Peaceful pastoral cross-border mobility and social stability in the Sahel (MOPSS)

MOPSS: Actors committed to peaceful pastoralism

Benin,Burkina Faso,Mali,Niger

ongoing

The ‘Peaceful pastoral cross-border mobility and social stability in the Sahel’ (MOPSS) project is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by SNV, RBMAPESSROPPA, Hub Rural et CARE. The strong collaboration and interrelationship between the actors create a favorable context for the implementation of an innovative approach. MOPSS intervenes in three cross-border areas: Liptako Gourma, WAPO and Kénédougou. It supports the vision of an integrated regional approach for the development of the pastoral livestock sub-sector, peaceful transhumance and better-structured transnational production chains that generate shared benefits for male and female rural actors.

In arid and semi-arid areas, pastoral farming is the most important productive activity supporting the livelihoods of tens of millions of people. Under the effects of population growth and weak improvements in agricultural productivity, the expansion of agricultural land is carried out to the detriment of pastoral areas and mobility corridors. This is encouraged by the non-application of regional and national policies and regulations. These areas are also particularly affected by a high level of insecurity and violence, the existence of armed gangs, and the presence of terrorist groups. Women and young people are particularly vulnerable to these risks of insecurity and violent extremism.

It is in this context that MOPSS intervenes, with the objective of contributing to strengthening the resilience of agro-pastoral populations and social stability in the Sahel, through the prevention, mitigation, and management of conflicts. It works to strengthen the organizational governance of regional producer organizations (RPO), to make the political and legal environment more favorable to the specificities of pastoralism, and to support the economic and social viability of pastoralism.

Conflict sensitivity is a particular focus of MOPSS

MOPSS makes conflict sensitivity a transversal aspect. By working for the establishment of inclusive dialogue, it aims to consider the concerns of the different interest groups (herders/farmers, men/women/young people, Sahelian countries/coastal countries) in the context of securing the pastoral mobility. Members of the consortium unite their strategies and expertise to influence the political and legal framework and support the economic and social viability of pastoralism. This is so that pastoralism, far from being a factor of insecurity, becomes a source of social stability.

Specific attention to young people and women

Women and young people are very active in the field of pastoralism but often encounter low yields. In its intervention strategy, MOPSS pays particular attention to the inclusion, leadership and economic and social concerns of women and young people with the aim of reaching at least 30% of young people and 40% of women.

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