Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Monday, July 1st, 2019 - The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), through its Sub-Regional Office for West Africa, recently held a policy dialogue with the Government of Burkina Faso on the Sahel 2043 Prospective Study.

The meeting was chaired by the Director of Cabinet of the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Development of Burkina Faso, Mr. Fayama Karfa, representing his Minister, current Chair of the Council of Ministers of the G5 Sahel. Also present was the Acting Director of the ECA Sub-Regional Office for West Africa, Mr. Bakary Dosso.

This meeting was held as part of initiatives undertaken by the United Nations to ensure better synergy between development actions and those aimed at combating terrorism and promoting peace in the Sahel region.

The gathering sought  to enable  the Government of Burkina Faso  understand and assimilate the long-term prospective study, known as Sahel 2043, which has received support from governments through the ministries in charge of planning of ten countries. The Countries include Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria  Senegal and the Gambia.

According to the Director of Cabinet of the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Development of Burkina Faso, “Given Burkina Faso's commitment to the Sahel, it is logical to present the first results to the Minister of Economy, Finance and Development, and Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of the G5 Sahel.”

Mr. Fayama Karfa holds, however, that “It is primordial for there to be some consistency between this study and the policies of the Sahel sub-region.” As for the acting Director of the ECA Sub-Regional Office for West Africa, he began by saying: “The Sahel is a priority for the UN Secretary-General in his efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals in Africa, and ECA's role is to work in this direction.” A release quotes Mr. Doss saying that “Current narratives on the crisis do not paint a full picture of the situation. It is a truism that the Sahel is blessed with an abundance of natural and human resources, which if managed equitably and sustainably, could positively transform the situation of the region.”

 “The ECA has been mandated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to conduct research on the root causes of the situation and on the fundamentals for structural change.” He added. The acting Director of the ECA Sub-Regional Office for West Africa concluded by saying “The Sahel 2043, which should guide the implementation of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS), is a forward-looking analysis whose findings should be used to recalibrate the many existing strategies in the Sahel.” This interactive meeting provided an opportunity for frank and concrete discussions on the results of the Sahel 2043 Prospective Study.

The policy dialogue was attended by representatives from the Commission of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), the Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), the Liptako-Gourma Authority (ALG), Burkina Faso’s Focal Point of the G5 Sahel and several officials from Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Economy, Finance and Development.

Prior to the  meeting, the team of the ECA Sub-Regional Office for West Africa, led by its acting Director, met with the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Burkina Faso, Metsi Makhetha, with whom they discussed the Sahel 2043 Prospective Study and the Commission’s support to the country.

Jacob N.B. Parley
Communications Director
Ministry of Commerce and Industry/Liberia