In early November 2024, representatives of the members of the Alliance and its Sahelian partners met in Dakar (Senegal) to assess the implementation of the Integrated Territorial Approach (ITA) in the Sahelian countries. The ITA aims to provide a coordinated response tailored to the specific characteristics and constraints of each region. This approach is supported by local, regional and national authorities in each country.
Context of the Workshop
During the first General Assembly of the Sahel Alliance in February 2020 in Nouakchott, the members of the Sahel Alliance recognised the need to strengthen their operational coordination on the ground in order to improve the effectiveness and impact of their support for populations. In particular, it was recommended to promote a differentiated approach to vulnerable areas based on an integrated territorial approach.
This approach aims to provide a coordinated response from the various stakeholders, supported by local Sahelian authorities, in line with the needs of the population and local, regional and/or national strategies. Its aim is to create the conditions for a lasting resolution to the crisis in the Sahel. The ITA is multi-sectoral and promotes local and decentralised development, based on shared analyses and flexible, tailored funding and implementation procedures.
10 priority intervention areas were identified in collaboration with local, regional and national authorities. Alliance Sahel members are concentrating their efforts in these areas.
The Integrated Territorial Approach is structured around 5 main objectives:
- Define priority areas for action in conjunction with the authorities in each country;
- Carry out a joint assessment of priority areas;
- Engage in close dialogue with national and local authorities;
- Define an operational strategy tailored to each region;
- Promote the coordination of local, regional, national, military, security, humanitarian and development stakeholders and the coherence of their actions.
In addition, the members of the Sahel Alliance are in favour of co-financing or joint instruments, such as the creation of the Sahel Facility in 2021.
Challenges in the Operationalisation of the ITA
Despite significant progress, the operationalisation of the ITA represents a major challenge for the Sahel Alliance. Some successes were achieved, in particular in Mauritania. But changing circumstances in a number of countries have led to a number of difficulties.
First, the presence of armed groups in some regions hinders the mobility of people and the implementation or identification of projects. At local level, the narrowing of the political space and the dissolution of elected local bodies hamper collaboration with the natural partners of ITA projects, whose main objective remains the integration of the actions of Sahel Alliance members into local development plans and policies.
However, the members of the Sahel Alliance often showed flexibility in adapting their actions to volatile contexts, as in Mali with the refocusing of activities on the South Arc of Prevention and the development of a service platform in Kayes, or the refocusing on secondary towns in Burkina Faso.
All these factors call for a period of reflection, in collaboration with local Sahelian stakeholders, to review the initiatives underway, undertake some adjustments to strengthen the effectiveness of ITA at ground level and potentially identify ‘blind spots’ to be addressed by joint initiatives.
Objectives of the ITA Workshop
The workshop brings together representatives from:
- the members of the Sahel Alliance
- local authorities and national associations of local authorities
- local authority financing institutions
- technical officials from Sahelian ministries responsible for decentralisation and/or regional planning
- civil society organisations and think tanks
- representatives of humanitarian stakeholders working on the ITA
The objectives of the workshop are as follows:
- To review the achievements and results of the Integrated Territorial Approach in Sahelian countries, highlighting successes, challenges and lessons learned.
- On the basis of the review, to consider the shape and modalities of a joint ITA funding initiative to meet the specific needs of each country in terms of local planning and the provision of basic services.
To draw up recommendations and guidelines for improving and strengthening the effectiveness of ITA in the Sahel countries, taking into account the specific needs and priorities of each country.
Photo gallery
Copyright: Aude Rossignol / Alliance Sahel 2024
More info
