Land, Climate, Energy, Agriculture and Development in the Sahel: Synthesis Paper of Case Studies Under the Sudano-Sahelian Initiative for Regional Development, Jobs, and Food Security

zef, Working Paper 204

53 Pages Posted: 11 Mar 2021

See all articles by Alisher Mirzabaev

Alisher Mirzabaev

University of Bonn - Center for Development Research (ZEF)

Tekalign Sakketa

Center for Development Research

Mouhamadou Bamba Sylla

African Institute of Mathematical Sciences

Kangbéni Dimobe

Institut des Sciences de l’ Environnement et du Développement Rural

Safietou Sanfo

West African Science Services Centre on Climate and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL)

Assefa Admassie

Ethiopian Economics Association/Ethiopian Economic Policy Research Institute

Degnet Abebaw

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Ousmane Nafolo Coulibaly

Consultant

Rabani Adamou

Université Abdou Moumouni de Niamey

Boubacar Ibrahim

Université Abdou Moumouni de Niamey

Abdou Latif Bonkaney

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Abdoul Aziz Seyni

Ministère de l’environnement

Mamoudou Idrissa

Cabinet du Premier Ministre

Olawale E. Olayide

University of Ibadan - Centre for Sustainable Development

Amy Faye

Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research

Mohamadou Dièye

Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research

Pape Bilal Diakhaté

Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research

Assane Beye

Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD)

Moussa Sall

Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research

Mbaye Diop

Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research

Abdelrahman Khidir Osman

Sudanese Environment Conservation Society

Adil M. Ali

Sudanese Environment Conservation Society

Issa Garba

Permanent Interstate Committee for drought control in the Sahel

Heike Baumüller

Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn

Souleymane Ouedraogo

Permanent Interstate Committee for drought control in the Sahel

Joachim von Braun

University of Bonn - Department of Economic and Technological Change

Date Written: January 19, 2021

Abstract

This paper synthesizes a set of national case studies conducted in the Sahelian countries during 2019-2020 as a collaboration between national universities and research institutes, and the Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, with contributions from the Agrhymet Regional Centre, Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS). These case studies provide up-to-date knowledge and critical insights on the nexus of land degradation, climate change and energy in the Sahel. The current synthesis paper highlights their major findings and provides crosscutting and cross-regional analytical conclusions. First, the synthesis paper explores current trends in the Sahel region on land use and land degradation, energy use and supply, climate change projections and impacts, as well as their interactions and links to agricultural growth, food security, poverty reduction, and peace in the region. Second, technological, socio-economic and policy solutions at the nexus of land, water, energy and climate challenges that enable environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive rural development in the Sahel are discussed, including their interactions and implications for peace and stability in the region. The findings show that such socio-economic solutions as improving access to markets, strengthening social safety nets, increasing investments to transport and energy infrastructures, promoting land tenure security, expanding off-farm employment opportunities can greatly contribute to rural development in the Sahel, particularly by aiding climate change resilience and sustainable land management. Key technological innovations highlighted across the case studies include expanding irrigation and adopting water use efficient irrigation techniques, crop diversification, expanding agricultural mechanization, investing into restoring and rehabilitating degraded lands through reforestation, afforestation and agroforestry practices. The key lessons learnt from ongoing national policy initiatives for sustainable development highlight the importance of active stakeholder consultation and participation in policy formulation, institution of effective policy monitoring and assessment mechanisms, and avoiding of excessive reliance on external sources of funding for the successful implementation of sustainable development policies and programs. Based on these findings, the synthesis paper proposes an agenda for applied research to provide guidance to and accompany promising development strategies in and for the region.

Keywords: Sahel, Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus, Food Insecurity, Land Degradation, Climate Change Adaptation, Development Policies, Job Creation, Infrastructure, Conflicts, Future Research Agenda

JEL Classification: O1, O2, O3, Q1, Q2, Q4, Q5, J43

Suggested Citation

Mirzabaev, Alisher and Sakketa, Tekalign and Sylla, Mouhamadou Bamba and Dimobe, Kangbéni and Sanfo, Safietou and Admassie, Assefa and Abebaw, Degnet and Coulibaly, Ousmane Nafolo and Adamou, Rabani and Ibrahim, Boubacar and Bonkaney, Abdou Latif and Seyni, Abdoul Aziz and Idrissa, Mamoudou and Olayide, Olawale and Faye, Amy and Dièye, Mohamadou and Diakhaté, Pape Bilal and Beye, Assane and Sall, Moussa and Diop, Mbaye and Osman, Abdelrahman Khidir and Ali, Adil M. and Garba, Issa and Baumüller, Heike and Ouedraogo, Souleymane and von Braun, Joachim, Land, Climate, Energy, Agriculture and Development in the Sahel: Synthesis Paper of Case Studies Under the Sudano-Sahelian Initiative for Regional Development, Jobs, and Food Security (January 19, 2021). zef, Working Paper 204, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3769155 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3769155

Alisher Mirzabaev (Contact Author)

University of Bonn - Center for Development Research (ZEF) ( email )

Walter-Flex-Str. 3
Bonn, NRW 53113
Germany

Tekalign Sakketa

Center for Development Research

United States

Mouhamadou Bamba Sylla

African Institute of Mathematical Sciences

6 Melrose road, Muizenberg
cape Town, Western cape 7945
South Africa

Kangbéni Dimobe

Institut des Sciences de l’ Environnement et du Développement Rural

Burkina Faso

Safietou Sanfo

West African Science Services Centre on Climate and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL)

Togo

Assefa Admassie

Ethiopian Economics Association/Ethiopian Economic Policy Research Institute ( email )

Addis Ababa, 34282
Ethiopia

Degnet Abebaw

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Rabani Adamou

Université Abdou Moumouni de Niamey

Harobanda Quarter
Niamey BP 237/108
Niger

Boubacar Ibrahim

Université Abdou Moumouni de Niamey

Harobanda Quarter
Niamey BP 237/108
Niger

Abdou Latif Bonkaney

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Abdoul Aziz Seyni

Ministère de l’environnement

Niamey
Niger

Mamoudou Idrissa

Cabinet du Premier Ministre

Niamey
Niger

Olawale Olayide

University of Ibadan - Centre for Sustainable Development

Nigeria

Amy Faye

Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research ( email )

Dakar
Senegal

Mohamadou Dièye

Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research

Dakar
Senegal

Pape Bilal Diakhaté

Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research

Dakar
Senegal

Assane Beye

Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) ( email )

Fann
Dakar
Senegal

Moussa Sall

Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research

Dakar
Senegal

Mbaye Diop

Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research

Dakar
Senegal

Abdelrahman Khidir Osman

Sudanese Environment Conservation Society

Khartoum
Sudan

Adil M. Ali

Sudanese Environment Conservation Society

Khartoum
Sudan

Issa Garba

Permanent Interstate Committee for drought control in the Sahel

Niamey
Niger

Heike Baumüller

Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn ( email )

Genscherallee 3
Bonn, NRW 53113
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.zef.de/staff/Heike_Baumuller

Souleymane Ouedraogo

Permanent Interstate Committee for drought control in the Sahel

Niamey
Niger

Joachim Von Braun

University of Bonn - Department of Economic and Technological Change ( email )

Walter-Flex-Str. 3
Bonn, 53113
Germany

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