SWAW2012

Sahel and West Africa Week 2012 › Strategy and Policy Group Meeting

Strategy and Policy Group Meeting

 

‌Strategy and Policy Group meeting, 8 December 2012, Ouagadougou

On 8 December, SWAC Members met to discuss results of the 2011-2012 biennium and reviewed the proposed 2013-14 Programme of Work and Budget. The new biennium will largely build on the achievements of the 2011-2012 work period and continues to focus on the regional governance of food and nutritional security. In additon, a new platform  for reflection will be opened on the Saharo-Sahelian areas, focusing more particularly on transhumant pastoralism. These two areas of work will be supported and complemented by cross-cutting activities which are focused on fostering the impact of SWAC work on policy-making and on providing services to Members. The Strategy and Policy Group meeting was hosted at the UEMOA Commission Headquarters in Ouagadougou.

2013-2014 Work Orientations 

Largely building on achievements of the 2011-2012 period, the new Programme of Work is organised into two dossiers which are supported and complemented by cross-cutting activities.

 

1. Regional governance of food and nutritional security

 
Continuing to support the strengthening of regional governance of food and nutritional security:

  • Support for regional governance, through the strengthening of the Food Crisis Prevention Network (RPCA) under the political auspices of the ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions;
  • The application of the Charter for Food Crisis Prevention and Management;
  • Support for the establishment of the Regional Food Reserve; and
  • Support for the regional organisations in international initiatives and debates.
Improving regional tools for policy management in this area.

Drawing on the work of the “West African Futures programme: Settlement, Market and Food Security” (WAF 2011-2012), more information will be added to the statistical and spatial database in order to provide an overview of the region’s needs which will facilitate the implementation of food and nutritional security strategies. In particular, a protocol will be developed allowing for the collection of harmonised statistics on household food consumption.

 

2. Medium- and long term prospects for the Sahelo- Saharian areas

The Programme of Work also opens a new space for reflection of major concern for West Africa and the rest of the world: the Sahelo-Saharian areas. Beyond “immediate” crises, what potential do these areas have to develop themselves and how can they contribute to the development of the region as a whole? A retrospective Atlas which outlines future prospects will inform this debate. A deeper reflection will be led on the prospects for transhumant pastoralism, in particular in relation to development, food and nutritional security, and security issues.

 

3. Impact on policy-making and services to Members

These two areas of work will be supported and complemented by cross-cutting activities which are focused on fostering the impact of SWAC work on policy-making and on providing services to Members. These activities include the promotion of achievements, advocacy, information and communication and the continued development of the West Africa Gateway as well as other regular services to Members (newsletter, NewsAlerts, website, social networks, video coverage).

 

Related Documents