This study examines the sharp decline in under-five mortality in Burkina Faso from 2010 to 2021, using Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data and the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition method. Findings indicate that under-five mortality dropped from 128 per 1,000 live births in 2010 to 48 per 1,000 in 2021. The decline is mainly explained (77%) by performance effects, including behavioral changes and the effectiveness of health policies, while demographic composition changes accounted for only 23%. Key factors include the reduction in uneducated mothers, wider use of mosquito nets, urbanization, and improved health behaviors among unemployed women. Nevertheless, significant disparities remain in high-risk regions such as the Sahel and the Southwest, where targeted interventions are essential to improve healthcare access and reduce inequalities. The study highlights the importance of integrating health policies with education, economic development, and sanitation for sustained progress.

Politics, Economic Development, Gender, Conflict, Religious education, Education, Development, Family, Women, Soicial sciences, Researh, Knowlege production, Démographie, Santé publique

This briefing, authored by Thibaut Girault and Sophia Stille in June 2024 and published by the Mixed Migration Centre (read on WATHI), explores the educational realities and needs of migrant children and youth in four West and North African capitals – Bamako, Conakry, Niamey, and Tunis. Based on surveys conducted between June 2022 and September 2023 with migrant youth (18–24 years old) and caregivers, it reveals severely limited access to education: over half of children are not enrolled in any educational services (57%), and only 17% attend primary or secondary school. Education ranks as a top priority need, surpassing food aid (20%) and healthcare (18%). Key barriers include financial constraints (41%). The needs and situations differ by city: at least half of caregivers in Conakry reported educational needs for children, one third in Niamey, while in Tunis, there is notable reliance on informal childcare (32%).

Migration, Education, Youth, Human security

In 2023, Insecurity Insight documented 22 arson attacks on schools in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, with a sharp increase in Niger (1 in 2022 vs 11 in 2023). Most incidents, attributed to JNIM and ISSP, target “Western” education and aim to intimidate teachers and communities, leading to destroyed facilities, prolonged closures, and lasting fear. These attacks undermine access to education, worsen inequalities, and erode social cohesion. The report calls for integrated actions: community awareness campaigns, fire-resistant school infrastructure, emergency plans, coordinated rapid responses, psychological support, and post-attack reconstruction. It also urges humanitarian diplomacy and engagement with armed actors to protect schools and depoliticize education.

Governance, Security, Education

The Bridging Distances report (NRC, UNHCR, UNICEF, January 2025) examines distance learning solutions in the Central Sahel (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger) amid insecurity, mass displacement, and weak educational infrastructure. Four main approaches are identified: no-tech (printed materials), low-tech (radio, SMS, basic phones), digital (online platforms, offline Wi-Fi devices), and hybrid models combining several methods. Each modality has strengths and weaknesses, with hybrid approaches proving most resilient. Success factors include adapting to local contexts, teacher training, community involvement, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainable funding. Recommendations emphasize inclusion (girls, displaced children, children with disabilities), infrastructure investment, resource-sharing, and integrating psychosocial support. Distance learning is not a one-size-fits-all solution but a set of complementary tools that must be adapted to learners’ needs.

Governance, Education, Numérique

In June 2025, Action Against Hunger (ACF) released a monitoring bulletin on micro-enterprises in Bassikounou, Mauritania, as part of its economic resilience program. The study assessed 50 ACF-supported micro-enterprises, mainly operating in retail trade, catering, and services. Findings indicate an average 18% increase in turnover since the previous assessment, despite ongoing challenges such as supply chain issues, rising prices, and limited product diversification. Most beneficiaries are women (72%), who report improved income and autonomy. However, reliance on local markets and low savings capacity continue to hinder the sustainability of these businesses. The report recommends strengthening management training, diversifying business sectors, and improving access to credit.

Economic Development, Natural ressources, Security, Education, Development, Gold, Aid, Private sector, Civil Society, Funding

The April 2025 policy brief by Africa Education Watch, authored by Kofi Asare, reviews Ghana’s basic education infrastructure. Despite significant enrolment growth since 2001, about 1 million children remain out of school, including 400,000 dropouts. Key deficits include school buildings, furniture (40% of pupils lacked desks in 2021, rising to 80% in some regions), electricity, and digital infrastructure (only 2% of basic schools in deprived districts have functional ICT facilities). To meet SDG 4 targets by 2030, Ghana needs around 2,000 fully furnished basic schools, 3,600 junior high schools, 508 kindergartens, to replace 5,300 makeshift schools, and supply 800,000 desks. Estimated cost: USD 2 billion. Budgetary constraints and declining donor support necessitate innovative financing, climate-resilient building technologies, community-led furniture initiatives, and targeted interventions for underserved communities.

Governance, Inequality, Education, Infrastructures scolaires, Funding

The Bi-monthly Pastoral Surveillance Bulletin for the Sahel (No. 32, April–May 2025) reports a lean season marked by a sharp decline in forage resources and the drying up of temporary surface water. Livestock movements are generally limited but include mass departures or arrivals, often driven by insecurity. Localized resource availability leads to high livestock concentrations, deterioration in animal body condition, and suspected disease outbreaks (botulism, peste des petits ruminants, vitamin deficiencies). Cereal and livestock prices are rising, with terms of trade unfavorable to herders. Cattle theft remains an issue, especially in high-density zones and in the Gao region. Conditions vary by country, with pastoral resources sometimes sufficient (Mauritania, Côte d’Ivoire) but often deficient (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal), creating both economic and animal health challenges.

State, Pastoralism, Livestock, Natural ressources, Security, Education, Gold, Human security, Information, Insécurité

The pastoral surveillance bulletin (April–May 2025) for northern Côte d’Ivoire, prepared by ACF, RBM, and OPEN-CI, highlights fragile pastoral conditions despite improvements from the onset of the rainy season. Pasture and water resources remain insufficient in some areas due to pressures from transhumance, refugee inflows, and land conflicts. Livestock body condition is generally fair, but animal diseases persist. Cattle thefts and inter-community conflicts, exacerbated by cross-border insecurity, disrupt transhumance routes. Markets remain open but show significant price fluctuations, worsening terms of trade for herders, especially in Tchologo. Recommendations include strengthening security, promoting joint resource management, conflict prevention, and supporting pastoral community resilience.

Power, State, Pastoralism, Livestock, Natural ressources, Security, Conflict, Education, Gold, Human security, Marché, Transhumance

The article “Impacts socioéconomiques des dépenses publiques dans l’éducation préscolaire au Sénégal, CRDI et FAUEFAO, May 2025”, written by Ibrahima Aïdara and Fatou Cissé, published in May 2025 by the International Development Research Centre (CRDI), evaluates public preschool investment’s effects on economic growth and social inclusion . It finds that preschool spending boosts economic growth by roughly 1.49%, similar to construction (1.52%), but yields more balanced social outcomes. Notably, 55.7% of jobs created go to women compared with 33% in construction, and rural poverty decreases by 3%, versus 1.5% through construction . The article recommends subsidizing childcare services for low-income families, improving regulatory standards and quality of care, raising parental awareness of preschool cognitive and social benefits, and promoting local micro-enterprises in preschool service provision. This policy brief argues that investing in preschool is a cost-effective, inclusive strategy for economic development and gender equity.

Governance, Education, Politique publique