The Sahel regional programme on increasing the organisational capacities of regional CSOs and youth networks from 2018 to 2021
Project: « The Sahel regional programme on increasing the organisational capacities of regional CSOs and youth networks »
The Sahel regional programme focuses on increasing the organisational capacities of regional CSOs and youth networks (e.g., gender analysis, policy analysis, and quality of cross border protection services) in order to effectively engage ECOWAS and other actors to influence social and political change on Ending Child Marriage and Children on the Move in the Sahel. This will be done by identifying regional CSOs and youth networks to work with and assess their organisational capacities, including specific relevant organisational and technical capacities to advocate for ending child marriages and for the protection of children on the move. We will support research on ending child marriages being presented and youth-friendly tools designed in order to create pathways for social change across the Sahel. The youth-friendly tools are envisaged to be used by local CSOs and networks in the countries in the Sahel (e.g., under the interventions designed under Lot CIV for country programmes like Mali and Burkina Faso). We will also support youth-identified and youth-led research and innovative ideas for protection of children on the move across the Sahel, with a strong focus on communications functionalities. This may include cross border protection mechanisms, which have been identified as missing links in the Sahel. The Sahel regional programme will address SDGs: 5. Gender equality (5.1, 5.2, 5.3), 8. Decent work and economic growth (8.7), 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions (16.2, 16.7), and 17. (17.9, 17.17).
Financial partner: Save The Children
Total cost: 64 887 090 F CFA
Duration: 3 years
Country: Sahel
Objective : to contribute to strengthen regional CSOs and empower youth networks in the Sahel to protect children on the move and end child marriage.
Results :
- A Mapping of Interventions and Power Analysis in the Sahel ;
- 3 Policy Papers available :
“Teenage pregnancy : An important factor of child marriage”,
” Child Marriage and Gender Social Norms “,
” Do islam and Christianity influence Child Marriage” ?
- WiLDAF staff training in child protection policy
- Adoption of an action plan by the organisations following the strengthening of the capacity of actors in the Sahel to work effectively on the issue of combating child marriage ;
- Participation and advocacy at the second girls’ summit to end child marriage in Africa organized in Niger ;
- Film “AICHATOU” produced and broadcast in French, English, Barbara to change social norms ;
- A comic book entitled « Married too soon’’on child marriage procuded and disseminated ;
- Set up of virtual reading clubs for the comic book ;
- Good Practice “Sharing what works for the successful ending of child marriage” procuded and disseminated ;
- Participation in January 2019, the adoption of the regional child policy and its strategic action plan (2019-2030), and a roadmap on ending child marriage in the ECOWAS region
- Production and dessemination of a Policy brief and an infographic from the ECOWAS roadmap on ending child marriage in West Africa ;
- Two (2) televised debates organized in Burkina Faso and Senegal for awareness raising ;
- Three (3) sessions of Policy Dialogue held in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger for advocacy prupose and awareness raising ;
- Awareness-raising activities for young people and parents in the Sahel countries (Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger and Togo on child marriage ;
- Participation and advocacy at the girls’ summit to end child marriage Advocacy at the girls’ summit in Africa organised in togo in 2021.
