UNITED NATIONS INTEGRATED STRATEGY FOR THE SAHEL (UNISS)
UNISS is a collective Chapter, owned by all UN agencies, funds, and programmes as well as all the UN Country Teams in the region. At the head of the structure is the UN Secretary-General and then the Deputy Secretary-General who chairs the UNISS Strategic Direction Group. The UNISS Steering Committee gives strategic direction for UNISS implementation on the ground across the 10 countries. It is co-chaired by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and the Assistant Administrator, Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director, UNDP Africa Bureau. The Special Co-ordinator is guest to the Steering Committee. Other members of the Steering Committee are the Regional Directors of Agencies, funds and programmes, Resident Coordinators of all 10 countries, representatives from the Office of Special Co-ordinator, the UN Office for West Africa, and the Sahel (UNOWAS) as well as the Development Co-ordination Office (DCO)
OFFICE OF SPECIAL CO-ORDINATOR FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE SAHEL (OSCDS)
The Office of Special Co-ordinator for development in the Sahel (OSCDS) was established following the appointment of the Special Co-ordinator in January 2021 by the UN Secretary-General. The mandate of the Special Co-ordinator is to lead collective efforts, including financing, to implement the UNISS and its support plan for a scaled-up UN development response for the Sahel, drawing on all the UN assets in the region, engaging and supporting efforts of G5 Sahel, Sahel-Alliance, Ministerial Coordination Platform, ECOWAS, African Union, European Union, World Bank and African Development Bank. Currently, OSCDS leads collaborative efforts with agencies, funds, and programs in the region towards implementing UNISS, viz:
- (i) leading scaled-up implementation of UNISS/UNSP programs/activities ensuring the strategic alignment with national and regional priorities, and coherence with UNSDCFs;
- (ii)ensuring coordination and collaboration across UN development activities and programs, at the regional level, through a nexus-approach including with UN, national, regional, and international partners;
- (iii)ensuring an effective UNISS Steering Committee and the implementation of outcomes;
- (iv)resource mobilization efforts and financing;
- (v)enhancing communication and visibility on the Sahel and UN Investments for a change of narrative;
- (vi)ensuing UN participation and engagement in high-level international and regional platforms;
- (vii) monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning;
- (viii) providing regular and thematic high-level reports on UNISS.
