Dakar, 19 September 2023 – Despite its wealth in human and natural resources, the Sahel continues to contend with multifaceted challenges that have placed considerable strain on its governance structures. 

Against this backdrop and amidst rapidly changing geopolitics, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) convened a two-day inception workshop comprising approximately twenty thought leaders, policymakers and senior experts to explore fresh thinking on models for good governance in the Sahel and define a clear methodology and focus for its upcoming flagship report – The Future of Governance in the Sahel.

The workshop comes on the heels of recent events across the region that have created a blend of political instability, constitutional power grabs, economic vulnerabilities, weak institutional capacities, and acts of violent extremism that have all weaved a path of mass development disruption in the Sahel. This workshop and the report to follow serve as crucial milestones in efforts towards providing an essential reference document for policymakers and leaders both at the global, regional, and national levels as they work towards a more secure, stable, citizen-responsive, rule of law, justice and human rights compliant Sahel but most importantly where social contract, social cohesion, and trust in state institutions are restored.

“We need to ensure that we accelerate good governance by 2030 and establish a mechanism that helps restructure Sahelian countries with models of good governance,” said Njoya Tikum, Director, UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa and Resident Representative, UNDP Senegal. “Our hope is not to run away from the fact that there are challenges in the Sahel, but to see the region in a different light and imagine what governance would look like in the next couple of years”, he added.

The upcoming report aims to cast a light on existing development barriers, explore tangible solutions, and unlock the Sahel's potential for good governance and transformative growth. One of such barriers highlighted during the event was the breach of social contract primarily due to poor service delivery across the region, which impacts each state's capacity to deliver on Agenda 2030. For example, according to the West and Central Africa Education in Emergencies Working Group, about 1 million students are now out of school following the closure of 6,149 schools in Burkina Faso alone due to insecurity. 

“We have millions of people out of school, and they will grow up to be part of our society. This means those who take part in governance tomorrow are not going to school today,” said Moudjib Djinadou, Director of Political Affairs, United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel. “We need to make education an important component of good governance in the Sahel”, he added.

Another focus was the criticality of strengthening State-Society relations. Participants highlighted the importance of public trust, which is a bedrock for engaging citizens as development agents and promoting good governance. A robust governance system will promote social cohesion, improve public service delivery and provide Sahelians with better opportunities.

“The population in the Sahel understand global politics, and after 50 years, they are figuring out that global politics is not working for them,” said Dominic Sam, Former Resident Representative, UNDP Democratic Republic of Congo. “We need to listen to their voices, invest in building institutions that can deliver results for people and explore how to offer a people-centric model of governance”, he added.

At the end of the meeting, several key issues emerged that will inform the production of the report.

The first is building governance systems that deliver on various aspects of society, including education and employment. Limited access to education often operates in tandem with weak governance. By investing in quality service delivery in the Sahel, millions can gain essential skills, knowledge and opportunities, increase their ability to contribute to the economy and reduce susceptibility to manipulation, which often has broad implications for violent extremism, governance and social cohesion. 

The second is the importance of addressing security issues, which continue to have lasting repercussions on both state and citizens. The ripple effect destabilizes communities, hampers education and health services, and stifles innovation and entrepreneurship.

The third is the evidence that coordinated efforts work. For instance, through the Regional Stabilization Facility in the Sahel, more than 1.3 million people benefitted from stabilization interventions such as livelihood opportunities, improved safety and security, access to essential services and enhanced social contract.

The fourth is the need for international actors to reinvent their engagement with Sahelian countries. Governance in the region is changing; technological advancements, including the emergence of Artificial Intelligence, are altering all aspects of governance; citizens are taking a more active role in how they are governed; the region's demography is changing how countries govern themselves and more. This calls for an intentional shift to rethink governance beyond political governance with a comprehensive overview which includes administrative governance, economic governance and the rule of law. 

For more information and media enquiries, contact:

• Nadine Rugwe, Governance and Peacebuilding Advisor, UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa | nadine.rugwe@undp.org
• Caroline Sarr, Communications Analyst, UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa | caroline.sarr@undp.org
• Ugochukwu Kingsley Ahuchaogu, Regional Communications Analyst, UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa | ugochukwu.kingsley@undp.org

Notes for the Editors:

About the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

UNDP is the leading United Nations organisation fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.

Learn more at www.undp.org/africa/waca