The report carried out by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Côte d’Ivoire assesses the country’s health sector policy aimed at achieving universal health coverage (UHC) for women, children and low-income populations. It highlights achievements but also significant barriers: regional inequalities, low public health financing, reliance on external aid, and limited access to essential services. The survey uses both quantitative and qualitative data collected from health authorities, service providers and beneficiaries. It offers recommendations to strengthen system effectiveness: enhanced coordination, sustainable resource mobilisation, improved governance, and prioritising access for vulnerable groups. Although Côte d’Ivoire has a favourable policy framework, implementation remains uneven. The report is pivotal for guiding future UHC strategies in the country.

Women, Health, Enfant, Santé publique, Protection

This article evaluates the impact of Senegal’s free health insurance programme for poor households, implemented through the National Family Security Scholarship Programme (PNBSF). Using 2019–2020 data from the rural area of Niakhar, the study assesses whether free enrollment in community-based health insurance (CBHI) improves healthcare utilisation and financial protection. Despite the programme’s intentions, the findings reveal major implementation failures: limited awareness among beneficiaries, unintentional or “virtual” enrollments, weak communication, and structural shortcomings within CBHI schemes. As a result, free insurance did not increase healthcare consultations during illness, antenatal care visits, or protection against catastrophic health expenditures. The only significant positive effect observed was an increase in facility-based deliveries. The authors conclude that the limited impact stems from implementation gaps rather than the concept of free insurance itself, stressing the need for stronger government commitment and measures to reduce barriers to accessing covered services.

Governance, Inequality, Gender, Conflict, Religious education, Education, Health, Threat, Soicial sciences, Researh, Knowlege production, Politique publique, Protection

This OECD publication examines the financing of social protection in Senegal, focusing on social assistance, contributory schemes and the informal sector’s contribution. It finds that public social protection spending is very low and that fewer than one in four Senegalese benefit from a protection programme. The report explores three main funding sources: general taxation (broadening tax base, health-harmful product taxes), social contributions (narrow base and governance issues) and mobilising the informal workforce (via formalisation and contribution). It offers recommendations to expand fiscal space, improve data systems, establish more effective governance (including through the future Universal Social Protection Fund — CAPSU) and combat social contribution evasion.

Governance, Politique publique, Protection, Funding

The article examines the rise of online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA) in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cabo Verde, in connection with the rapid expansion of mobile Internet access. It points out that youths aged 13 to 24 account for a significant share of users on digital platforms, thus increasing their exposure to risks. In Côte d’Ivoire, approximately 21,000 incidents were reported annually between 2019 and 2022, with criminal networks professionalizing techniques such as sextortion, blackmail, and non-consensual dissemination of content. National legal frameworks across the three countries show gaps: certain forms of OCSEA are not criminalized and legal definitions lack harmonization. The report also underscores institutional weaknesses, underreporting of cases, limited coordination, and the constrained capacities of law enforcement. It offers recommendations across multiple levels ECOWAS, member states, law enforcement, tech sector, and NGOs to strengthen prevention, legal response, and victim protection.

Security, Justice, Vulnerability, Enfant, Protection

The article “Future research directions for climate-sensitive social protection” examines the current limitations of social protection systems in addressing climate change impacts, with a focus on the Sahel. While vital for crisis mitigation, such programs face challenges of low coverage, weak integration of climate data, and limited resources. Based on a global review and a regional case study in the Sahel (notably Mauritania and Senegal), the paper argues that scaling up and adapting existing programs may be more effective than creating new ones. Two key research priorities are highlighted: improving climate risk assessments to better inform program design, and developing “dynamic social registries” that combine socio-economic and environmental data for targeted responses. The authors stress the need for longitudinal studies, systematic evaluations, and pragmatic approaches that link social protection, climate adaptation, and community resilience.

Climate change, Natural ressources, Security, Conflict, Education, Human security, Soicial sciences, Researh, Knowlege production, Protection

The report, "Humanitarian Protection in the Liptako-Gourma Region," is the result of research conducted between 2020 and 2022 by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), and their local partners. This study focuses on the Liptako-Gourma region, located on the border between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, an area marked by a continued deterioration in security since 2015. The main objective was to assess the effectiveness of humanitarian protection programs and their interaction with local protection systems. Based on qualitative and quantitative data collected in the North and Sahel regions of Burkina Faso, Mopti in Mali, and Tillabéri in Niger, the research highlighted the complementarity between humanitarian protection mechanisms and local structures. It highlights the importance of integrating traditional protection systems to strengthen the effectiveness of humanitarian interventions.

Security, Crisis, Protection

The article "The protection of foreign investments in the face of vulnerabilities in the Sahel" by Issiaka Guindo, doctoral student at the Sorbonne Doctoral School of Law, examines the legal and economic challenges facing foreign investments in the Sahel. This region, marked by political instability and insecurity, affects States' commitments in terms of investment protection. Despite these difficulties, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows have not been completely deterred, particularly in the natural resources sector such as gold in Mali and Burkina Faso. The article analyzes existing contractual and conventional clauses, in particular full security protection and compensation clauses for losses, while highlighting the limits of State exemption mechanisms (force majeure, state of necessity). The study concludes that although protection mechanisms exist, their implementation in a context of instability remains mixed.

Politics, Political party, Power, State, Natural ressources, Security, Justice, Gold, Human security, Protection

This report analyzes protection challenges in contexts of prolonged crises and fragility in West Africa. It focuses on the link between humanitarian and development interventions, assessing approaches adopted by AFD and other donors. The study covers Sahel and Gulf of Guinea countries, facing growing instability. It identifies challenges related to the lack of a clear definition of protection, insufficient coordination among actors, and rigid contractual frameworks. The study recommends systematically integrating conflict analyses, adopting multisectoral protection, and implementing flexible mechanisms to adapt interventions to local realities. It also advocates for strengthening the capacities of local actors and enhancing synergy between humanitarian and development stakeholders.

Politics, Economic Development, Natural ressources, Justice, Conflict, Development, Gold, Social, Crisis, Protection

This report examines protection challenges in contexts of prolonged crises and fragile states in West Africa, focusing on the link between emergency and development interventions. The study primarily covers the Gulf of Guinea countries (Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin), affected by increasing instability from the Sahel. It explores how AFD and other donors can adapt their approaches to effectively prevent human rights violations. The analysis is based on a literature review and expert interviews. Key findings include the lack of a clear definition of protection, the need to enhance coordination between humanitarian and development actors, and the importance of contractual flexibility to sustain interventions in fragile areas. The study recommends strengthening contextual analysis and integrated multisectoral protection approaches.

Economic Development, Natural ressources, Justice, Conflict, Development, Gold, Social, Threat, Crisis, Protection