Activity Term: Sept. 1, 2019 - Aug. 31, 2024

The Sahel is facing growing sociopolitical instability and diverse environmental shocks and stresses. Disproportionately affected by high levels of poverty, food insecurity and security threats, the Sahel also has the fastest growing population in the world. USAID, through its resilience, food security, health, economic growth and social cohesion portfolio, is working with the governments of Burkina Faso and Niger to help their citizens adapt to these shocks and break the cycle of poverty. Building on the lessons from prior investments in the Sahel, USAID promotes intentional sequencing, layering and integrating of activities in its portfolio and more rapid adaptation to emerging shocks and stresses to sustain development gains. Given the unique complexities of this region and the USAID portfolio, the Sahel Collaboration and Communication (SCC) Activity supports collaboration, learning and effective adaptive management among USAID implementing partners to strengthen their collective action toward increased resilience.

SCC’s Resilience, Collaboration, Learning and Adaptation (RCLA) approaches enable USAID implementing partners, civil society, government partners and research institutions to jointly understand and prioritize development actions and continuously adjust and adapt them. The SCC Activity uses innovative, user-friendly tools to facilitate the collection and transmission of information and learning. These include RCLA training cohorts, geographic information systems (GIS) mapping, action research grants, learning and collaboration working groups, knowledge management platforms and communication campaigns that are accessible and adapted to the local context. These methods help to increase knowledge of approaches and tools for collaboration, learning and adaptation among different implementing actors, identify practices that can improve the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable populations, improve coordination in shared geographies, and access research and data to inform USAID partners’ decision-making.