The Sahel is a place of untapped resources and opportunities. But, the region also has many complex and multifaceted challenges. The urgency of addressing the root causes of these challenges calls for greater solidarity, increased mobilization from the international community and strengthened partnerships. All these elements are essential for building lasting peace and preventing a relapse into conflict. THESE SHARED OBJECTIVES AND HOPES FOR THE SAHEL will not be attained without the engagement of youth and women. Women and young people are agents of change and will contribute to the prosperous and peaceful transformation of their countries. We need to ensure that all have access to the necessary skills and opportunities to play their role. This spirit of hope drives our efforts in the Sahel. The United Nations has refocused its Integrated Strategy for the Sahel based on the renewed needs of people and the environment and has developed a UN Support Plan to assist the countries of the Sahel. In this regard, this photobook illustrates the ways the UN is working using the Support Plan to guide coverage, targeting of vulnerable groups and ensuring maximal use of resources for wider gain as exemplified by the joint projects implemented and showcased.

In 2020, COVID-19 has caused a global health, humanitarian and development emergency. It has shown us how fragile our systems are and the risk of reversing the gains for women and children. Yet it has also provided an opportunity to recover better to be more resilient to future shocks. The pandemic has underlined how vital the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development is for reducing inequalities, promoting prosperity and sustaining peace. The UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel and the UN Support Plan supported by the UN system with strengthened leadership have been designed to address these intertwined challenges and offer innovative solutions. Thus, the emphasis in this book to showcase the work done by the UN in the Sahel, espousing the linkages between humanitarian, development and sustaining peace nexus for purposes of addressing immediate and long-term concerns and sustainability of gains made.
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We cannot solve the problems of the Sahel by only looking at the challenges. We need to look at the opportunities and make investments in the region’s potential, such as in the renewable energy sector, to transform the economy and tackle the problem of poverty and exclusion.