AfDB, partners move to boost food, nutritional security in the Sahel
Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (PANA) - The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) have launched the second phase of the Programme to Build Resilience to Food and Nutrition Insecurity in the Sahel (P2-P2RS).
Initiated by the Bank, the programme focuses on addressing structural causes of food and nutrition insecurity by sustainably boosting agro-sylva-pastoral and fishery productivity across the Sahel, enhancing vulnerable households’ productivity, income, and access to infrastructure and social services.
The launch ceremony for the second phase, held in Ouagadougou on 15 April 2024, was chaired by Amadou Dicko, Burkina Faso’s Minister for Animal Resources.
Attendees included Abdoulaye Mohamadou, Executive Secretary of the CILSS; Daniel Ndoye, African Development Bank Country Manager in Burkina Faso, and representatives from various regional organizations.
Dicko praised the Bank for its steadfast commitment to helping build resilience in Africa through such collaborative initiatives.
“P2-P2RS embodies our commitment to adopting a holistic, integrated approach to managing the various challenges faced by our countries; it is fully in line with the national and regional strategic projects adopted to improve food and nutritional security," Dicko said.
Phase 1 of the programme, implemented between 2014 to 2022 in seven countries -- Burkina Faso, Chad, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal -- at around 205 million euros, saw significant achievements, including the construction of 235 water transport and distribution structures, and the development of 5,500 hectares of irrigated land. In addition, 12,000 hectares of degraded agricultural land was restored.
Building upon this, Phase 2 covers 10 countries - Burkina Faso, Chad, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo -- from 2023 to 2027, emphasising climate-smart initiatives.
The Bank Group has earmarked $255.28 million, out of a total cost of around $335.04 million, for the second phase through the African Development Fund.
Other co-financiers are the West African Development Bank, $56.33 million; the Canada-African Development Bank Climate Fund, $5.4 million; and the Global Centre on Adaptation, $520,000.
The Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel will provide counterpart funding of $330,000, while the beneficiary countries will together contribute $16.83 million.
Beneficiary communities will provide labour and human resources needs estimated at around $6.86 million.
In his remarks at the launch, Country Manager Ndoye reaffirmed the Bank Group’s commitment to aligning the programme with its “Feed Africa,” “Integrate Africa,” and “Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa” operational objectives.
He said the Bank was pursuing efforts to mobilise additional resources. Mr. Daniel Ndoye, AfDB Country Manager for Burkina Faso, emphasised the programme's consistency with the Bank's strategy.
CILSS Executive Secretary Mohamadou said the project will support around 2,000 agricultural value chain sub-projects, of which 50 percent will be dedicated to women, 620 small- and medium-sized businesses, including 50 percent for young people and women.
It will also foster some 8,300 schemes involving access to technologies such as solar kits.
He stated that these initiatives will directly impact over 900,000 people (50 percent women) and nearly 6 million indirect beneficiaries (also 50 percent women) and enable the creation of 50,000 jobs, with 50 percent dedicated to women.
The project will increase carbon sequestration to about 14 million tonnes of CO2 as a side benefit of adaptation measures.
-0- PANA VAO/MA 30April2024
