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The Future of Governance in the Sahel: New Report Launched

Thursday 25 September 2025: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau or Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, was joined by the Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, Muhammed B.S Jallow, and the United Nations Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel, Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, to announce the official launch of The Future of Governance in the Sahel Report: (Re)building Social Cohesion and Public Trust, on the margins of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly. Led and sponsored by UNDP, the report, unveiled earlier this year at the inaugural Sahel Governance Forum in Banjul, is the result of over a year of in-depth research, regional consultations, and peer review. It offers a critical analysis of governance challenges in the Sahel—including structural weaknesses in justice, transparency, and public service delivery—and sets out a roadmap for restoring trust between states and citizens through inclusive institutions, local leadership, and economic justice.

The High-Level Side Event at the 80th United Nations General Assembly was co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of the Gambia to the UN and UNDP, in collaboration with The Office of the Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel and UNDP and officiated by H.E. Mr. Muhammad B.S. Jallow Vice President of The Republic of The Gambia.

This launch provides a novel impetus for dialogue among governments, regional institutions, civil society, private sector leaders, and international partners on advancing a new governance paradigm in the Sahel region. The report emphasizes that shifting from security-led to governance-centered approaches is essential to building public trust, social cohesion, and long-term stability in the region. Anchored in the values of transparency, dignity, justice, and inclusion, the Sahel Governance Report calls for leadership rooted in service and accountability and offers a shared call to action: to make governance work for all. Read Full Report: ENG & FR

LANCEMENT

Le Gouvernement du Niger et les Nations unies lancent quatre programmes phares conjoints pour impulser transformation, croissance et cohésion sociale

Niamey, 27 août 2025 –Le 27 août 2025 à Niamey, le Gouvernement du Niger et le Système des Nations unies ont franchi une nouvelle étape dans leur partenariat stratégique avec le lancement officiel de quatre programmes phares conjoints. L’événement a rassemblé des responsables gouvernementaux, des représentants onusiens, des diplomates, des partenaires techniques et financiers, ainsi que des acteurs de la société civile et du secteur privé. Ces programmes visent à accélérer les progrès vers les Objectifs de Développement Durable (ODD) tout en soutenant l’agenda de transformation du Niger à l’horizon 2030. Ils traduisent une double ambition : renforcer l’alignement avec les priorités nationales et promouvoir une approche intégrée, inclusive et transformationnelle dans la mise en œuvre des interventions onusiennes.

Présidée par le Ministre des Affaires Étrangères, de la Coopération et des Nigériens à l’extérieur, représentant le Premier Ministre, la cérémonie de lancement a mis en avant la large appropriation et la vision partagée qui sous-tendent cette initiative. En réunissant un large éventail d’acteurs nationaux et internationaux – des institutions publiques à la société civile, en passant par le monde académique et le secteur privé – le processus illustre un esprit de co-construction et de coresponsabilité. Cette dynamique collaborative souligne l’importance stratégique des programmes en tant qu’engagement à la fois national et international pour la trajectoire de développement durable du Niger.

En savoir plus

THE UNISS E-NEWSLETTER, The Griot is Out. We are happy to share, the Latest E-Newsletter Publication of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel. This is a special edition that focuses on UN’s constructive engagement efforts in the Sahel Region and its advocacy for a continuation of development support for the countries of the region.

We are happy to share, the Latest E-Newsletter Publication of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel. This is a special edition that focuses on UN’s constructive engagement efforts in the Sahel Region and its advocacy for a continuation of development support for the countries of the region.

Join us as we discover the amazing journeys led by the UN system in the Sahel.

MESSAGE OF UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE SAHEL, USG ABDOULAYE MAR DIEYE, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE SECOND EDITION OF THE VOICES OF THE SAHEL: CONVERSATIONS, VISIONS AND SOLUTIONS

Dakar, 30 September 2024

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 Dear Youth and Women of the Sahel, Colleagues, and Partners, 

             Let me start by welcoming you to the second edition of our regional Consultation; the Voices from the Sahel, a platform where youths and women of the Sahel and beyond, and the United Nations, engage directly on key topics that accelerate durable progress of the region.

          Our region – the Sahel, beyond the challenges we see and hear, is not without its unmeasurable potential. Of, course, the opportunities for development, peace, stability and progress in this region supersede the current challenges confronting it. As I recalled to you in my opening message in 2021, at our first consultation, most of the challenges the Sahel is facing are more, man-made than natural, which makes the challenges solvable than perennial. 

            The United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel and the United Nations Support Plan fully recognize women and youth of the Sahel as key players in our implementation process. This means, our reflections on how to accompany the States and people must always ensure your inclusion and active participation, so that collectively, we can engage in frank, durable and transformative solutions to achieve stable development, peace and prosperity.  Read Full statement: Here

         

 

|PRESS RELEASE| SECOND EDITION OF THE VOICES FROM THE SAHEL: CONVERSATION, VISIONS AND SOLUTIONS

##    This edition of the consultation focuses on amplifying the voices of youth, shifting more attention to young women, to better understand their needs, ensuring their voices are heard and concerns equally addressed, as well as identifying key areas where the UN in the Sahel can provide more effective and transformative support for sustainable social and economic development for a more peaceful, stable, resilient, and prosperous Sahel. The sessions shall be moderated by UN Regional Directors of Agencies, Funds and Programmes. September 30 to 25 October 2024

Read full: PRESS RELEASE

## Follow us: For Regular updates: UNISS X

## –Registration procedure below.

Instructions on how to Register and participate  Instructions pour s’inscrire et pour participer 
In order to register and to take part in the Consultation, you are required to sign up (register) at https://www.sparkblue.org/with your email address. The steps to follow are:

1.       Go to https://www.sparkblue.org/ and click on sign up.

2.       It will prompt you to enter your email and username and then click on, create account.

3.       A link will be sent to your email asking you to create your password and enter profile details. Copy it and paste on your browser.

4.       Then you create your password and enter the profile details including a profile picture if you desire.

5.       There, it is done.

6.       Now, go to the Voices of the Sahel Conversation Platform at: https://www.sparkblue.org/group/voices-sahel-conversations-visions-solutions-second-edition

7.       On the left side of your screen, you will see Join. Click on it and then, you click on join group.

* Note that at the on right corner of the page, you have the option to select your preferred language for viewing the content. 

 

Afin de vous inscrire et de participer à aux conversations Sahel sur la plateforme Spark Blue, vous devez vous enregistrer (vous inscrire) sur https://www.sparkblue.org/ avec votre adresse électronique. Les étapes à suivre sont les suivantes :

1.       Allez sur https://www.sparkblue.org/ et cliquez sur “sign up”.

2.       Il vous sera demandé d’entrer votre adresse électronique et votre nom d’utilisateur, puis de cliquer sur Créer un compte (create account)

3.       Un lien sera envoyé à votre e-mail vous demandant de créer votre mot de passe et d’entrer les détails de votre profil. Copiez-le et collez-le sur votre navigateur.

4.       Ensuite, vous créez votre mot de passe et entrez les détails du profil, y compris une photo de profil si vous le souhaitez.

5.       Voilà, c’est fait.

6.       Maintenant, allez sur la plateforme de la conversation Voix du Sahel à l’adresse suivante :https://www.sparkblue.org/group/voices-sahel-conversations-visions-solutions-second-edition

7.       Sur le côté gauche de votre écran, vous verrez Join. Cliquez dessus et ensuite, vous cliquez sur rejoindre le groupe (Join group).

* Notez que dans le coin supérieur droit de la page, vous avez la possibilité de sélectionner votre langue préférée pour visualiser le contenu.

### For more information:

Contact: Ashu Hailshamy (ashu.hailshamy@undp.org); Jiyeon Park (jiyeon.park@undp.org), Madina Ba (madina.ba@un.org); Aicha Gamby (mame.gamby@un.org)

Visit: https://uniss-sahel.org/

Follow us on:https://x.com/unis_sahel

UNDP LAUNCHES THE IAMSAHEL CAMPAIGN INITIATIVE

The launch, which was done on Thursday 15 August 2024, introduced the #IAMSahel campaign to the public, national, regional and global audience. As part of the overall Change of the Narrative Initiative on the Sahel, this campaign showcases the resilience and ingenuity of the Sahelians and engaging everyone in the narrative of opportunity and growth within the region.

Rationale
The online launch was a crucial part of the UNDP’s #IAMSAHEL campaign. This virtual event
aimed to engage journalists and media personnel worldwide, ensuring a broad and
impactful reach. The digital platform allowed for interactive engagement, ensuring that the
diverse narratives of the Sahel are shared widely and effectively.

Objectives
1. Introduce the #IAMSahel campaign to a global audience, highlighting why the
campaign and the expected outcome.
2. Showcase transformative impact stories and initiatives from the Sahel that illustrate
ingenuity, resilience and innovation – in a way that the media hardly tells or covers.
3. Engage journalists and media personnel, encouraging them to relook at the narratives
about the Sahel to provide a well-balanced story.
4. Foster a balanced discourse that recognizes challenges but predominantly helps to
surface transformative developments, actions, and tangible opportunities within the
Sahel that put Sahelians in the driver’s seat (For more…)

Watch the Launch: Here

Join/Follow the campaign on X: Here, HereHere

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SALAM SAHEL: Un nouveau canal de communication (chaîne de podcasts) pour l’Alliance Sahel vient d’être lancé!

SALAM SAHEL: Un nouveau canal de communication (chaîne de podcasts) pour l’Alliance Sahel vient d’être lancé!

  The new communication channel for the Sahel Alliance called “SALAM SAHEL” aims to share expert opinions on development issues in the Sahel.
 
          The recent podcast had as guest the United Nations Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel,  Mr. Abdoulaye Mar DIEYE  where he conveyed key messages on issues relating to the development of the region, especially in the current context.

      Mr. Mar Dieye  sent concrete messages to governments and development partners:

  • “There is a need for populations to regain their dignity”
  • “The notion of development must not be compromised by political and security issues. We must stay in the moment of action despite the difficulties.”

To follow the channel and listen to the podcast,  click on the following links:

The podcast can also be listened to on these main platforms:

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Sécurité en Afrique de l’Ouest 2023- Investir la filière agricole

Sécurité en Afrique de l’Ouest 2023- Investir la filière agricole

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Dans le contexte de renouvellement de
l’approche française envers le continent
africain, ainsi qu’en raison d’une dégradation sécuritaire continue au Sahel et dans le nord des pays du Golfe de Guinée, l’Institut Montaigne
a fait le choix de travailler sur des axes de politiques publiques en faveur de l’Afrique de l’Ouest afin de participer à une réflexion sécuritaire renouvelée, s’appuyant sur une compréhension fine des racines du jihadisme et des solutions socio-économiques à y apporter…

(Lire en plus…) et Ici

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PRESS RELEASE – 38th HIGH-LEVEL MEETING OF HEADS OF UN MISSIONS

PRESS RELEASE – 38th HIGH-LEVEL MEETING OF HEADS OF UN MISSIONS

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Dakar, 12 September 2023 – The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Leonardo Santos Simao, hosted, on 12 September 2023 in Dakar, Senegal, the 38th. Meeting of the Heads of the United Nations Missions.

The objective of the meeting was to take stock of political and security situation, as well as development and governance-related issues and trends across the Sahel, West and Central
Africa regions. The meeting particularly aimed to agree on ways to recalibrate the UN approach and review its strategic engagement to better address the multifaceted challenges, and safeguard principles of democratic governance, rule of law and restoration of confidence in Governments, including in the context of relevant African instruments adopted by the African Union and other Regional economic communities/regional mechanisms. The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange views on the principle of subsidiarity, complementarity and comparative advantages, to allow more appropriate responses to crisis between the UN and the regional organisations..

Read More:…

In English: (Read More)

In French: (Read More).

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USG Abdoulaye Mar Dieye Participates, at the Confindustria Africa Event in Rome, Italy.

USG Abdoulaye Mar Dieye Participates, at the Confindustria Africa Event in Rome, Italy.

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Dakar Senegal, 23 June 2023.

Today 23 June 2023, the United Nations Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel, Under Secretary-General Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, participated at the Confindustria Africa Event in Rome, Italy (the Italian umbrella association of private companies). The aim of this important event that took place at the LUISS University; School of Governance in Rome, was to engage in discussions on the current status of the Sahel vis à vis the growing interest of Italian Private Sector interests and opportunities in the Sahel region. Key discussions centered on Private sector possible investment in the Sahel, notably possible pathways for strategic partnership between the Private Sector in Italy and those in the Sahel Region. The meeting was co-organized by Confindustria Assafrica & Mediterraneo and LUISS University.

The United Nations Special Coordinator addressed the select group comprised of the Private Sector, Researchers, diplomats, Specialists and the University Community. Among other key interventions, the Special Coordinator spoke to the three (3) Arcs evident in the Sahel; (1) Arc of despair (which is the old narrative); (2) Arc of solidarity – (noting that the Sahel is a global public good) and (3) the Arc of prosperity (the opportunities in the Sahel beyond natural resources)

Read more