Malian refugee camp, Mentao, Burkina Faso. Photo: Pablo Tosco/Oxfam

Climate change, development and security in the Central Sahel: changing context and emerging solutions

Event

7 March 2023-8 March 2023

Hotel Fleur de Lys Almadies, Dakar, Senegal

The impacts of climate change create multiple challenges for states and societies of the Sahel region, including food security, population displacement, and conflict. To confront these challenges, a coordinated approach between different actors, from the state and from civil society, at different levels, is needed. Doing so also requires regular exchanges between researchers, practitioners and policymakers from different domains, in the countries concerned and at the international level.

This workshop convened experts and practitioners from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, neighbouring countries and further afield in order to share and discuss analysis, policies and practices which could contribute to managing the risks that climate change poses to development, security and stability in the region. The exchanges aimed to identify context-appropriate solutions and modes of international cooperation contributing to climate resilience, to inclusive and durable socioeconomic development, and to peace.

A rich day of discussion yesterday on the 1st day @Cascades_EU regional workshop in Dakar, Senegal. A diverse group of regional experts and policy makers, to discuss climate change, security & development in the Sahel. A thread of some main points 🧵 pic.twitter.com/OW0JD7bok9

— Sophie Desmidt (@SophieDesmidt) March 8, 2023

The participants shared lessons drawn from their experiences and presented approaches and tools to evaluate and remedy climate risks through policy and practice at local, national, regional and international levels. This workshop also offered the opportunity to discuss potential shared projects and to identify priorities to boost international cooperation.

The results of the workshop will inform consultations with the EU and other parties participating in the CASCADES project. Several representatives of EU agencies participated in the workshop to discuss directly with the experts present.