The Sahel is amongst the most vulnerable regions to climate change on the planet, and one of the least able to cope. It is already experiencing increasing temperatures, significant rainfall variability, and extreme weather events including droughts and floods. Engulfed in conflicts for the past decade, the region’s exposure to environmental shocks is compounded by instability, which affects the ability of society and governments to mitigate and adapt. The root causes of conflict in the Sahel are complex and interlinked, but it is increasingly clear that climate change and environmental degradation are intensifying pressure points for Sahel communities primarily reliant on natural resource-based livelihoods. Dependence on natural resources, rising temperatures, droughts and flooding affect the livelihoods of many, while weak governance and lack of responses to the effects of climate change contribute to local grievances against the state.

The JASS programme has three components:

• improving the conflict management capacity and collaboration of communities amongst themselves and with institutions, to mitigate and resolve conflicts linked to land and natural resources.
• addressing climate-related pressures on land and natural resources which drive increased tension and conflict across the Sahel, by increasing communities’ resilience to climate related shocks and stressors and mitigating conflict over reduced natural capital by restoring local ecosystems.
• improving the evidence base for more effective access to land and climate adaptation and resilience approaches in fragile contexts. This learning component will contribute to building the evidence base on effective, integrated climate security programming and will connect that learning to national and regional level policy and dialogue.

Across all three result areas, the programme prioritises gender equity and social inclusion (GESI) to promote gender-transformative approaches whilst remaining conflict sensitive, and ensures that interventions reach young people, women, and marginalised populations most in need.

Contact person and email:

Mana Farooghi: mana.farooghi@fcdo.gov.uk; Marco Simonetti: marco.simonetti@fcdo.gov.uk

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© FCDO, Government of the United Kingdom

© FCDO, Government of the United Kingdom