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Why the Sahel might be the most resilient place to global warming in the future – Archive

Why the Sahel might be the most resilient place to global warming in the future - Archive

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There is growing evidence of regreening in the Sahel. It is widespread. It cuts across the entire area, and it’s dynamic. In fact, almost all of West Africa is experiencing this regreening.

Regreening is considered the ultimate weapon to fight global warming. It’s not just happening naturally in the Sahel. It’s Sahelians also growing a bagful of valuable trees. From the tasty mango tree, to the oil rich Silk cotton (Ceiba pentandra), Shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) and Neem  (Azadirachta indica) trees, multiple use Egyptian balsam (Balanites aegyptiaca), African mahogany (Khaya senegalensis) and African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) trees, and the nature nurturing Acacia (acacia albida) tree, among others.

Trees are natural air conditioners, and are vital for both the rural and urban areas. They provide food, but they are also fertilizing the land in the Sahel in ways that could be making a difference to resilience that is far better than elsewhere in the world…Read more

1 August 2019, Dan Bouda, Niger - Jamila Issoufou and other women prepare local leaves to be sold and consume in Dan Bouda village, Zinder Region, Niger on August 1, 2019

United Nations Group of Friends of Women of the Sahel – Archive

 United Nations Group of Friends of Women of the Sahel – Archive
1 August 2019, Dan Bouda, Niger – Jamila Issoufou and other women prepare local leaves to be sold and consume in Dan Bouda village, Zinder Region, Niger on August 1, 2019

On 2 June, Niger, together with the African Union and the European Union, have  launched the United Nations Group of Friends of  Women  of the Sahel on the occasion of an Arria-Formula meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

 

The goal of the UN Group of Friends of Women in the Sahel is to inform the discourse, policy, and practice on and in the Sahel by furthering the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in development and peace building.

This Group of Friends intends to:

  • Provide a space for discussion to address/examine peace, security and development issues pertaining to the Sahel.
  • Provide a space to critically address issues pertaining to the Sahel from the perspective of policymakers, civil society actors, scholars, and human rights defenders from the region, particularly women.
  • Create an avenue to foster exchange between women of the Sahel and other regions on issues of development, peace and security.
  • Ensure that women participate meaningfully, and a gender perspective is included in ongoing national, regional and international initiatives in and on the Sahel.
  • Lead and support targeted advocacy on issues pertaining to the Sahel, including by facilitating exchange between women of the Sahel and other regions.
  • Support and amplify the work of women from the Sahel in their efforts to build a better present and future for their communities.
  • Support resources mobilization efforts for the implementation of national, regional and international initiatives to accelerate gender equality and women and girls empowerment in the Sahel.
  • Canvass for international support participation of Sahelian Women and girls in the context of SDGs implementation for the region.
  • Advocate for regional and international strategies to cater for the special needs of women and girls as a critical actor in peace consolidation efforts in the region.

Membership to the Group of Friends of Women in the Sahel is open to all UN Member States and Observers. More than 40 countries registered to be members of the Group. The Group also welcomes relevant UN Agencies, regional entities, and other stakeholders of crucial interest including women’s organizations, particularly from the Sahel.

Please see here a press briefing by the Permanent Representative of Niger to the United Nations and the United Nations Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel on the launch of the UN Group of Friends of  Women  of the Sahel

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The Sahel gets US$1.6 Billion Funding for Development & Stabilization (2022-2027) through the New Thriving Sahel Fund -TSF – Archive

The Sahel gets US$1.6 Billion Funding for Development & Stabilization (2022-2027) through the New Thriving Sahel Fund -TSF - Archive

Friday, 9 jully 2021, the United Nations Office of the Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel (OSCS), the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND), the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), and other development partners, announced a historical US$ 1.6 billion over five years (2022-2027) in support of development and resilience of the Sahelian countries.

Read the Press Statement

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The Great Green Wall, Bearer Of Hope And Life In The Sahel – Archive

 

 

The Great Green Wall, Bearer Of Hope And Life In The Sahel – Archive

 

 

The combined effect of land degradation, overexploitation, deforestation and climate change, confronts the Sahel with a rapid advance of the desert. It was to curb this threat that the Great Green Wall project was launched. 

 

On one side the Sahara, an immense expanse of stones and sand extending over 5000 km from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea and covering an area of 8.5 million km². A dry environment hostile to plant and animal life, despite the presence of some oases near the rare water points. On the other, the Sahel, which is home to 300 million women, men and children whose lives and means of subsistence are highly dependent on what nature has to offer them: water, arable land, biodiversity, etc.

 

 

What could have been a simple story of neighborhood between two geographical areas could, if left unchecked, become the story of an expanding desert. Indeed, it is estimated that the Sahara has progressed 250 km since 1900. A serious threat to the preservation of biodiversity and livelihoods, desertification has considerable ecological and socio-economic consequences. The Great Green Wall was created with the objective of stemming this threat.

 

 

 


 

 

Symbol of the solidarity of African peoples

Initiated in 2007 by the African Union with the support of development actors such as the United Nations, the Great Green Wall project should serve as a bulwark against desertification and offer improved living conditions to populations. Ultimately, this construction should extend over 8,000 km in length and 15 km in width and cross 12 countries. The trees used were chosen for their resistance to low rainfall and their economic yield. One can quote among others, the acacia, the date palm and the jujube tree. However, the initiative goes beyond reforestation and includes the development of areas dedicated to agriculture, as well as the creation of water retention basins. So far, 15% of the overall reforestation targets have been achieved.

In a region highly vulnerable to climate change, the environmental benefits of this project are vital. Indeed, by 2030, reforestation activity should restore 100 million hectares of land and absorb 250 million tonnes of carbon, thus helping to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into the land. atmosphere. In addition, the project is expected to promote economic activities such as agriculture, strengthen food security, increase economic growth and allow the creation of 10 million green jobs. To help preserve this gem from the destructive effects of deforestation, the UN is encouraging solar power projects in the region.

The Great Green Wall is a magnificent symbol of the unity and cooperation of the African peoples who join their efforts to preserve nature and life.

 

 


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Statement by Ms. Giovanie Biha, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS). – Archive

Statement by Ms. Giovanie Biha, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS). – Archive

   Peacebuilding Commission Meeting on the Sahel region and the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel.

Wednesday 28 April 2021, 14.00 GMT

 
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Mr. Chairman,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank you for this opportunity to brief you and for the continued interest and engagement of the PBC for the Sahel. My remarks will complement those of my dear colleague Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, the Special coordinator for development in the Sahel, whom I have the great pleasure to work with since his appointment.

I will focus on the recent political and security developments in the Sahel, and key events that are shaping the work of UNOWAS and the UN System in responding to peace and security challenges in the Sahel. This complements the SG’s December 2020 Report on activities in West Africa and the Sahel as well as the recommendations of the UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS) Steering Committee meeting of February 2021.

First, I wish to inform you that the newly appointed SRSG, Annadif Khatir Mahamat Saleh, has arrived in Dakar yesterday to assume his functions at UNOWAS. Since my last briefing to this forum in October 2020, extremist attacks on the communities and on defense and security forces have not receded. I wish to address my sympathies today to the authorities and the population of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, who have paid a high tribute to this violence since the beginning of the year.

I also wish to recognize the leadership of the countries in the Sahel, the regional and sub-regional institutions who have demonstrated, through a number of initiatives, their commitment to addressing the security challenges in the region, within the framework of the G-5 Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin Commission, ECOWAS and the African Union.

Despite the multiple challenges faced by the Sahel region, it remains a region of opportunity, as highlighted by Mar. We have seen progress in governance and democratic consolidation. Over the last six months, five presidential, three legislative and two local elections have taken place in West Africa and the Sahel, including in Niger and Burkina Faso. UNOWAS has worked hand-in-hand with ECOWAS, the African Union and international partners to support these processes.

On 21 February, Niger held the runoff presidential election. Despite security challenges and COVID-19, the turnout showed the active participation of women and youth in the process. These elections ushered in a critical democratic transfer of power. In Burkina Faso, dialogue between political actors led to an unanimously accepted outcome in November, with the opponents committing to work together with President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.

President Kaboré has placed an emphasis on national reconciliation. At the same time, there is an increased push for local peace talks to reduce inter-community conflicts in Burkina Faso and other countries of the region. Catalytic support to national and local level dialogue is being provided by the United Nations, including through the Peacebuilding Fund.

Preserving this fragile democratic space will be a key challenge in the coming period. This will depend on more inclusive governance, including a stronger role for women and youth. In all countries, there were more women candidates for Members of Parliament, municipal councilors, and mayors. Unfortunately, this did not translate into more women elected to Parliament; with only 13.2 per cent in Burkina Faso, and 17 percent in Niger.

There is a growing commitment by states to actively engage women in their strategies to counter violent extremism by working with women. Countries such as Nigeria and Burkina Faso have implemented projects targeting women in preventing and combating violent extremism
leading to terrorism. Within the framework of the United Nations Strategy for the Sahel,
UNOWAS, UNWOMEN, the African Union and the Permanent Secretariat of the G5 Sahel have developed a partnership that has led to the establishment of the G5 Sahel Women’s Platform and a gender unit within the G5 Sahel Permanent Secretariat, the strengthening of the capacities of women parliamentarians of the G5 Sahel space, in collaboration with Femmes Africa Solidarité.

Nonetheless, more needs to be done to support the region to effectively implement UNSCR 1325 (2000), 2250 (2015) and related resolutions to ensure that women and youth, especially in the Sahel, play their part for sustainable peace, security and development. Through the Gender and Youth Promotion Initiative, the PBF is already playing an important part in achieving that.

Excellencies,
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing fragilities in the Sahel. In a context of overstretched social services and an economic downturn linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, the security landscape is increasingly volatile. Increased collaboration between Al-Qaeda and the
‘Islamic State’ affiliates operating in the Lake Chad Basin and the Liptako Gourma region has resulted in technically more sophisticated and deadly attacks. In such a continuously shifting and complex landscape, there is an increasing need for collective and coherent regional and international action to address instability through integrated security, political and developmental responses.

This integrated approach is the key pillar of UNOWAS and the Office of the Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel’s collaboration. We continue to work closely with the UN Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) on supporting a cross-regional approach to addressing the Boko Haram crisis. There is currently a joint UNOWAS-UNOCA mission in Borno State this week, which comes just one week after the attack on the garrison town of Damasak that caused up to 50,000 people to flee the city. The mission follows up on visits to Chad, Cameroon and Niger.

During the trip last week to Diffa, the UNOCA-UNOWAS mission was accompanied by the LCBC Secretariat to harmonize our interventions at both a national and regional level. The humanitarian community continues to be a target in both the Central Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, as former SRSG Ibn Chambas emphasized during his briefing to the Security Council in January. This conditions our ability to stay and deliver.

The human rights situation of the region continues to call for more attention. In addition to being in the cross-hair of armed groups, national armed forces in the region are also suspect of reprisal operations against civilians. In January 2021, the G5 Sahel Joint Force launched the Civilian Casualties Identification, Tracking and Analysis Cell, in partnership with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights the Center for Civilians in Conflict and the EU, to enhance civilian
harm mitigation practices. Both violence and impunity continue to be stumbling blocks to peace and stability.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to highlight critical events that occurred since the last briefing, which are furthering the work of UNOWAS and the UN system in addressing the intertwined nature of challenges in the Sahel. Your continued support and that of the Peacebuilding fund will be critical this year and beyond to sustain ongoing efforts. On 3 February 2021 the Security Council welcomed the report of the SG on the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel and the briefing held on 11 January 2021 by former SRSG Ibn Chambas.

In its Presidential Statement, it requested the SG to explore the feasibility of a civilian joint project between UNOWAS and regional organizations, such as the G5 Sahel, ECOWAS and the African Union, with the aim of stemming the increasingly destabilizing phenomena of intercommunal violence and preventing its recurrence in the region. This is an opportunity for further collaboration across the UN System in the context of UNISS and with other partners.

On 7-9 February, UNOWAS in partnership with UNDP Regional Director for Africa, convened the UNISS steering committee with the participation of the Special Coordinator, all Resident Coordinators of the Sahel region and Regional Directors for West and Central Africa. The meeting took stock of status of implementation of the UNISS; most important, an ambitious road map to revamp the UNISS with scale, speed, enhanced integration of the 3 pillars of the strategy, i.e. resilience, governance and security, and greater impact was agreed to.

As indicated by Mar, this road map is the guiding light of the UN system strategic interventions in the coming years. The PBF catalytical funding will be leveraged. The Seventh Summit of the G5 Sahel Heads of State held in February 2021 included for the first time other West African leaders,
including President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana and President Macky Sall of Senegal. They announced an ambitious inter-ministerial strategy to redeploy state institutions and ensure the provision of basic social services, with the Mopti/Gao area in Mali and the Ouagadougou/Kaya/Dori axis in Burkina Faso selected for the pilot phase.

They also pledged more intercommunity dialogues, reconciliation and responses to land conflicts. These are areas where the Peacebuilding Commission, and the accompanying Peacebuilding Fund,
are particularly well suited to engage. Finally, the recent high-level conference in Niamey held in March 2021 on ‘Stabilisation dans les zones de conflit et lutte contre le terrorisme insurrectionnel dans le Sahel Central et le bassin du Lac Chad’ recognizes that the solution to the problems in the Sahel is first and foremost political, and the responsibility of states and political actors
in the Sahel.

The role of external partners is that of support to nationally and regionally-owned strategies. It also highlights the whole-of-society approach taking into consideration governance stakes at different levels (security, political, socio-economic). This is another opportunity for the UN System to continue in this trajectory with the support of the PBC and PBF.

Excellencies,
In closing, I would like to underscore that the Peacebuilding Commission has an important role to ensure that engagement in the Sahel is based on national priorities as well as local and regional
dynamics. I encourage the Peacebuilding Commission to continue to leverage its convening role to mobilize partners in view of supporting nationally and regionally-driven processes.

I thank you for your attention.

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Statement by Mr. Abdoulaye Mar Dieye at the Aswan Forum on Sustainable Peace and Developed II, 5 March 2021. – Archive

Statement by Mr. Abdoulaye Mar Dieye at the Aswan Forum on Sustainable Peace and Developed II, 5 March 2021. - Archive

 Excellencies, Dear Friends.

I am very pleased to be among you today to discuss “the Sahel: a region in dire need of a new modus operandi”. I welcome the Forum Organizers’ angle and would even go beyond this axiom by affirming that the Sahel people and governments, as well as all actors working in the region, need a new paradigm for lasting peace and sustainable development. Luckily, a roadmap has been laid out at the recent G5 Sahel Summit and Sahel Alliance General Assembly in Ndjamena (15-16 February), not only demonstrating that peace, security and development are intertwined and mutually reinforcing, but also calling for a political and civil surge, most importantly a surge in development action.

Ndjamena should enable progress: Firstly, on a diplomatic level by strengthening cooperation between the G5 Sahel and the countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea, and by promoting better cooperation with countries Algeria, Morocco and Egypt. Secondly, on a political level by accelerating the implementation of the Algiers accords by the Malian authorities. Thirdly, through a civil surge to ensure progress on stability, inclusion, and sustainable development. By this, I mean supporting the governments and people of the Sahel in reinforcing State capacities and presence, in particular at border areas, and by ensuring access of populations to basic services, especially health and education. Operational successes will remain fragile without long-term development achievements.

It will require more prevention, responsiveness, and better coordination between the different actors, not only in the G5 Sahel countries but also in the whole region. This is where the UN plays a bridging role, ensuring continuity and coherence of action, as well as strengthened coordination and cooperation. The UN Support Plan for the Sahel was conceived to provide a common vision through a joint framework, the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel, to all partners.

But first and foremost, it was developed to make a real change in the region. Operational successes will remain fragile if we do not operate within the “ Nexus Plus” vision, encompassing peace and security, humanitarian assistance, development aid, but also human rights and other important dimensions such as religion, culture, and history, to efficiently address the root causes of the crisis and build a solid foundation for a better future for the Sahelian people. Operational successes will remain fragile if we do not, as my good brother, Maman Sidikou rightly put it, fully align our various supports and funding with national and regional strategic priorities. This must be a binding imperative.

Dear friends, “Pivoting” on the Sahel , in a post Covid-era, and in a SDGs Decade of Action , will require some massive leverage, primarily around three critical points:

(1) Putting the populations at the center of our collective action:

By that, I mean their wellbeing, their safety, their mobility, their dreams and aspirations, but also ensuring their ownership and participation through national and local engagement. Engagement and involvement of local leaders should guide strategic Investments. That’s why we need to bring in more the diaspora, youth and influencers, and creative people from the private sector as well as civil society. I seize the opportunity to welcome here the great work of the “Citizens Coalition for the Sahel”. Citizens of the Sahel want to be given a voice and a role in developing their countries. They want to see addressed the syndrome of the “elites” and “experts” capture of the Sahel narrative and action. They want to be recognized as agents of change, especially women, girls and young men – not as victims, perpetrators of violence, or vulnerable groups.

It is hence instrumental to ensure inclusivity of women and youth in political decision making and peace processes, and to invest in youth leveraging digitalization and innovation as new channels of development taking advantage of the fourth industrial revolution. Women and Youth are a cross-cutting priorities at the core of our action in the Sahel but also those of partners. Evidence shows that investing in women’s and girls’ education, health and economic opportunities is essential to accelerate the demographic transition, moving the human capital agenda forward and spurring sustainable economic growth. Citizens in all Sahelian countries call for reform. Which brings me to my second point:

(2) Pulling out the necessary institutional and structural reforms that will enable the transformation of the economies of the region:

This would require changing the narrative underpinning the current international strategy from one highlighting insecurity to one centered on governance; one where the root of the Sahel’s crisis is key and will prompt coalescence of the populations of the region to our common objectives. Military operations are important but should be at the service of such an approach. For that, we must reorder our collective priorities, and put wider governance reform and local dialogue first, in order to foster the state’s return to rural areas, ensure equal access to social services, and improve public-sector financial management. We must support Sahelian States build institutions’ accountability and performance and deliver basic public goods in a fair and inclusive manner, and adopt policies better tailored to today’s reality, namely mitigating local conflicts and supporting reforms targeting poor governance and corruption.

(3) Generating a transition towards greening the Sahel through the Green and Digital Revolutions:

We have entered 2021 with exciting news for the development and green economy of the Sahel. At the OnePlanetSummit, 14.3 billion dollars was pledged to advance the implementation of the Great Green Wall. In a post-COVID context, where Sahelian countries are grappling with very stressed fiscal space and funding problems, the Great Green Wall will be a catalyst to better rebuild after the pandemic, by accelerating sustainable development.

As the UN Secretary-General said, “2021 must be the year of humanity’s reconciliation with nature.” Nature-based solutions must be at the center of green economic and social recovery in the Sahel, especially for women and youth. It took the Marshall Plan to lift Europe out of the grooves of the aftermath of the2nd World War. It may require the same energy to lift the Sahel and put it on the right path to recovery. Such investment would build on the Sahel’s major assets, including solar and water energy, and its incredible demographic dividend. We need to aim at bigger plans, at innovative funding initiatives.

Dear friends,

I would like to conclude by saying that it is high time for us to shift the narrative on the Sahel. If we want to attract growth, prosperity. success and foster hope, we need to shed a light on the Sahel’s resources, opportunities, positive dynamics, and successful national and regional initiatives. This first requires a shift in mindset, especially from us actors working on the Sahel crisis, as well as from the Sahelian youth.

We can play our part by maintaining the Sahel Agenda on major Global Fora (Aswan, TICAD, G7, G20 summits). The Sahel is a Global Public Good. Let’s protect it and invest in it together. Only by joining our forces to showcase the richness of the Sahel, the success stories, and the impact of our collective and integrated actions, will we be able to progress on our path towards achieving lasting peace and sustainable development in the region and beyond.

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Secretary-General’s message 2021 on International Youth Day – Archive

Secretary-General’s message 2021 on International Youth Day - Archive

Young people are on the frontlines of the struggle to build a better future for all.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the dire need for the kind of transformational change they
seek – and young people must be full partners in that effort.

This year’s International Youth Day highlights solutions developed by young innovators to address
challenges to our food systems. They are tackling inequities in food security, biodiversity loss, threats
to our environment and much more.

We see that same drive, creativity, and commitment in many other areas – from gender equality to
education and skills development.

But young people cannot do it on their own. They need allies to make sure they are engaged, included
and understood.

Guided by the United Nations system-wide Youth Strategy, Youth2030, the UN is strengthening its
work for and with young people worldwide.

I urge everyone to guarantee young people a seat at the table as we build a world based on inclusive,
fair, and sustainable development for all.

Thank you.

António Guterres

 

Sources: International Youth Day – Messages | United Nations

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Réunion du Conseil de Sécurité en formule Arria sur le « renforcement d’une approche intégrée de la paix et de la sécurité au Sahel à travers un prisme genre » – Archive

Réunion du Conseil de Sécurité en formule Arria sur le « renforcement d’une approche intégrée de la paix et de la sécurité au Sahel à travers un prisme genre » – Archive

Déclaration de Clôture de M. Abdoulaye Mar DIEYE

Coordonnateur Spécial des Nations Unies pour le Développement au Sahel.

New York, 2 Juin 2021.

Monsieur l’ Ambassadeur du Niger & Président de séance,

Madame la Vice-Secrétaire Générale des Nations Unies

Excellences

Mesdames & Messieurs,

Je me réjouis de participer  à  cette rencontre  du Conseil de Sécurité  sur « renforcement d’une approche intégrée de la paix et de la sécurité au Sahel à travers un prisme genre ». Et c’est un honneur pour moi de faire la synthèse  de nos travaux.

Notre rencontre d’aujourd’hui  fut une belle moisson ! Plus de 40 discours  !

Monsieur le Président de séance,

Vous avez raison de dire, à l’entame de votre allocation d’ouverture que nous avons battu un record d’engagement et de participation en présentiel, en ces temps où la pandémie Covid 19 exerce encore de sérieuses restrictions sur nos mouvements.

Et notre présence massive aujourd’hui , n’est que justice rendue ! Car nous ne faisons que reconnaitre l’impérieuse primauté du rôle des femmes dans la construction de la paix , de la sécurité et du développement  au Sahel.

Au demeurant, l’investissement dans le genre, dans les femmes et les filles, est la voie royale pour transformer notre monde,  notre continent , l’Afrique, et notre sous-région le Sahel, en des zones de paix , de sécurité et de prospérité durables.

Nous notons, au cours de nos diverses interventions, le vote unanime des participants  pour l’établissement du Groupe des Nations Unies des Amis des Femmes du Sahel ainsi que notre détermination  à l’accompagner de façon effective ; nous avons aussi enregistré une souscription massive , pour ne pas dire totale ,  à l’adhésion au  Groupe , dont le Comité Directeur sera présidé par le Niger, l’Union Africaine et l’Union Européenne ; avec un Conseil de Direction Consultatif co-présidé par ONU-Femmes et le Bureau du Coordinateur Spécial des Nations Unies pour le Sahel.

Comme l’a dit Madame la Vice-Secrétaire Générale des Nations Unies, les orientations de notre Groupe seront d’un apport précieux et instrumental au travail des Nations Unies dans le Sahel ; tant au niveau régional, qu’au niveau des pays.

Notre réunion demande l’alignement des travaux du Groupe des Amis des Femmes au Sahel , avec les stratégies nationales et les stratégies d’instances comme l’Union  Africaine, la CEDEAO,  les Nations Unies notamment à travers l’UNISS et l’Agena 2030,  l’Alliance & la  Coalition Sahel ; ceci afin de promouvoir la synergie entre partenaires.

Nous avons aussi convenu que le Groupe devra inscrire ses travaux dans le temps de  l’optimisme, de l’action, du changement  tangible et de l’accélération ; avec  un sens aigu de résultats à  impacts pérennes ; notamment dans les domaines de la stabilisation, du développement , de la construction  de la paix  et de la sécurité.

Des recommandations concrètes , pratiques et mesurables ont été enregistrées  lors de nos délibérations, incluant :

  1. La nécessité d’appuyer et de porter à  plus grande échelle les différentes initiatives et dynamiques positives sur les femmes et qui sont en cours ; et plus  singulièrement  celles initiées  dans le cadre du G5 Sahel
  2. La mise en place d’un cadre fonctionnel permettant d’accompagner les femmes et leurs initiatives  de paix  , sécurité et développement
  3. La transformation effective ( en réalité tangibles)  des engagements internationaux , régionaux et nationaux  déjà pris.
  4. Le renforment des capacités  des femmes, notamment dans l’entreprenariat féminin, la prévention et la médiation
  5. L’établissement d’une plateforme permanente d’échanges entre le Groupe  des Amis et les structures existantes de promotion de l’action de la femme dans le Sahel ; et ceci pour assurer une cocréation et une appropriation  locale des actions à mettre en œuvre
  6. Assurer que les politiques publiques, singulièrement  les politiques macroéconomiques, prennent en compte effectivement  la question genre ; notamment au niveau de la budgétisation
  7. Mettre en œuvre l’Initiative  «  Génération Egalite » dans le Sahel
  8. Investir massivement dans le Nexus Genre-Education-Sécurité-Changement   Climatique ; avec un investissement conséquent sur les adolescentes
  9. Etablissement   par le Groupe des Amis, d’un partenariat significatif  avec la Société  Civile dans le Sahel , le Secteur Privé  et les Réseaux de Femmes Leaders
  10. Promouvoir la mobilisation effective et conséquente  de ressources pour financer ,les acticités relatives au genre dans le Sahel, notamment l’Agenda Femmes-Paix-Sécurité du Conseil de Sécurité des  Nations Unies
  11. Assurer que le Groupe puisse servir de plateforme pour  combattre toutes formes de violations des droits des femmes et de discriminations ; et promouvoir  la  reddition des comptes
  12. Assurer un plaidoyer pour un accès  accru des femmes aux instance politiques et managériales de décision
  13. Intercéder au niveau des partenaires au développement  afin que les procédures de décaissement  des ressources soient allégées
  14. Promouvoir l’analyse participative  et conjointe des femmes, aux risques
  15. Promouvoir  l’intégration accrue des femmes dans les états–major et le leadership des opérations de maintien de la paix
  16. Promouvoir l’élaboration et l’exécution effective  de plans nationaux pour la  mise  en œuvre de la Résolution 325 du Conseil Sécurité et les résolutions subséquentes
  17. Assurer  l’interaction régulière du Groupe  des Amis avec la  Commissions de Consolidation de la Paix ; et plaidoyer pour la participation  de la Société Civile dans cette Commission .

Voilà , Mesdames et Messieurs, résumée en 18 points, la synthèse de nos travaux.

Je demeure convaincu  qu’ avec le  Groupe des Amis des Femmes au Sahel qui vient d’être créé, nous disposons  d’un instrument puissant pour porter à un stade supérieur nos interventions collectives dans le Sahel.

Je vous remercie.

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