This bulletin, published by Action Against Hunger (ACF) in May 2025, presents monitoring data from 64 microenterprises supported in Bassikounou, Mauritania. The report highlights the continued economic vulnerability of households, despite support for income-generating activities (IGAs). Average monthly income remains low (27,540 MRU) and unstable, particularly for women (22,250 MRU). Households face heavy expenses for health, food, and education, with limited savings capacity and weak income diversification. The report also notes the negative impact of climate shocks on economic activities. While beneficiaries acknowledge positive effects from the program, their prospects remain precarious without structural support, enhanced market access, training, and financing opportunities.

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

In this video interview, Zounon Félix, a research officer at Niger’s National Institute of Agronomic Research (INRAN, Maradi center), explains how his institute relies on its own resources to conduct agricultural experiments. He outlines INRAN’s history, founded in 1975 and gaining public institutional status in 2010, with four regional centers (Niamey, Kollo, Tahoua, Maradi). Although the infrastructure is in good condition, the institute lacks scientific equipment, communications gear, and office supplies. Félix details its five research departments—irrigated and rainfed crops, animal production, natural resource management, and rural social sciences. He emphasizes INRAN’s enhanced autonomy and its ability to maintain programs despite limited external funding, through local engagement and self-financing efforts.

Governance, Agriculture, Knowlege production, Funding, Scientific research

In this article, Dr. Idi Saidou Sani, a specialist in plant genetics and improvement and a lecturer-researcher at the University of Diffa in Niger, advocates for a significant increase in the budget allocated to research and higher education. He emphasizes that the current underfunding hampers the country's scientific and technological development, limiting its ability to address critical challenges such as food security, desertification, and climate change. The University of Diffa, established in 2014, plays a central role in education and research, with specialized units focusing on key areas for sustainable development. Dr. Sani stresses the need for increased investment to strengthen research capacities, promote innovation, and ensure sustainable socio-economic development in Niger and the Sahel region.

Governance, Politique publique, Funding, Scientific research, Sustainable development

In this article, Dr. Ahmed Mahmane Ahmadou Bachir, a pastoralism expert and lecturer-researcher at the Higher Institute of Environment and Ecology (IS2E) of the University of Diffa in Niger, highlights the lack of dedicated funding for research in Sahelian countries. He emphasizes the challenges faced by researchers, including insufficient resources to conduct studies on critical issues such as desertification, climate change, and sustainable natural resource management. Established in 2014, IS2E plays a vital role in training senior executives and specialized technicians in natural resource management. Dr. Bachir calls for a significant increase in research budgets to enable local institutions to develop solutions tailored to the realities of the Sahel.

Governance, Pastoralism, Environment, Funding, Scientific research

This monitoring bulletin, published in April 2025 by Action Against Hunger (ACF), evaluates micro-enterprises supported in the moughataa of Bassikounou, Mauritania, under a project for the socioeconomic inclusion of Malian refugees and host communities. The report highlights slight improvements in profitability, particularly in agriculture and crafts, but also reveals entrepreneurs' heavy reliance on external aid, limited access to formal financing, and persistent economic fragility. Key challenges include high costs and scarcity of raw materials, limited use of management tools, and underdeveloped local financial mechanisms. The bulletin recommends strengthening personalized support, structuring community financing systems, and building local partnerships. It also suggests innovative strategies such as resilience funds and collective input purchasing to improve sustainability and autonomy.

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

This multi-country study examines Education in Emergencies (EiE) across six Sahel countries facing security, humanitarian, and health crises. Based on document reviews and 209 field interviews, it highlights how displaced children face restricted access to quality education and a weakened educational system. EiE funding is inadequate, fragmented, and largely driven by humanitarian actors, with little institutional coordination. The study recommends leveraging best practices (multigrade teaching, e-learning), establishing national EiE coordination agencies, engaging local communities and diasporas through a Trust Fund, and scaling up the integrated territorial approach tested in Niger. Strengthening the capacity of both public and community actors is critical. The report calls for improved governance, structured financing mechanisms, and more systematic emergency education responses to ensure long-term educational resilience in crisis contexts.

Economic Development, Natural ressources, Education, Development, Gold, Soicial sciences, Researh, Knowlege production, Crisis, Funding

This ACF monitoring bulletin presents the progress of 56 micro-enterprises supported in Bassikounou, Mauritania, under a UNHCR-funded project. Despite a fragile economic context, some positive trends are observed: improved debt repayment (88%), increased use of personal savings, and emerging financial diversification. Agriculture, livestock, and general trade prove most profitable, while solar energy remains the most vulnerable sector. However, major challenges persist: reliance on humanitarian aid, limited access to formal financing, poor business structuring, rising input costs, and client indebtedness. ACF recommends reinforced support (training, management tools, formalization, access to credit) to ensure long-term sustainability. The strong involvement of women and the growing use of community-based solutions (tontines, AVECs) are encouraging signs of economic resilience and adaptation.

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

The February 2025 monitoring report covers 56 micro-enterprises supported in Bassikounou, Mauritania, under a project funded by UNHCR. These enterprises span six sectors including agriculture, livestock, and general trade. Despite a fragile economic environment, there is a slight improvement in savings and investment. However, access to financing remains limited due to the lack of tailored financial structures. Entrepreneurs face several challenges such as client debt, high input costs, and poor adoption of management tools. Most businesses report the ability to meet their debts, reflecting a degree of economic resilience. NGOs and local institutions play a crucial role in technical support and financial inclusion. Nevertheless, the sustainability of these businesses depends on more strategic, long-term financing options.

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

The article entitled "Audit of the Report on the Situation of Public Finances: Management from 2019 to March 31, 2024," published by the Senegalese Court of Auditors in February 2025, highlighted significant irregularities in the management of public finances during this period. Public debt was significantly underestimated, actually reaching 18,558.91 billion CFA francs, or 99.67% of GDP. In addition, more than 2,500 billion CFA francs were contracted in the form of bank debt outside the official budgetary circuit and without parliamentary validation, revealing a worrying lack of transparency. The budget deficit was also manipulated: while the former government announced a deficit of 4.9% of GDP for 2023, the Court of Auditors estimates it at 12.3%, a discrepancy of more than 2,291 billion CFA francs. The report also denounces expenditures made outside the public treasury circuit, transfers of funds to non-regulatory accounts and dubious sales of public assets. These practices distort the reality of Senegal's public finances and highlight the need for greater budget transparency and strict control of public debt to avoid an uncontrolled end.

Governance, Funding, Public debt, Transparency