This rapid assessment report reviews UN, donor, and FDI investments from 2016 to 2020 in the Sahel, conducted between January and May 2021. It evaluates the effectiveness of funding across the humanitarian, development, and peace nexus in ten UNISS-targeted countries based on an analysis of over 400 UN and partner projects and discussions with over 150 stakeholders from the UN, donors, CSOs, and academia. The findings highlight the complexities of project prioritisation and emphasise the need for the UN to act as a convenor and knowledge broker, fostering social cohesion and developing new partnerships for effective prevention strategies.
Assessing the UN strategy for dealing with complex challenges in the Sahel. Since 2012, Mali's conflict has escalated into communal and extremist violence, leading to widespread displacement across the Sahel region. These negative trends, exacerbated by cross-border conflict spill over, now threaten previously unaffected areas like Ghana, Togo, and Benin. Climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic further compound risks. However, while these challenges are significant, the Sahel also presents emerging investment opportunities resulting from UN and partner efforts. The UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS), established in 2013, serves as the global response to the region's complex security and development challenges. After eight years, there's a need to assess the effectiveness of addressing root causes of fragility that drive conflict and displacement exacerbated by climate change.
This rapid assessment report is the culmination of a 5-month dialogue and analysis of the UN, donor and FDI investments between 2016-2020. This assessment was carried out between January - May 2021. With a view of understanding what is working and what is not, the assessment aimed to shed some light on where and how funds are being directed across the humanitarian, development, and peace nexus in the ten targeted UNISS countries. The assessment benefitted from a review of over 400 UN and partner projects, and ten UNSDCFs, as well as other key partner country and regional planning frameworks across the region. Finally, emerging findings were triangulated based on insights gleaned from discussions with over 100 UN staff, and 50 representatives from donors, CSOs, and academic partners engaged across policy, programme, and research spheres in the Sahel. The findings underscore the complexities and innovations in project prioritisation and highlight the need for the UN to act as a convenor and knowledge broker to forge social cohesion and new partnerships for effective prevention strategies at various levels.
There are many windows of opportunities in the Sahel. As evidenced by the UNISS rapid assessment, the Sahel region and its peoples are full of potential to diversify their economies and attract private investment in labour intensive sectors such as agriculture. However, this will require stronger cooperation among the UN, governments, civil society and private sector to address key root causes that continue to prevent progress such as governance, natural resource management, gender equality, access to land, and climate smart practices including off-grid green energy.
Key Take-aways
The rapid assessment of UN investments in the Sahel report outlines five key messages:
Measure what you treasure: Despite significant investments, conflict and displacement continue, highlighting the need for collective efforts to target root causes such as natural resource management and governance more effectively.
Better partner coherence: Despite numerous coordination initiatives, efforts still often occur in silos, necessitating improved policy and program linkages for inclusive targeting of vulnerable groups.
Shifting from funding to financing: Heavy reliance on short-term funding impedes effective partnerships, calling for diversification towards sustainable, long-term financing through private sector partnerships.
Impact and Value of investment: Effective prevention requires partnerships across sectors, emphasising the need for shared evidence and learning architecture to gauge impact accurately.
A blueprint for transformational change: The UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel and corresponding priorities offer a blueprint for transformational change, focusing on targeting fragility root causes and forging innovative partnerships. Addressing the gap between ambition and results requires stronger coherence and collaboration across stakeholders.
