Regional and National events kick-started Sahel RESCOM project

Recently the national and regional conferences of the OKP RESCOM Project in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger took place. The project which covers the Sahel region works towards climate change, security and the rule of law in the Sahel by optimizing the contribution of universities to strengthen the resilience of communities.

After a long inception phase fully managed remotely by the partners, the OKP RESCOM Project, has started the first activities in person in the three Sahelian countries. Between the end of January and the start of February, the three universities were able to gather a wide range of relevant stakeholders for one-day national conferences, which have collected a widespread appreciation and engagement. Finally, all partners gathered in Bamako from the 17th until the 19th of February for the first regional conference, with the official ceremony of February 18th. During the regional conference, project partners have also agreed on the new public name of the project, OKP RESCOM, underlining how the whole focus of the activities is very much on the building a resilient community.

Building relations and getting partners all on the same page
The aim of these national and regional workshops was threefold. First, they served as public events for the official launch of the project at national and regional level, ensuring that all regional partners and beneficiaries had a full knowledge of the project and its activities. National project teams from the hosting universities have thoroughly explained the project structure, objectives and workplan and have responded to all relevant questions from participants.

Secondly, they served to the professors and researchers to discuss and coordinate on the research activities that are part of the project, collecting useful inputs and comments from other stakeholders who work and live in the contexts that will be subject of study. After a preliminary phase of desk research, over the next months the national teams will do field research to collect data and study relevant cases of community resilience to insecurity and climate change. The regional conference was the occasion for a real methodology workshop, where different partners could exchange on the research hypothesis, tools, areas of focus and sites.

Thirdly, they served as the launch events of national and regional platforms for exchange and dialogue between political, academic and civil society actors on issues of resilience, security and the rule of law. All participants have shown the utmost interest and engagement, and this activity of dialogue will continue throughout and after the project.

The final aim is to create a network which can share knowledge and expertise about successful experiences of community resilience to climate change, insecurity and imperfect rule of law. The universities will serve not only as creators of new knowledge, but also as catalyser of a dialogue which can have positive influence on the policy making at national and regional level.

Launching the project through 3 national events
The first event was hosted in Mali on January 29 by the Université des Sciences Juridiques et Politiques de Bamako (USJPB), leader of the Sahelian consortium. The event was attended by more than 30 high level actors from the political, academic and civil society and was supervised by Pr Moussa DJIRE, Rector of USJPB, and Pr Amadou KEÏTA, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The event was also supported by intervention through videoconferencing by the Dutch embassy and Nuffic, who complimented USJPB for the success of the event and gave great endorsement to the project.

This event was followed by a national kick-off event in Burkina Faso, hosted on February 5 by the Joseph Ki Zerbo University (UJKZ) of Ouagadougou. The conference, supervised by Pr Rabiou CISSE, President of UJKZ, and Pr Tanga Pierre Zoungrana, Director of the Doctoral School of UJKZ and national coordinator of the project. More than 30 participants were gathered, representing different academic institutions, statal agencies, security forces, NGOs and organizations of civil society. The event has also welcomed the presence of Pr Moussa DJIRE, Rector of USJPB and regional coordinator of the project, and his Excellency Maarten Rusch, Head of the diplomatic mission of the Dutch Embassy, who gave full support and engagement by the Dutch authorities.

The third event was hosted on February 10 in Niger by the Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey (UAM). The conference was supervised by Mr. Rabiou Ousman, Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Pr Mahamadou Saidou, Rector of UAM, and by Pr Amadou Boureima, national coordinator of the project. The event was attended also by Pr Moussa DJIRE, regional coordinator of the project, and his Excellency Paul Tholen, Dutch Ambassador in Niger.

Finally, from the 17th to 18th of February, about 20 participants from the three universities gathered in Bamako, joined in person by Volker Hauck, of Dutch partner organization European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM), and online via videoconference by other Dutch partners Maastricht School of Management (MSM) and CINOP. Mr Hauck has also given a brief speech on behalf of the Dutch consortium, highlighting the spirit of co-construction and how this project can be a great opportunity for mutual learning and strengthening. On the public event of the 18th, again a rich portfolio of more than 30 academic, governmental and professional actors was involved, including USJPB Professor and Minister of Higher Education Pr Amadou KEÏTA.

Funding agency Nuffic, represented by program managers Joseph Seh and Rachade Sefou, participated in all events via videoconferencing. They showed strong support and endorsed the project.

What’s next
After these national and regional platforms, each national team will continue their work and engagement with local partners to put in place a sound research plan and a phase of data collection in the field. In the months of March and April other regional activities will take place in the three Sahelian cities, including a regional workshop on the experience of cliniques et caravans juridiques, a training on (mobile) digital data collection and a workshop on the diagnostic of curricula and educational offer.

About the consortium
The project will be implemented by a consortium consisting of Bamako University of Legal and Political Sciences (USJPB) in Mali, Joseph Ki Zerbo University (UJKZ) in Burkina Faso and Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey (UAM) in Niger. The Dutch consortium partners in the project are CINOP, European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) and Maastricht School of Management (MSM) who is responsible for the management of the project.

Orange Knowledge Programme
This project is part of the Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP) which is funded by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and managed by Nuffic. For more information click here.