The Micro-enterprise Monitoring Bulletin in the Moughataa of Bassikounou (Mauritania), published in January 2025 by Action Against Hunger (ACF), analyzes the performance of micro-enterprises supported as part of a project funded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The report highlights the major difficulties encountered by entrepreneurs: limited access to raw materials, dependence on subsidies, and lack of additional financing. It identifies six main sectors of activity: agriculture, crafts, trade, livestock, solar equipment and services. The study highlights that 69% of entrepreneurs honor their debts, although access to credit remains limited. Recommendations are proposed, including improving financing, management training and encouraging savings. Monitoring is carried out using a digital device (Télérivet) and a dashboard accessible online.

Agriculture, Economic Development, Gender, Natural ressources, Education, Development, Gold, Aid, Private sector, Funding

The Pastoral Surveillance Bulletin for Burkina Faso (December 2024 - January 2025) analyzes the agropastoral situation in seven regions of the country. It highlights generally sufficient but declining fodder availability, stable livestock prices, and falling grain prices due to export restrictions. However, terms of trade remain unfavorable for pastoralists. The report notes livestock movements to Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, driven by insecurity and the search for resources. Animal health is generally stable, although suspected disease outbreaks have been noted. The surveillance is based on data collected via 51 sentinel sites and satellite observations. Finally, bushfires, cattle thefts, and conflicts are still associated with mobility and access to resources.

State, Agriculture, Pastoralism, Boundary, Livestock, Natural ressources, Security, Education, Food security, Gold, Human security, Soicial sciences, Marché

The article describes the alarming situation in central Mali, where populations suffer from the violence of jihadist groups, abuses by Malian forces and community militias. Since 2012, jihadists, notably Katiba Macina, have destabilized the region, imposed rigid control and provoked intercommunal violence. Malian military actions have exacerbated the suffering, with summary executions and abuses. The report calls for state recovery and fair justice for victims.

Governance, Security, Jihad, Terrorism, Violence

The article analyzes the geopolitical transformations and multiple crises shaking the Sahel, marked by growing international actors such as Russia, Turkey and Iran. It highlighted the impact of these dynamics on the region's politics, security and economy, and the challenges related to governance. Although certain trends seem to please part of the population, they struggle to translate into concrete stability. The author offers recommendations for strengthened international cooperation and better governance.

Governance, Security, Cooperation, Crisis

The article analyzes the geopolitical transformations and multiple crises shaking the Sahel, marked by growing international actors such as Russia, Turkey and Iran. It highlighted the impact of these dynamics on the region's politics, security and economy, and the challenges related to governance. Although certain trends seem to please part of the population, they struggle to translate into concrete stability. The author offers recommendations for strengthened international cooperation and better governance.

Governance, Security, Cooperation, Crisis

This report explores the impact of growing Internet use in the Sahel region, notably Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The rise of social media users has exacerbated existing tensions and conflicts, with phenomena such as disinformation, radicalization and polarization. Despite this, digital access also offers opportunities to strengthen transparency and cohesion, and to prevent conflicts. Recommendations for a more inclusive and safe use of these digital spaces are proposed.

Governance, Social cohesion, Numérique, Radicalisation, Disinformation

The article entitled “Mali-Niger: climate change and conflicts form an explosive cocktail in the Sahel”, published by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 2019, analyzes the interaction between climate change and intercommunity conflicts in Mali and Niger. Global warming is exacerbating historic tensions between herders and farmers, particularly arable land and making water resources more unpredictable. This situation worsens poverty, weakens public services and disrupts traditional livelihoods. Local populations, already facing underdevelopment, crime and violence, are pushed into difficult choices, such as migration or joining armed groups, to meet their needs. The ICRC highlights the need for a radically different approach to tackling these complex challenges in the Sahel.

Migration, Climate change, Natural ressources, Conflict, Poverty

The article emphasizes that electrifying productive activities is crucial to enhancing the resilience of rural areas in the Sahel. In Mali, where the Human Development Index (HDI) is low, limited access to electricity hampers the development of income-generating activities, particularly in agro-food processing and mechanical services. Current solutions, such as individual solar kits and decentralized mini-grids, are insufficient to meet the energy needs of rural enterprises. Individual kits provide limited power, unsuitable for activities requiring substantial energy, while mini-grids often face financial and technical challenges. The article advocates for an integrated approach, combining public and private investments, incentive policies, and appropriate training, to promote effective and sustainable rural electrification, a prerequisite for achieving universal access to electricity by 2030.

Poverty, Rural electrification

The study conducted from July 2020 to June 2022 as part of the RESILAC project analyzes individual strategies and collective dynamics influencing mental health and socioeconomic integration of youth in the Lake Chad Basin. It provides an overview of mental health systems in four countries, identifies emerging mental disorders and profiles of individuals in psychological distress, and examines endogenous mechanisms for addressing mental health issues and trauma. The study aims to produce operational knowledge to sustainably improve interventions for youth affected by conflicts in this region.

Governance, Youth, Santé mentale