Sahel Crisis - Global Support - Food Agriculture Organization (FAO) 2018

March 2018 - Conditions across the Sahel belt and neighbouring countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have deteriorated resulting in a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by a range of factors including poverty political and economic instability conflict and climate change. The current conditions with respect to rainfall resemble that seen in 2011-2012 when drought and crop production shortfalls caused a major food crisis. The drought situation is expected to result in intensified food insecurity and increased humanitarian needs throughout 2018 and into the next year. With GAC's support the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is building the resilience and strengthening regional coordination in drought-affected countries including: Chad Niger Senegal Mauritania Mali and Burkina Faso. The project aims to protect the livelihoods of vulnerable groups such as pastoralists and agro-pastoralists via livestock support. Project activities include: (1) providing veterinary supplies such as emergency animal feed pest control products vaccines and deworming treatments; (2) providing cash transfer destocking and cash-for-work activities; (3) producing forage and managing pasture; and (4) disseminating lessons learned and good practices as well as facilitating dialogue between countries on transhumance (seasonal movement of livestock) and transboundary issues.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved food security and nutrition for households affected by drought and pastoralist crisis; (2) decreased incidences of people/households resorting to negative coping strategies in the face of drought and food insecurity; and (3) increased coordination of the regional response. The expected ultimate outcomes are lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.