(4minutes read)
· Efforts to improve the productivity of pastoral production systems in the Sahel are on with International Development Agency sanctioning a US$375 million new fianace for the development of the region
· The fund was approved by the Board of World Bank’s Executive Directors to support the implementation of the second Regional Sahel Pastoralism Support Project
· Pastoral activities were severely impacted by Covid-19 pandemic, leading to sharp increases in livestock prices
· Markets closures and movement limitations also impacted the demand for cattle
· It is estimated that 13 million people including the youth and women will directly benefit from the project activities
Efforts to improve the productivity of pastoral production systems in the Sahel are on with the International Development Agency sanctioning a US$375 million new finance for the development of the region. The fund was approved by the Board of World Bank’s Executive Directors to support the implementation of the second Regional Sahel Pastoralism Support Project.
The scheme provides livelihoods for more than 20 million people in the Sahel and is implemented in select areas of the region, such as Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal etc. The scheme will provide investments in animal health systems, increase access and governance of natural resources – including new grazing areas and more water infrastructure, support pastoralists’ peaceful mobility along the local and cross-border mobility routes, and increase income.
Pastoral activities were severely impacted by Covid-19 pandemic, leading to sharp increases in livestock prices. Markets closures and movement limitations also impacted the demand for cattle. .The new project will contribute to targeted responses to these pandemic-related challenges and will improve pastoral livestock value chains, facilitate livestock trade and support regional market integration, among other things.
It is estimated that 13 million people including the youth and women will directly benefit from the project activities. Food insecurity and malnutrition are major banes of the region, despite continuous works by development agencies. Livelihood of the people is closely linked with the number of cattle they own in the landlocked country. The scheme will seek to integrate the programs with other development agencies . Cattle remain one of the main exports from Sahelian landlocked countries. The program seeks to harmonize regulations and increase coordination among countries to fully realize the potential of pastoralism and poverty reduction in the Sahel region.
