The Sahel and West Africa Week is an annual event which gathers Members, partners and networks of the Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC). It has become a major reference for the region’s development stakeholders and is a a unique space for the informal exchange of experiences, joint analyses, debates, networking and building partnerships. The 2015 edition of the Week was held at Expo Milano from 26-30 October at the invitation of the European Union. The Week raised public awareness of the Expo’s theme “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life” from a West African perspective. Focusing on food security and resilience the debates drew attention to: Stakeholders Raise awareness of West African experiences and particularly the role of women in building resilience and sustainability. Policies Share innovative thinking and approaches to promoting regional food and nutrition security. Partnerships Strengthen linkages between regional food security policies and practices and relevant international policy processes. |
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The Week brought together regional organisations, representatives from West African governments and OECD countries, civil society, professional associations, research centres, international organisations, multi-lateral and bilateral agencies, and the media. |
A unique global opportunity The Expo represented a unique opportunity for stakeholders and partners to showcase their achievements and to share knowledge on the key issues, persisting challenges, potential and resources that exist to improve food and nutrition security and increase resilience. It also provided a platform to promote West Africa on the international policy agenda. Since its creation in 1976, the Sahel and West Africa Club has been a key figure in the work on food security in the region. The OECD hosts the SWAC Secretariat and is an official participant of the Expo. The Week is part of the official programme of the 2015 European Year for Development and took place during Food Security Month, a thematic month of the European Year for Development. |
The Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC) is an international platform for policy dialogue and analysis devoted to regional issues in West Africa. Its mission is to enhance the effectiveness of regional policies and of partner support in the common and interdependent area composed of the 17 countries of ECOWAS, UEMOA and CILSS. Created in 1976, it is the only international entity entirely dedicated to regional issues in West Africa. More than 100 stakeholders participate in the SWAC platforms: governments of West African countries and OECD member countries, regional organisations, professional associations and civil society groups, bi- and multi-lateral development partners and research centres. Under the guidance of SWAC Members, the SWAC Secretariat facilitates dialogue, knowledge-sharing and consensus-building; provides independent and factual analysis; and devises policy recommendations and guidelines. The SWAC Secretariat also ensures the co-ordination of the Food Crisis Prevention Network (RPCA) and the Global Alliance for Resilience (AGIR), and works with Members in supporting their initiatives and their engagement for the development of the region. The SWAC Secretariat is a special entity of the OECD and seeks to apply the rigorous working and management methods of the Organisation in its work. Thanks to being hosted at the OECD, the Secretariat can make the voice of West Africa heard in global fora and facilitates access to these for West African policy makers. > find out + |
What is the RPCA? |
What is AGIR? |
Any questions? Contact us at: swac.contact@oecd.org