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Food security & Nutrition

Resilience

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ECOWAS

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Co-ordination was once again at the heart of the discussions at an ECOWAS high-level meeting, held on 17-18 February 2020 in Niamey, aimed at addressing the difficult food and nutrition situation in the Sahel and West Africa. In the spirit of the PREGEC Charter, participants assessed the response capacities at country, regional and partner level, and agreed on procedures to ensure effective co-ordination. Read on

10 Jan 2020

UEMOA economies are projected to grow by 6.6% in 2020

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The 2020 economic outlook for the eight UEMOA member countries is positive. Despite the many security challenges, the UEMOA area will continue to grow by 6.6% in 2020, at the same rate as in 2019, more than twice the sub-Saharan African average of 3.2%. The security crisis in the Sahel, Nigeria’s border closure and election-related instability are the main risks which might undermine the Union’s economic prospects. Côte d’Ivoire remains a driving force, with a projected growth rate of 7.3%, mostly because of high cocoa prices. Read on

21 Dec 2019

Towards a single currency: from CFA franc to the Eco

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Economy

Regional integration

Sahara-Sahel

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One important step forwards towards a single currency was made on 21 December 2019 when Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara – who is also the current president of the UEMOA – and French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to reform the CFA franc, the common currency of the eight UEMOA member countries. Some 134 million people in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo use the CFA franc. Under the reform plan: the CFA franc will be renamed the “Eco”; France will withdraw from all governance bodies; and the Bank of France will no longer hold half of the foreign reserves. However, the Eco will continue to be pegged to the Euro and France will retain, for the time being, its role as its financial guarantor. Read on

17 Dec 2019

Regional organisations remain our first counterparts for conflict resolution in the region

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In his UN Security Council briefing on 17 December 2019, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNOWAS, highlights that regional organisations remain “our first counterparts for conflict resolution in the region.” Discussions at the ECOWAS and G5 Sahel summits highlighted the “undeterred regional solidarity, and the commitment to bring this violence to an end. The Security Council’s support to the region cannot falter at this juncture,” he declared. Read on

22 Nov 2019

Sahel Alliance: Local solutions, governance and decentralisation

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Burkina Faso

Mali

Niger

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At the initiative of Germany, UNDP and the Liptako-Gourma Authority, members of the Sahel Alliance gathered on 20-22 November 2019 in Niamey, Niger for a regional workshop on the theme, “Governance and decentralisation: Vectors of peace and stability in the Sahel.” Some 30 participants coming from various administrative levels (local, regional, national) from Sahelian countries as well as international development partners discussed current decentralisation trends, problems and perspectives. Local government representatives from the three countries of the Liptako-Gourma region (Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger) issued a communiqué in which they urged members and partners of the Sahel Alliance to stronger involve them. Read on

20 Nov 2019

Borders, security and development in West Africa

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Sahara-Sahel

Security

Terrorism

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The most recent issue of the West African Papers series looks at Borders, Security and Development in West Africa. While West Africa is a pioneer of regional integration, the gap between the set of standards adopted by regional organisations and the functional reality in border areas persists. It is necessary to strengthen the links between capitals and peripheral regions, particularly with border cities, and to include a spatial dimension in conflict analysis and resolution. Read on

08 Nov 2019

UEMOA, Switzerland deepen co-operation

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Climate & Climate change

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The UEMOA Commission and the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation (SDC) signed, on 8 November 2019 in Abidjan, a new co-operation agreement worth nearly EUR 1 million to complete phase 1 of the programme for local cross-border co-operation (PCTL). In addition, UEMOA Commission President Abdallah Boureima signed a new co-operation agreement with the R20 Green Fund for Women to better integrate the climate aspect within projects conducted by local actors. Read on

05 Nov 2019

Africa’s Development Dynamics 2019

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“Despite sustained growth and progress in advancing regional integration, West African countries remain at a competitive disadvantage; high GDP growth rates in West Africa have not translated into real productive transformation”, finds the second edition of the Africa’s Development Dynamics 2019 report, which was jointly launched by the African Union Commission and the OECD Development Centre at the 11th Private Sector Forum in Antananarivo, Madagascar on 5 November 2019. Read on

31 Oct 2019

Agendas 2063 & 2030: Is Africa on track?

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Demographic trends

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The African Governance Report, produced by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, is a rich source of information on the continent’s governance challenges. It analyses the progress that has been made in the implementation of Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the Global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Both agendas have overlapping goals, and the report analyses, sector by sector, Africa’s readiness for both agendas. Read on

29 Oct 2019

New CILSS-trained hydrologists

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Topics:

Agriculture & Fisheries

Climate & Climate change