The Sahel region is at a crossroads. Poverty, inadequate infrastructure, armed conflict and environmental challenges create recurrent humanitarian crises. USAID in the Sahel aims to reduce chronic vulnerability by alleviating systemic issues while promoting resilience against economic shocks, natural disasters and conflict.
Background
The World Bank estimates one-third of development funding is lost to disasters and crises. Resilience measures enhance coping mechanisms for hardships like natural disasters, terrorism and failed harvests.
Economic vulnerabilities and a growing youth unemployment fuel grievances and radicalization. It is now the epicenter of terrorism according to the Global Terrorism Index. The Sahel experienced 47% of global terrorism deaths in 2023. The UNOCHA estimates that 35 million people in the Sahel need humanitarian assistance. 11.6 million are food insecure, 2.2 million children suffer from severe acute malnutrition, 5.6 million people are internally displaced and 1.7 million refugees, according to the 2024 Humanitarian Programme Cycle.
The Sahel is exceptionally vulnerable to natural disasters; rising temperatures and droughts worsen already poor agricultural conditions. These factors and flawed farming practices increase desertification and soil erosion, leading to unsustainable economic approaches and shock vulnerability.
The Impact of USAID in the Sahel Region
Working with civil society, international partners and local government, USAID helps provide humanitarian and development support. In 2022, the Sahel Regional Office managed approximately $235 million for development activities and USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) allocated $857 million for humanitarian assistance.
According to the 2023 Sahel Regional Office Factsheet, that year, USAID funding in the Sahel:
- Provided health care to 405,000 mothers and newborns. Furthermore, funding treated 146,000 child diarrhea cases and 450,000 childhood pneumonia cases in Burkina Faso.
- Helped 1.2 million individuals access improved water facilities.
- Helped manage 508,000 hectares of farmland and helped 320,000 individuals learn management practices in agriculture in Burkina Faso and Niger since 2020.
- Assisted more than 170,000 food-insecure individuals in Mauritania
- Provided critical food assistance to nearly 1.8 million people in 2022, built 70 shelters and provided health and kitchen supplies to nearly 7,000 displaced people in Chad.
USAID spent $2.392 billion total in the Sahel in 2023, and $1.154 billion so far in 2024 for food, health, agriculture and governance assistance.
USAID and Resilience Measures
USAID’s Resilience in the Sahel Enhanced (RISE) initiative focuses “on systemic solutions” that coordinate relief and development efforts with international donors “to support country-led plans.” RISE focused on agricultural opportunities and disaster management for chronically vulnerable households, according to a 2022 USAID report.
The program’s first stage disbursed $348 million and reached 1.9 million of the Sahel’s most vulnerable people in Burkina Faso and Niger. It mitigated the rise in food insecurity and the effects of shocks by expanding access to loans and insurance, educating people on risk and disaster preparedness and supporting social cohesion networks.
The RISE I program directly prevented one in five extremely vulnerable individuals from experiencing severe food insecurity. It mitigated the increase in food security between 2017 and 2020 to a rate of 2.9% compared to 16.5% in non-RISE areas. The program also mitigated the increase in moderate to severe food insecurity between 2017 and 2020 to an increase of 35.6% compared to 74.6% in non-RISE households.
RISE II, implemented from 2019 to 2025, focused on building resilience to economic, natural, conflict and health shocks in Burkina Faso and Niger. It secured $446.3 million in funding through 2023.
USAID in the Sahel supported economic well-being by improving access to financial services and market infrastructure. It strengthened governance through natural resource, risk and conflict management programs. USAID improved health by improving water access, nutrition, family planning and sanitation.
Security Interests
USAID in the Sahel aims to strengthen state legitimacy and curb terrorist groups and adversarial powers. However, international counter-terrorism support and regional leadership are failing. Several Sahelian countries recently experienced coups or attempted coups, including Russia-supported military regimes.
Weak infrastructural power catalyzes conflict. States cannot provide adequate social services or security, increasing local armed group influence. For example, Mali’s backing of ethnic militias and Burkina Faso’s reliance on less civil and accountable security forces created rivalries over resources and territory.
USAID in the Sahel reduces regional conflict by improving disaster reliance and addressing underlying causes of terrorism. USAID serves U.S. foreign interests by supporting regional partnerships and counter-terrorism efforts to maintain the U.S.’s presence.
Conclusion
USAID in the Sahel helped those living in extreme poverty mitigate economic and environmental risks. RISE targeted the systemic causes of poverty and promoted resilience to shocks caused by climate change, conflict and economic shifts.
The U.S. has ceded significant regional influence and failed to prevent coups and radical insurgent groups. USAID recognizes the Sahel’s security-environment-poverty nexus and has made substantial, lasting impacts on people living in extreme poverty.
– Luke Ravetto
Luke is based in Boston, MA, USA and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Pxhere
Madagascar’s Five-Year Plan
The Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Madagascar targets three primary outcomes. First, it aims to enhance job opportunities to boost incomes. Second, the plan focuses on improving human capital outcomes by making education more accessible, protecting women’s rights and ensuring that hygiene and agricultural standards are met. The final goal is to bolster the overall economy by investing in the socio-economic well-being of the people and strengthening natural disaster preparedness, alongside improving the management of natural resources.
Providing Job Opportunities
Madagascar aims to enhance its economic value and lift more citizens above the poverty line by increasing job opportunities. This effort will focus on vital sectors needing investment, such as agriculture and on mobilizing foreign private investments. As the digital era progresses, strengthening the foundations of the digital economy will transform digital infrastructures and support stakeholders. The Country Partnership Framework (CPF) plans to implement spatial prioritization to gain a regional competitive advantage, stabilizing rural livelihoods and creating new opportunities for residents. By improving the fundamentals of agricultural land, the economy and job opportunities, the CPF commits to a long-term strategy to strengthen Madagascar’s future.
Improving Human Capital Outcomes
The World Bank is supporting the government in enhancing early childhood education. Strategies include improving teacher quality and adopting a broader digital approach to elevate educational standards. Additionally, the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) aims to bolster female empowerment and protection, enhancing support services and expanding opportunities for girls to continue their education and access contraception products. There is also a strong commitment to advancing agricultural practices and food security systems by ensuring clean sanitation and water. Further commitments include reducing disease transmission and promoting nutrition in schools.
Transforming the Natural Landscape
The final goal of the World Bank and Country Partnership Framework (CPF) five-year plan focuses on protecting Madagascar’s natural resources and leveraging local environmental assets to enhance community resilience against natural disasters. The plan includes expanding economic reserves as a precautionary measure and strengthening disaster preparedness programs. Additionally, it emphasizes enhancing societal support by promoting economic inclusion and sustainability.
Looking Ahead
Madagascar’s comprehensive five-year plan, spearheaded by the World Bank and Country Partnership Framework (CPF), targets significant improvements in job creation, education and health systems. By focusing on these key areas, the plan aims to lift more citizens out of poverty and stimulate economic growth. Strengthening agricultural practices, enhancing digital infrastructure and promoting environmental sustainability are integral to this strategy. Through these ongoing efforts, Madagascar seeks to create a more resilient and prosperous future for its people.
– Charlotte Johnston
Photo: Flickr
Save the Children in Ethiopia
Save the Children’s Role and Response
Save the Children, a major nonprofit organization founded in the United Kingdom in 1919, aims to aid children in dire situations worldwide. With programs and members in 113 countries, the organization prioritizes support for children in the most resource-deprived nations.
In 2022, the Save the Children Ethiopia Country Office initiated a Category 1 humanitarian response plan across most of the country. This comprehensive plan encompasses the Northern Ethiopia Complex Response, the Hunger and Drought Response and the Forced Displacement Response. These initiatives aim to protect Ethiopian children, sustain their livelihoods and enhance food security. Save the Children operates in several regions, including Somali, Tigray, Amhara, Afar, Oromia, Gambela and the Southern, Central and Western Ethiopian regions, along with Sidama.
In 2023, Save the Children provided support to 6.8 million people in Ethiopia, including 3.9 million children. While the organization primarily focuses on aiding children, its efforts benefit the entire community.
Educational Initiatives and Health Focus
Save the Children focuses on providing educational resources to children. Approximately 13 million children in Ethiopia are not enrolled in school, nearly half of whom are girls, according to UNICEF. Many children who begin schooling often drop out before reaching secondary education. To counter this, Save the Children leads extensive programs with support from various stakeholders, concentrating on essential early childhood education in areas like math and literacy.
Save the Children also emphasizes children’s health and nutrition. Decades ago, many children died before the age of 5 from preventable causes. Significant progress has been made. Mortality rates have dropped from 123 per 1,000 births in 2005 to 59 per 1,000 in 2019, representing an overall decrease of about 15%. Despite these gains, nutrition remains a critical challenge, as malnutrition contributes to approximately 45% of children’s deaths. To reduce this rate, Save the Children integrates primary health care to ensure children receive necessary interventions, such as immunizations. The organization also spearheaded the Growth through Nutrition initiative from 2016 to 2023, which aimed to enhance nutrition and health care services.
Looking Ahead
Ethiopia’s severe drought has left millions of children facing hunger and hardship. Save the Children’s humanitarian efforts have been crucial in providing relief and support to affected communities. Its focus on education and health initiatives aims to address long-term challenges, such as malnutrition and school dropout rates. Ongoing efforts and support can potentially improve the lives of Ethiopia’s most vulnerable children and ensure a more stable future for the nation.
– Sabrina Betterly
Photo: Flickr
Rising Food Prices in Bangladesh and Charitable Responses
Historical Highs and Long-term Effects
Since Aug. 2023, Bangladesh has seen a staggering 12.34% increase in food prices, the highest in more than 13 years. This sharp rise has left approximately 71% of families struggling to afford necessities. Various factors, including global inflation, climate change impacting agricultural productivity and ongoing supply chain disruptions, contribute to this dramatic increase. The effects on families are profound, with widespread malnutrition and food insecurity.
Fluctuating Food Prices
In June 2024, food prices in Bangladesh surged by 10.42% compared to the same month the previous year, marking a significant increase. From 2013 to 2024, the average food inflation rate was 6.89%. The country’s highest food inflation, 12.56%, occurred in Oct. 2023, while the lowest rate, 3.77%, was in Feb. 2016. This rise in food prices has forced many Bangladeshi families into a daily struggle to secure enough food, leading to widespread malnutrition and persistent food insecurity. Despite these challenges, several charities are actively providing relief and support to those most affected by the crisis.
Goreeb Fund
The Goreeb Fund provides vital support to families through its distribution of family food packs containing essential groceries. These packs are crucial for families struggling with the sharp increase in food prices, ensuring they have enough to eat. The Goreeb Fund actively addresses immediate community needs, helping families maintain food security. Additionally, its Ricebag Project distributes rice to families in need and the Tubewell Project installs water pumps that supply clean drinking water. Each pump can serve up to seven families, enhancing community well-being by improving access to safe drinking water.
Salam Charity
Salam Charity addresses food insecurity by constructing water wells and distributing food packs to vulnerable families. Its initiatives ensure communities have access to clean water and provide essential nutrition. Each food pack, filled with rice, oil, lentils and sugar, supports a family for a month. By tackling both water and food needs, the charity enhances community well-being, especially in areas affected by rising food prices. Access to clean water and nutritious food supports daily life, empowers families to make the most of the resources they receive and improves overall health while reducing concerns about securing the next meal.
Action Against Hunger
Action Against Hunger is committed to addressing hunger and malnutrition in Bangladesh with both immediate and long-term solutions. Its programs, which reached more than 458,915 people last year, include nutrition education and emergency food distribution, focusing on sustainable changes that enable families to meet their own food needs in the future. It supports families like Shilpi’s in adopting climate-resilient farming techniques to increase food production at home. Shilpi shares significant improvements in her family’s diet and health, noting that “We can now provide for our children. My young children love fish and their father brings fish from our pond almost every day. My children’s health has improved so much and I find I have more energy as well. After selling eggs in the market, I can give eggs to my family for our daily breakfast. This was never possible before.” This self-sufficiency in food production allows them to mitigate the effects of rising food prices, ensuring continuous access to nutritious food.
Looking Ahead
The continuous surge in food prices in Bangladesh underscores the pressing need for effective interventions to address food insecurity and malnutrition. With inflation rates reaching historical highs, many families struggle to afford necessities, highlighting the critical role of charities like the Goreeb Fund, Salam Charity and Action Against Hunger. These organizations provide essential support through food distribution, clean water access and sustainable agricultural practices, helping to mitigate the impact of rising costs and ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the assistance they need. As the situation evolves, coordinated efforts between the government and humanitarian organizations could be essential in stabilizing food prices and enhancing food security for all Bangladeshis.
– Fahima Begum
Photo: Flickr
Better Health and Nutrition for Women and Children in Cambodia
Project Implementation and Goals
Launched in 2019 and set to conclude in 2026, the Cambodia Nutrition Project aims to improve the utilization and quality of essential maternal and child health and nutrition services, focusing on mothers and children in the first 1,000 days of life. This initiative includes specific actions such as enhancing the variety of food groups for children up to 23 months old, ensuring vaccinations for newborns, providing basic health and nutrition services to children, training public health providers and conducting community outreach sessions. The project targets major causes of child and maternal mortality in Cambodia, such as inadequate and inaccessible health services, poor quality care, substandard hygiene practices and the shortage of skilled health staff. By tackling these ongoing issues, the Cambodia Nutrition Project strives to significantly enhance and save the lives of numerous infants and children across the nation.
Community Impact and Workforce Development
Since its launch, the Cambodia Nutrition Project has effectively enhanced access to quality health and nutrition services for mothers and their children in key areas, as evidenced by numerous testimonials from participating mothers. This project has enabled significant reforms in health and nutrition systems, empowering local authorities to manage and deliver services more effectively in their communities. It has financed the recruitment and training of 4,459 village health workers, including 3,255 women, to provide higher-quality services across nine provinces in the country.
Achievements and Overachievements
The project has exceeded several key performance targets set for 2026, demonstrating significant progress in public health metrics within target provinces. These achievements include an increase in the percentage of children aged 6 to 23 months receiving foods from four or more food groups and a higher rate of children under 12 months receiving the DPT-HepB-Hib 3 vaccination, which guards against multiple diseases including diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae. Additionally, the project has successfully recruited a larger number of village health support groups than anticipated, which has enhanced community involvement and the implementation of nutrition and maternal health initiatives. The number of outreach sessions conducted has also surpassed initial expectations, effectively broadening community engagement ahead of the 2026 timeline.
Ongoing Efforts and Future Objectives
These accomplishments mark significant progress in supporting Cambodian parents, ensuring that their children begin life with the necessary nutrition and health care, which are vital for their survival and future well-being. While many targets have been successfully met, further efforts are needed to achieve all goals. Outstanding objectives include increasing the number of women and children older than 23 months receiving basic nutrition services nationwide and expanding the number of community health and nutrition events for women and children under 2 years old in targeted areas.
Looking Ahead
The Cambodia Nutrition Project has made substantial strides in improving maternal and child health since its inception. By surpassing several key performance targets ahead of schedule, the project demonstrates the effectiveness of international collaboration and local community involvement. Continued efforts could focus on expanding access to essential nutrition services and enhancing community health initiatives to ensure long-term health improvements for women and children across Cambodia.
– Mathieu Paré
Photo: Flickr
How Poverty and Hunger in Yemen Are Interconnected
Hunger and Poverty in Yemen
Conflict since 2015, from civil to proxy, has resulted in unfortunately growing hunger in Yemen as well as poverty extremes. Around 4.5 million people are internally displaced, with the majority residing in camps. In the 2023 Global Hunger Index, Yemen had a score of 39.9, with the range of 35.0 to 49.9 labelled as “Alarming.”
However, this score of 39.9 has dropped from the score of 42.1 in 2015, proving that global action to subvert this crisis as much as possible has been slightly beneficial.
Additionally, more than 308,000 migrants, mainly from Ethiopia and Somalia, are currently in Yemen while migrating through the Eastern Route, according to the INTERSOS. Escaping conflict of their own, these migrants only add to the mouths to feed within the country and intensify the hunger crisis.
Subverting Poverty
Bearing this in mind, The World Food Programme (WFP) and other subsets of the United Nations, have played a critical role in attempting to alleviate hunger and poverty in Yemen. According to WFP, it provides food over 4,360 distribution points across the country, covering all 333 districts of Yemen. Close to 2 million students across 4,600 Yemeni schools received fortified date bars or biscuits every day, under the Healthy Kitchens project.
Each month, the WFP distributes close to “100,000 metric tons of food commodities at more than 5,000 points, reaching more than 8 million Yemenis.”
Reinforcing These Initiatives
In December 2023, the WFP notified the world of a halt in food distribution due to limited funding and no agreement with local authorities on the best way to proceed with food deliveries. Considering the slow yet positive impact of the initiatives mentioned above, it is imperative to intensify the funding to the WFP, taking global action towards mitigating hunger.
Bearing this in mind, increasing WFP funding efforts and encouraging greater food distribution will help ensure the gradual mitigation of hunger in Yemen. Raising awareness, engaging with the WFP and interacting with Yemenis will help drive efforts to resume food distribution and convey the seriousness of arriving at funding agreements.
– Disheta Anand
Photo: Pixabay
Practical Action’s VINES project in Kassala and Blue Nile
The Demographics of Kassala and Blue Nile
The states of Kassala and Blue Nile in Sudan, heavily affected by ongoing conflict, host hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). This large population exacerbates existing food insecurity and malnutrition challenges, further complicated by climate change, conflict and erratic weather patterns. To address these ongoing issues, 6,000 small farmers in these states are participating in a project aimed at minimizing obstacles to food production. Engaging the wider community is also essential for educational and peacebuilding efforts, as part of the broader objective to improve local conditions.
The Approach
The strategy focuses on empowering farmers and enhancing market systems to boost the yield and resilience of local vegetable crops. This will be achieved through the following actions:
The Significance
In May 2023, the World Food Programme (WFP) announced that food insecurity in Sudan was set to reach record levels. More than 19 million people are affected, equivalent to two-fifths of the population. Ongoing conflict and violence have caused basic food prices to skyrocket. Furthermore, this has intermittently forced the WFP to suspend its programs in Sudan during particularly violent periods. In this environment, operations like Practical Action become crucial. The organization provides continuous support and sustainable solutions to one of the world’s most malnourished regions.
Looking Ahead
The VINES project by Practical Action is a critical initiative addressing food insecurity in the conflict-affected regions of Kassala and Blue Nile in Sudan. By enhancing agricultural productivity and market access, the project aims to reduce malnutrition and improve livelihoods. As food insecurity in Sudan reaches unprecedented levels, such interventions can potentially create sustainable, long-term solutions and support vulnerable communities in the region.
– Bea Newington-Bridges
Photo: Flickr
The Promising Future of Desert Agriculture
Developed in 2007, the Great Green Wall project aims to halt the expansion of the Sahel and stretch from Senegal to Djibouti. While the international community initially lauded the project as a great example of environmental restoration, the World Agroforestry Center has critiqued the plan. It is a tree-planting-centric model that scientists argue is ineffective in attempting to recover desert land. Instead, the areas along the project’s route that have seen success have seen little from the original initiative and instead have found new life in the hands of local farmers and communities.
Through indigenous communities, the land’s revitalization has begun to take shape. In Niger, farmers are using the Faidherbia albida tree, along with native low-brush plants, to assist with soil nutrients. The Great Green Wall is considered one of the most well-known plans to combat desertification. However, other plans are currently in action; some are taking inspiration and others are developing more applicable solutions to desert agriculture.
Mongolia
As of 2017, more than 70% of Mongolian land is considered to be desertified to some degree. Significant drought periods have exacerbated the spread of desertification in Mongolia’s Dornod and Khentii grasslands. While Mongolia has always been classified as arid and semi-arid, the large-scale grasslands have allowed a long-standing animal husbandry tradition to dominate the Mongolian economy.
The Mongolian Great Green Wall plan was launched in 2008 to combat this. However, like its African counterpart, it was largely unsuccessful and primarily abandoned in favor of other preventative methods. One indigenous solution to desert agriculture has been to change animal grazing timelines to ensure proper recovery time and prevent overgrazing. Between an increase in protective land policies and the nomadic communities remaking animal grazing patterns, there is a high possibility that the increased desertification along the Steppe can be reduced and managed with proper collaboration between local communities and government agencies.
Iraq
In the last three decades, the country has seen an increase in desertification due to deforestation during regional conflicts, water scarcity and the removal of brush cover, which has exacerbated the desertification in Iraq. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) reports that as of 2019, 2.89 million hectares of land in Iraq are classified as degraded. This degradation, primarily affecting the agricultural sector, is caused by water salinity from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and the lack of alternative irrigation sources. As a result, many farmers have abandoned their lands and migrated to densely populated urban areas for employment.
There are currently no active UNCCD projects in Iraq. However, a comprehensive analysis was produced in 2022, which gave several strategic suggestions to boost vegetation cover and revitalize local agricultural lands by planting lichen and other microorganisms to strengthen top soils, provide necessary nutrients and improve desert agriculture. The UNCCD recommends spearheading projects by local communities and generational farmers to ensure the land is cared for by those who understand the human-land balance more intimately than government bodies.
– Jamie Sackett
Photo: Flickr
Nonprofits Helping the Indian Tribal Communities of Karnataka
Bridges of Sports
This organization started in 2016 and aims to guide many tribal athletes. Many tribal individuals are extremely fast barefoot runners. However, they do not have the guidance or mentorship to compete or fully utilize their amazing athletic abilities. Bridges of Sports provides these athletes with proper resources, training and advice to beat state, world and university records. Bridges of Sports is benefiting the Indian tribal communities of Karnataka by recognizing their potential. The organization leverages their strengths to create opportunities that can transform their lives.
By addressing their needs and providing support, the organization is helping these communities overcome neglect and build a better future. More than 100 children have been supported, 200 medals have been awarded and the organization has produced three of the fastest Indians. In addition, by giving these Indian tribal athletes a spotlight, many have received higher education. Bridges of Sports has made a large positive impact on the vulnerable communities of Karnataka.
Friends of Tribals Society
The organization was established in 1989 and strives to uplift and empower the tribal communities impacted by poverty. Many of these tribes are located in Karnataka, India. Friends of Tribals Society provides individuals with good education and discusses “primary education, health care education, development education, awareness education and sanskar education.” The organization has 37 chapters across India and has taught more than 1.3 million students in its 35 years of service.
Final Remark
While the issues of poverty and neglect facing the Indian tribal communities of Karnataka are prevalent, it is important to recognize the work that is being undertaken. Currently, there are not many nonprofits helping the Indian tribal communities of Karnataka, but Bridges of Sports and Friends of Tribals Society have made significant impacts on these communities.
Bridges of Sports focuses on nurturing sports talent among tribal children, providing them with training and opportunities to excel and become the fastest athletes. Friends of Tribals Society, on the other hand, emphasizes education, health care and sustainable development, working toward the holistic upliftment of these communities.
Through more media coverage and awareness, these organizations show that the Indian tribal communities of Karnataka are slowly starting to escape from the poverty cycle. The efforts of these nonprofits not only improve the immediate living conditions but also pave the way for a brighter future for the next generation, fostering hope and resilience among the tribal populations.
– Poppy Duggal
Photo: Flickr
Bringing Hope to the Crisis in Sudan
Humanitarian Efforts
Organizations like the International Rescue Committee (IRC) have expanded their operations to meet humanitarian needs in Sudan. It has established offices and initiated emergency response measures that provide cash assistance, clean water, sanitation and hygiene to communities lacking access to these essential resources.
Additionally, Save the Children has established the Sudan Emergency Relief Fund to aid child refugees from Sudan, which supplies medical equipment and services. This initiative uses emergency trauma kits for life-threatening situations and offers health clinics and nutrition supplements for displaced or malnourished children. Additionally, it provides children with opportunities to participate in sports and other activities, helping them to overcome adverse experiences.
U.S. Foreign Aid to Sudan
In March 2024, the United States (U.S.) delivered more than $47 million in foreign aid to Sudan and its host countries. Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees and Migration Julieta Vall Noyes represented the U.S. in this effort, which provided essential life-saving assistance and protection to the Sudanese people. This contribution increased the total U.S. aid for Sudanese relief to more than $968 million. Additionally, the U.S. government maintains a comprehensive archive of Sudanese conflicts and crises, detailing emergency responses, funding and relief efforts along with location maps. These detailed reports are instrumental in mitigating the effects of future crises that could lead to mass displacement or significant casualties.
Global Advocacy and Warnings of Famine
On June 18, 2024, Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy, addressed the international community during a press conference, sounding the alarm about the impending famine and the ongoing horrific conflict in Sudan. “Famine is imminent,” she declared. “I regret to inform you that Sudan continues to spiral into chaos; it is just the tip of the iceberg.” Her speech highlighted the severe consequences of the conflict in Sudan, particularly the indiscriminate bombings that target small communities, inflicting violence on innocent people who have not provoked such attacks.
Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee and Senior Programming Director at the Sudan Family Planning Association Limiaa Ahmed supported Edem Wosornu in her advocacy. They emphasized the devastating impact of war on women and girls, the significant role of humanitarian aid in supporting small communities and the importance of listening to the voices of youth amid the chaos.
Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee addressed the international community, stating, “Civilians are in the line of fire. Nowhere is safe for them. Despite efforts by the United Nations (U.N.) and regional organizations, we have not succeeded.” The joint statements by Pobee, Edem Wosornu and Limiaa Ahmed effectively highlighted the crisis, prompting many council members to urge warring parties to resume dialogue and emphasize the protection of citizens. Additionally, several speakers called for an end to external interference.
Addressing Nutrition and Hunger in Crisis
A significant challenge in aiding Sudan, particularly in light of the ongoing crisis that has left 26.6 million people food insecure, is ensuring proper nutrition. To address this, the World Food Programme (WFP) delivers life-saving food to some of the most inaccessible areas of the Darfur region. Since 2019, WFP has implemented the Sudan Country Strategic Plan, which outlines interventions to foster sustainable development, enhance nutrition and identify developmental priorities and gaps in communities. These strategic outcomes were formulated in close collaboration with national partners to bolster local capacity to combat hunger and malnutrition across Sudan.
Looking Ahead
The multifaceted crisis in Sudan, which includes political instability, conflict and natural disasters, has created a dire humanitarian situation. Organizations like the International Rescue Committee and Save the Children are actively working to provide essential aid, while U.S. foreign assistance and global advocacy efforts continue to raise awareness and support. The World Food Programme’s strategic interventions aim to address food insecurity and malnutrition, offering a lifeline to the millions affected. The collective response underscores the urgent need for sustained international support to mitigate the severe impact on Sudan’s vulnerable populations.
– Jacob Barker
Photo: Flickr
USAID in the Sahel: Resilience and Security
Background
The World Bank estimates one-third of development funding is lost to disasters and crises. Resilience measures enhance coping mechanisms for hardships like natural disasters, terrorism and failed harvests.
Economic vulnerabilities and a growing youth unemployment fuel grievances and radicalization. It is now the epicenter of terrorism according to the Global Terrorism Index. The Sahel experienced 47% of global terrorism deaths in 2023. The UNOCHA estimates that 35 million people in the Sahel need humanitarian assistance. 11.6 million are food insecure, 2.2 million children suffer from severe acute malnutrition, 5.6 million people are internally displaced and 1.7 million refugees, according to the 2024 Humanitarian Programme Cycle.
The Sahel is exceptionally vulnerable to natural disasters; rising temperatures and droughts worsen already poor agricultural conditions. These factors and flawed farming practices increase desertification and soil erosion, leading to unsustainable economic approaches and shock vulnerability.
The Impact of USAID in the Sahel Region
Working with civil society, international partners and local government, USAID helps provide humanitarian and development support. In 2022, the Sahel Regional Office managed approximately $235 million for development activities and USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) allocated $857 million for humanitarian assistance.
According to the 2023 Sahel Regional Office Factsheet, that year, USAID funding in the Sahel:
USAID spent $2.392 billion total in the Sahel in 2023, and $1.154 billion so far in 2024 for food, health, agriculture and governance assistance.
USAID and Resilience Measures
USAID’s Resilience in the Sahel Enhanced (RISE) initiative focuses “on systemic solutions” that coordinate relief and development efforts with international donors “to support country-led plans.” RISE focused on agricultural opportunities and disaster management for chronically vulnerable households, according to a 2022 USAID report.
The program’s first stage disbursed $348 million and reached 1.9 million of the Sahel’s most vulnerable people in Burkina Faso and Niger. It mitigated the rise in food insecurity and the effects of shocks by expanding access to loans and insurance, educating people on risk and disaster preparedness and supporting social cohesion networks.
The RISE I program directly prevented one in five extremely vulnerable individuals from experiencing severe food insecurity. It mitigated the increase in food security between 2017 and 2020 to a rate of 2.9% compared to 16.5% in non-RISE areas. The program also mitigated the increase in moderate to severe food insecurity between 2017 and 2020 to an increase of 35.6% compared to 74.6% in non-RISE households.
RISE II, implemented from 2019 to 2025, focused on building resilience to economic, natural, conflict and health shocks in Burkina Faso and Niger. It secured $446.3 million in funding through 2023.
USAID in the Sahel supported economic well-being by improving access to financial services and market infrastructure. It strengthened governance through natural resource, risk and conflict management programs. USAID improved health by improving water access, nutrition, family planning and sanitation.
Security Interests
USAID in the Sahel aims to strengthen state legitimacy and curb terrorist groups and adversarial powers. However, international counter-terrorism support and regional leadership are failing. Several Sahelian countries recently experienced coups or attempted coups, including Russia-supported military regimes.
Weak infrastructural power catalyzes conflict. States cannot provide adequate social services or security, increasing local armed group influence. For example, Mali’s backing of ethnic militias and Burkina Faso’s reliance on less civil and accountable security forces created rivalries over resources and territory.
USAID in the Sahel reduces regional conflict by improving disaster reliance and addressing underlying causes of terrorism. USAID serves U.S. foreign interests by supporting regional partnerships and counter-terrorism efforts to maintain the U.S.’s presence.
Conclusion
USAID in the Sahel helped those living in extreme poverty mitigate economic and environmental risks. RISE targeted the systemic causes of poverty and promoted resilience to shocks caused by climate change, conflict and economic shifts.
The U.S. has ceded significant regional influence and failed to prevent coups and radical insurgent groups. USAID recognizes the Sahel’s security-environment-poverty nexus and has made substantial, lasting impacts on people living in extreme poverty.
– Luke Ravetto
Photo: Pxhere