Sahel regional institutions

The project will be implemented by the Club and CILSS. The project will encourage continued evolution of the Club-CILSS system, introduce A.I.D. "team" project management approaches to the Club and the CILSS, and support greater integration of regional analysis with bilateral A.I.D. programs. In this effort, it will build upon the major restructuring of the CILSS begun in 1985, which included establishment of a Donor Advisory Group (DAG) and of an integrated work program and comprehensive budgeting system. The Club and CILSS will form working groups (comprising their staff members, Sahelian and expatriate consultants, and member-state experts and administrators) which will seek to: (1) develop policies and strategies addressing the Sahel"s priority problems of food security and ecological balance; and (2) encourage the adoption of these policies and strategies by Sahelian countries and donors. Among the activities of these working groups will be studies, national coordination meetings, regional colloquies, and other meetings and research. In addition, the Club will improve donor coordination through meetings of the DAG. Roughly 40% of project funds will be used for studies, seminars, etc. conducted by the Club, another 40% for studies, seminars, and administrative costs of the CILSS, and the remainder for Club administrative support and project evaluations. Project success will depend on the successful execution of the coordinated working group activities and the adoption of sound development policies by the Sahelian countries, the continued improvement of Club and CILSS managerial efficiency, and by the extent to which A.I.D. Missions in the Sahel can be drawn into real participation by initiating, carrying out, and exploiting CILSS/Club activities. Amendment of 3/7/91 increases funding from $5 million to $15 million and extends PACD from 7/92 to 6/97. Workshops, conferences, reports and other activities will be conducted at both the national and regional levels to promote a new policy dialogue focusing on the following themes: (1) the nature of civic life (the state and society); (2) a proposed Food Aid Charter for the countries of the Sahel; (3) decentralization of natural resource management; (4) land tenure security for land developers; (5) decentralization as a means of local revenue generation and better governance; (6) privatization and enterprise development; and (7) open regional cereals markets for better food security and income distribution. Other activities include strengthening the Club and the CILSS through training and TA, and establishing a unit (cellule) for promoting data exchanges and analyses concerning regional trade. (PD-ABC-451)