The hypothesis of the program is that a more attractive agricultural and pastoral sector in the target regions will contribute to diminishing the vulnerability of the population most in need (youth and women) and will allow them to stay in their communities. Linked to investments and participative methods in the local governance of resource management on the local level, this program can offer new employment opportunities as well as hope to youth and women who this way can choose between different livelihoods and life choices and can become full participants in their community. Taking into consideration that the youth constitute immense driving forces for positive socioeconomic changes, and in order to channel the frustration resulting from the lack of perspectives, the intervention strategy will target mainly this section of the population. This will be through organizations specifically for youth or encouraging their decision-making in the traditional community organizations, producer organizations, GIE [Groupements d’Intérêt Economique/Economic Interest Groups], micro-enterprises etc. The program aims also at enhancing the employment opportunities and the available resources in the target zones in order to contribute to the social stability and in order to ensure long-term food security.

ER 1: Enhancing the equal access to economic opportunities for the youth, women and persons at risk of vulnerability associated to migration.

The project encourages the creation of employment through the development of inclusive value chains, the strengthening of food processing, the introduction of methods of access to credit and the support for self- employment for women and youth.

ER2: Enhancing food security of the vulnerable communities.

The project aims at strengthening the current agro-pastoral livelihoods in order to reduce the communities’ vulnerability and to enhance the food resilience through: intensification of traditional rain-fed cultivation (millet, sorghum, mais) and livestock farming (enhancement of returns, animal health, dietary supplement to boost the performance of the cattle), the diversification of the agro-pastoralist production (vegetable farming and livestock farming) and the promotion of preventive measures facing climate change (trainings, grain banks and livestock food banks facing seasonal shocks). For the population which does not have access to these agro-pastoralist livelihood (not access to land nor to livestock), a system of social protection will be proposed through the activities of Cash For Work (CFW).

ER3. Enhancing the governance of the local structures of development and social cohesion of the communities.

The project includes the local authorities in the elaboration of Local Development Plans (PDL), based on preliminary diagnoses, in order to ensure food security and resilience to climate change. Further, this approach takes into account the aspects of mobilization of human resources within the framework of land management and conflict management.
The project provides for the participation of multiple stakeholders: local authorities and technical State services, civil society organizations and the target community. The action will be adjusted according to the development of the context (HEA monitoring, cadre harmonisé [standardized framework], humanitarian and security watch) in order to respond in a way that is adapted to the situation and context and in order to ensure an effective implementation of the project (notably in the case of crisis). The action will be carried out over 4 years: the first year will focus on information, awareness-raising and the studies necessary for the implementation of the project’ basis (committees, PDLs, etc.), the infrastructure and constructions (CFW, establishment of storage facilities, etc.) as well as on the launch of most of the project activities which will be continued in the second and third year. Lastly, the phases of finalization, capitalization, evaluation of the action will be conducted in the fourth year.

Participants

The action will directly benefit 40,183 households, being 256,071 individuals, and will indirectly benefit 39,544 households, being 276,807 individuals. In relation to the total population of the three zones, the action will target 52% of the population. The project will pay particular attention to target poor and very poor households, youth and women.