{"id":17921,"date":"2024-07-04T11:01:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-04T09:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alliance-sahel.org\/press\/next-events\/priorite-developpement-territorial-acces-services-base\/"},"modified":"2024-07-15T12:51:50","modified_gmt":"2024-07-15T10:51:50","slug":"territorial-development-basic-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alliance-sahel.org\/en\/press\/territorial-development-basic-services\/","title":{"rendered":"Territorial Development and Access to Basic Services"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Improving access to basic services in fragile areas is one of the priorities of the Sahel Alliance. These regions, which are often border regions, face major security, humanitarian and climatic vulnerabilities. Far from the capitals, they also often suffer from inadequate public services. In collaboration with local partners, the members of the Sahel Alliance support initiatives in favour of decentralisation, health, and water and sanitation.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Decentralisation Challenges<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initially intended to promote democracy and citizen participation, decentralisation is now recognised as an effective way of providing local, high-quality basic services<\/strong>. However, local and regional authorities are also facing new challenges, particularly in terms of sustainable local economic development (natural resources, waste management, climate change), sometimes in contexts of fragility or insecurity that increase social needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In practice, decentralisation implementation greatly varies depending on the willingness of governments to reform and on political stability or instability factors in a given country. In financial terms, military expenditure, as well as the expenditure linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, has weighed heavily on the budget for local governance and decentralisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adequate funding for local authorities to meet the needs of the population remains a major challenge in all countries. Some responsibilities have been transferred to local authorities in several sectors, but are insufficiently funded. Similarly, the inadequacy of local taxation is currently a real challenge for providing local authorities with sufficient own resources.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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When governance is driven by Citizen needs, remarkable change can happen. Centralised political systems across the Sahel have slowed national economies, weakened basic services, and impeded accountability mechanisms. Decentralisation in many Sahelian countries aims at bringing governments closer to citizens, allowing communities for greater access to decision-making and making their voice heard in shaping their future. These reforms are critical as the complex causes of regional insecurity require a collective and inclusive response.<\/p>\nAlyson McFarland, Country Representative USAID\/Burkina Faso<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Health Challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sahel is the region of the world with the worst health indicators.<\/strong> The WHO estimates that 10.6 million people are in need of emergency health services <\/strong>in the Sahel region. In recent years, malnutrition <\/strong>has worsened as a result of increased conflict, and the shutdown of health facilities in some regions has reduced communities\u2019 access to healthcare. The chronic malnutrition rate is close to 40%. Maternal and infant mortality remain very high (856 deaths per 100,000 live births, one of the highest rates in the world).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children\u2019s Fund (UNICEF) estimate that nearly 2,900,000 children aged between 6 and 59 months could be affected by global acute malnutrition in the Sahel. The tri-border area (Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger) is particularly affected, accounting for around 70% of areas affected by nutritional insecurity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of supporting health insurance coverage, several Sahel countries are implementing adaptive social protection programmes. These programmes can provide beneficiaries with access to 100% free general health insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The members of the Alliance support the Sahel countries in improving health services. Among the results achieved between 2017 and 2022, the following can be highlighted:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Water and Sanitation Sector Challenges<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2022 in the five countries, the rates of access to water and sanitation services show contrasting values. Nonetheless, the following trends can be identified:<\/p>\n\n\n\n