This eight-page summary by Inter-Réseaux draws attention to the relative success of Mali’s agricultural policies and investments. Mali is one of a handful of African countries that have devoted 10% of their public resources to the agricultural sector in the last decade, in accordance with the Maputo Declaration. Many social protection programmes rely heavily on external-funds and lack links with initiatives that support family farming. Mali now aims to develop a more ambitious social protection policy that includes improved planning, better co-ordination and more domestic financial resources. Read on

The government of The Gambia hosted the 2018 edition of the Sahel and West Africa Week, which took place from 3-8 December in Banjul. Organised by the Sahel and West Africa Club Secretariat (SWAC/OECD), this annual flagship event focused on food and nutrition issues in the Sahel and West Africa. It brought together some 300 food security stakeholders from every Sahelian and West African country as well as development partners. Read on

Detected for the first time in West Africa at the beginning of 2016, the fall armyworm mainly attacks maize but it can also attack rice and sorghum, as well as cotton and some vegetables. Fall armyworm is a serious concern to Sahelian and West African farmers as it can cause significant yield losses and can negatively affect their livelihoods and food security. Considering the transborder nature of the pest, which spreads easily across the area, the situation requires a strong, co-ordinated regional response. Read on

For the seventh time, UEMOA leaders met to discuss the food and nutrition situation in member countries. The UEMOA high-level committee was held on 10 July in Niamey. Considering the critical pastoral situation, ministers in charge of livestock also participated in this event. Within the UEMOA area, some 3.5 million people are currently in a crisis situation and need urgent food assistance, notably in the Sahelian countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Senegal). Read on