The Danish Refugee Council’s article “Education under attack in West and Central Africa highlights the devastating impact of conflict on education in the region. By the end of the 2021-2022 school year, more than 12,400 schools were closed in eight countries, mainly due to attacks by non-state armed groups, teachers fleeing or parents being afraid to send their children to school. This is jeopardizing the future of entire generations of children, depriving them of access to learning and exposing them to compounding risks such as early marriage, child labour and recruitment by armed groups. Despite the adoption of the Safe Schools Declaration by most countries in the region, persistent attacks underscore the need for concrete measures to protect education. The report recommends holistic and multi-sectoral approaches, strengthening alternative learning solutions and increasing funding for education in emergencies.

Governance, Security, Education

The article highlights the active engagement of women and youth in the Sahel, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Senegal, in the fight against the reduction of civic spaces. Historically marginalized from political power, these groups vigorously oppose repression and blockages of political transitions, demanding governance aligned with their aspirations. Citizen movements such as Balai Citoyen in Burkina Faso, the Mouvement du 5 juin (M5) in Mali, Y'en a marre in Senegal, and others, illustrate this dynamic. Their mastery of information technologies and social networks strengthens their mobilization, as evidenced by the hashtag "Free Senegal" during the riots of March 2021. These initiatives aim to promote democracy, peace, development and the fight against corruption, while denouncing political excesses and proposing solutions to social problems.

Governance, Youth, Women

The study commissioned by the Gorée Institute aims to analyze the civic space related to children's rights in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali and Senegal. Its main objective is to produce a barometer assessing the current situation, in order to determine the need for effective, evidence-based advocacy to influence policies, legal frameworks and practices in the protection of children's rights in these countries. The process involved several steps, including the establishment of indicators validated by the parties involved, the development of quantitative and qualitative statistical data collection tools, followed by an analysis focused on children's rights.

Human Rights, Enfant

The Girls Not Brides report “Knowledge is Power” presents research led by young people in Burkina Faso and Niger, exploring power dynamics in knowledge and advocacy processes to end child marriage and promote girls’ education in West Africa. The young researchers highlighted the impact of patriarchal social norms, poverty and the quality of the educational environment on early marriage and girls’ school dropout. The report recommends promoting successful female role models, using information technology to change dominant narratives, and improving access to quality, inclusive and culturally relevant education.

Gender, Education, Women

The Mauritania country profile, published by Bpifrance in February 2023, highlights economic growth of 4% in 2022, mainly supported by the mining sector (iron and gold) and investments in energy, particularly gas and renewable energies. However, high inflation (+9.5% in 2022) is weighing on domestic demand. The public deficit reached 2.1% of GDP in 2022, due to accumulated spending to counter inflation and finance energy projects. The current account deficit remains high (-11.6% of GDP), despite robust exports. The banking sector remains fragile, with a non-performing loan rate of 22.7% at the end of 2021. The medium-term outlook is promising, thanks to the planned start of gas exports in late 2023-early 2024, which should strengthen economic growth and improve budgetary and external balances.

Governance, Economic Development

The OCHA report of March 2024 highlights the complexity of the humanitarian situation in Chad, exacerbated by structural crises, climate shocks and the massive influx of refugees fleeing the Sudanese conflict since April 2023. These factors seriously disrupt the provision of essential social services, particularly in the east of the country, and compromise development efforts. Chad, one of the poorest countries in the world, hosts more than a million refugees, placing it among the seven countries receiving the most. Inter- and intra-community conflicts, as well as the presence of non-state armed groups, lead to forced displacement of populations, particularly in the provinces of Logone Occidental and Lac. Food insecurity affects nearly 40% of households, with particularly high rates in the Sahelian and Saharan zones. The nutritional situation is worrying, aggravated by limited access to drinking water and health services. The 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan aims to provide emergency assistance to 4 million people, improve access to social services for 3.6 million people and strengthen the resilience of 4.6 million people, with a total budget of US$1.14 billion.

Security, Conflict, refugee, Crise humanitaire

The 2023 Sectoral Review of the Ministry of Health of Mauritania reports on progress towards universal health coverage, in line with the National Health Development Plan (PNDS) 2022-2030. It highlights advances in human resources, infrastructure, equipment and health financing, with activities such as capacity building of personnel and construction of health structures. However, challenges persist, particularly in terms of availability of medicines and governance of the health system. The review recommends better coordination with technical and financial partners, improvement of monitoring mechanisms and optimization of the use of data for decision-making. The outlook includes continued efforts to strengthen the health system and achieve the objectives of the PNDS, with an emphasis on the effectiveness of interventions and the mobilization of necessary resources.

Governance, Health, Couverture sanitaire

Burkina Faso is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, marked by growing insecurity and massive population displacement. In 2018, attacks by armed groups, particularly in the Sahel, Centre-North, East and North regions, forced more than two million people to flee their homes, seeking refuge in safer areas. This situation exacerbates tensions between communities, particularly between herders and farmers, and puts additional pressure on natural resources already weakened by climate change. Basic infrastructure, such as health centres and schools, are often targeted, limiting access to essential services for displaced populations. Despite the efforts of the authorities and humanitarian organisations, assistance remains insufficient given the scale of the needs, and insecurity hinders access to some affected areas.

Governance, Agriculture, Livestock, Security, Violence, Crisis, Déplacement forcé

The article highlights the urgency of establishing inclusive development in the Sahel and West Africa to counter the growing destabilization of the region. The author, drawing on her humanitarian experience, highlights local initiatives led by authorities, community leaders, women's and youth associations, particularly in the areas of education and training. However, she deplores the fact that current political decisions neglect the needs of vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, thus exacerbating their precariousness. She calls for collective mobilization to build productive, supportive and dignified African societies, rather than constantly recovering from repeated crises.

Education, Development, Women, Vulnerability