges.
Effective financing blend: Prioritising financing supporting climate-smart approaches, particularly in agriculture, would benefit the rural population.
Common data approach: Enhanced coordination in data collection and analysis will optimise resource allocation and foster scalable development initiatives.
Balanced investment portfolio: Diversifying investments across partners and sectors is essential to ensure comprehensive development coverage, particularly in conflict-affected regions.
