In the Sahel I region,
especially in the semi-arid area, pastoralist and agro –pastoralist
have been for long time marginalized by global policy framework at
national level and regional level that normally are consistent
with sedentary communities.
The evident lack of
investment in basic services appropriated to way of living of
pastoralist communities that are in permanent movement across the
countries denial basic rights for those communities ( eg:
education, health ,…).
The dynamic of control over
rare resources on water and lands has been one of the root causes
of frequent communities’ conflicts. The region also has been also
affected by conflict for long time that although today the
conflict open conflict has ceased, their still remain a high
number of small arms circulating in communities that fuel banditry
and keeling. The cultural environment has influenced a men
dominated environment that created gender inequalities and
disparities. in the semi arid areas in Mauritania, Northen Mali
and Burkina, the area still chronically in deficit in term of
food production. In the area, active and dynamic civil society is
emerging and is instrumental in policy influencing thanks to the
decentralization framework in some of the countries .
Programme Title
Sahel 1 Area Programme
Location(s)
Guinea Conakry,
Burkina Faso, Mauritania
Duration
4 years
12
Programme Coordinator
Theothile Sarah
General Programme Objective
Contribute to the improvement of livelihood(
food security and pastoralism) of
marginalized population trough building
articulated citizenship movement in areas in
the Sahel1.
The program
targets the semi arid
pastoralist area of Burkina, Mauritania and Mali. The
activities could be synthesised in the following area:
Decentralization and Governance
Livelihood
HIV/AIDS
Conflict
Thematic focus and activities
Decentralization and Governance:
This activities aim at strengthening the
decentralization process to make it work for the most
marginalized. They consist in supporting local
government process of planning, training of elected
people on civic education. The program supports also
those institutions in institutional analysis and
management.
Livelihoods:
It consists in support to local organizations and CBOs
in area of research, organizational development; access
to capital (micro-credit), training for access to
market, advocacy and economic analysis. Many advocacy
activities have been organized with those groups around
the issue of cotton and banana. An important work has
been done in OGM campaigns in the context of cotton
campaign. ACORD is part of relevant campaigns at high
level in the region, mainly on issue of OGM, cotton
campaign, EPAS.
HIV/AIDS: The
activities in this area aim to policy improvement and
access to treatment. The core activities in regards to
this are research; advocacy, sensitization training and
building communities led organizations alliances.
Conflict: the
aim here consists of contribute to decreasing of the
movement of small arms. ACORD carried study on peace
culture, provides capacity building ( training and
sensitization) on conflict analysis and has been active
in creation of space for engagement on the issue(
international conference on conflict). ACORD also has
produced a disarmament guide.
Geographic Area Programmes These are programmes that
are working beyond national borders where
necessary, which are self-managed and combining
practical activities with research / critical
analysis and social action and seeking changes
in their particular geographic areas both at
local global . Area Programs are defined by a
shared/common problem, informed by social
exclusion analysis. . ... more
Thematic Programmes Its aim is to address
crosscutting issues, which affect the Africa
continent. Thematic programmes in ACORD are
about the issues within area programmes and
those that go beyond the geographical proximity
of the area programmes. They are strategic
interventions on interrelated issues to bring
about change at different levels - from local to
global. They are research-based, link area
programmes together that scale-up and amplify
the work of area programmes , work around a
particular issue.... more
Social Action Programme The aim of the Social
Action Programme is to address policies,
systems, attitudes, practices and institutions,
which lead to social injustice by supporting
people in the margin of African societies into
joining and strengthening the African and global
social movement, whilst ensuring that ACORD is
part of the process, across Africa and globally.
... more
Organizational Development Programme The aim of the
Organisational Development Programme is to try
and develop an institution, for which
governance, staff and systems reflect its
engagement for social justice and development
both inside and outside. In this context, for
instance, the programme is ensuring a process of
transformation of 500 members of ACORD staff
across Africa into active citizens in their own
countries and globally.
Northern Programme: The presence of the
ACORD Secretariat in Europe was intended,
... more
