Role of private sector advocacy groups in the Sahel

This paper presents a preliminary framework describing the policy reform process and the role of respective groups in the process. The paper identifies some of the critical national advocacy groups within Sahelian countries that are involved in policy reform with respect to MSE"s. The paper analyzes the interaction and conflicts within these groups, and identifies some of the forces competing with them, as well as other issues surrounding policy reform in the Sahel countries. This is an initial review whose findings will be complemented (and modified) by the findings from other, more in-depth, studies on MSE"s to be carried out by the GEMINI project over the next 18 months. Although most of the other studies will focus on subsector analyses and microenterprise strategies, they will provide further insight into the varying roles of different advocacy groups and factors critical to their effectiveness, building on the framework outlined in this paper. One purpose of the assignment is to begin to determine the relationship between donor agencies and other indigenous advocacy groups. The paper provides concrete examples and evidence of the impact of the policy environment on MSE"s through case studies of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad. It helps to identify ways to increase and improve the donor"s role in promoting reforms affecting MSE"s, and also identifies the way donors can adapt their existing projects to play a greater role in the advocacy process. (Author abstract, modified)