Food and Agriculture Organization, in collaboration with the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation and supported by the Russian Federation, has launched a new initiative aimed at strengthening irrigation, water and land management across the Sahel region. The project was formally introduced during a regional inception workshop that brought together representatives from Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger to align priorities and establish a coordinated approach for implementation.
The initiative comes at a critical time as countries in the Sahel continue to face mounting challenges related to climate change, including water scarcity, land degradation and declining agricultural productivity. These factors significantly impact food security and rural livelihoods, making sustainable resource management a key priority for the region.
Through South-South and Triangular Cooperation, the project promotes the exchange of knowledge, technologies and practical solutions among countries with similar environmental and agricultural challenges. This collaborative model enables participating nations to learn from each other’s experiences while leveraging technical expertise and innovation contributed by international partners.
The workshop played a central role in defining the project’s direction, including validating country-specific priorities, establishing governance structures and reviewing the first-year work plan. Participants engaged in technical discussions and collaborative sessions to clarify roles, strengthen partnerships and ensure effective coordination across countries.
This initiative also represents an innovative approach to development cooperation, combining financial support from the Russian Federation with implementation expertise from FAO and coordination through the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation. The model has the potential to serve as a framework for future global collaboration efforts in sustainable agriculture.
Overall, the project aims to enhance resilience in agrifood systems by improving water and land management practices, supporting sustainable agriculture and strengthening regional cooperation. By focusing on practical solutions and shared learning, it seeks to build more resilient food systems and improve livelihoods across the Sahel.
