Sahelian Countries Research Articles

Using a New Approach to Design Innovative Tools for Monitoring and Evaluating Water Policy of Burkina Faso in Response to Climate Risks

Climate change impacts on water resources have jeopardized human security in the Sahel countries for many decades, especially in achieving food security. Many strategies and policies have been made to address such impacts. However, there are still difficulties to measure progress and the effectiveness of these policies and strategies with regard to climate risks. The lack of practical and consensual monitoring tool is one of the factors that can explain gaps in policies and initiatives to overcome these impacts. To move towards filling this gap, using ClimProspect model and a participatory approach, and based on in-depth vulnerability analysis, this paper makes available some innovative integrated and coherent resilience indicators and a new index for Burkina Faso’s water resources. Taking into account both climate and disaster risks, the indicators and index developed are related to warning, responses, recovery and long term resilience. The indicators-based index applied to three sites shows that agriculture water is less resilient to a changing climate with a score varying from 22.66% to 24%. These tools can help in formulating, implementation and reviewing water policy to secure water resources under the stress of climate change. The approach and findings bring together, on one hand, social and ecological resilience to climate risks, and sciences and policy on the other.

Correction: Sub-National Targeting of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention in the Sahelian Countries of the Nouakchott Initiative

Correction: Sub-National Targeting of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention in the Sahelian Countries of the Nouakchott Initiative

English

The importance of cassava to the livelihoods of many millions of poor people has made the commodity a target for interventions. The potential of the crop is large because it offers the cheap source of food calories and the highest yield per unit area. It also has multiple roles as famine reserve, food and cash crop, industrial raw material and livestock feed. The objectives of this paper were to describe the traditional cassava trade networks involving the rural (supply) and urban (demand) markets, assess the degree of market integration for traditional cassava products and suggest policy approaches to increase market efficiency. The data was collected in 60 urban markets that were surveyed. About 500 rural markets were also surveyed with key information on the movement of different cassava commodities from the rural market to each urban destination (demand) market. Market integration between rural supply and one urban demand market for the cassava-based products of gari and chips were analyzed. The results showed that eight cassava-based products are traded in two basic (dry and wet) forms in Nigeria. The Kano-Katsina-Maradi axis is a major cassava cross border trade route in West Africa. Gari and chips (flour) are the most important products traded across borders. Improving local cassava production in the south and central regions of Nigeria will therefore help create wealth and also help to reduce risks arising from cyclical drought in the Sahelian countries. The price system can be expected to respond to exogenous shocks and return to equilibrium but market information is not efficient in traditional cassava products markets. A dual policy approach is therefore recommended to encourage additional cassava production for industrial purposes and at the same time support existing smallholder production systems through the introduction of improved inputs. Key words: Market efficiency, market channels, agriculture, price system.

Market potential of non-wood forest products in the Sahelian countries

Market potential of non-wood forest products in the Sahelian countries

Sub-National Targeting of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention in the Sahelian Countries of the Nouakchott Initiative.

BackgroundSeasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) has been shown to be highly efficacious against clinical malaria in areas where transmission is acutely seasonal. SMC targeting depends on a complex interplay of climate, malaria transmission and population distribution. In this study a spatial decision support framework was developed to identify health districts suitable for the targeting of SMC across seven Sahelian countries and northern states of Nigeria that are members of the Nouakchott Initiative.MethodsA spatially explicit decision support framework that links information on seasonality, age-structured population, urbanization, malaria endemicity and the length of transmission season was developed to inform SMC targeting in health districts. Thresholds of seasonality, population and receptive risks were defined to delineate SMC suitable health districts and define the age range of children for targeting. Numbers of children were then computed for the period 2015–2020 in SMC districts. For 2015, this was combined with maps of length of malaria transmission seasons and WHO recommended treatment regimen to quantify the number of tablets required across the SMC health districts.ResultsA total of 597 Sahelian health districts were mapped, out of which 478 (80.1%) were considered suitable for SMC based on seasonality and endemicity thresholds. These districts had an estimated 119.8 million (85%) of the total population in 2015. In the six years from 2015–2020, it is estimated that a total of 158 million children 3m to <5 years, 121 million of whom were in rural areas, will need SMC to achieve universal coverage in the Sahel. If the upper age limit of SMC targeted children was increased to <10 years in low transmission districts, a total 177 million overall, of whom 135 million were rural children, will require chemoprevention in 2015–2020. In 2015 alone, an estimated 49–72 million SP tablets and 148–217 million AQ tablets will be needed to cover all or rural children respectively under the different scenarios of upper age limits.ConclusionsOur proposed framework provides a standardised approach to support targeting and scale up of SMC by the countries of the Nouakchott Initiative. Our analysis suggests that the vast majority of the population in this region are likely to benefit from SMC and substantial resources will be required to reach universal coverage each year.

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Brucella strains isolated from autochthonous livestock reveals the dominance of B. abortus biovar 3a in Nigeria

Brucellosis is a worldwide widespread zoonosis caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. Control of this disease in a given area requires an understanding of the Brucella species circulating in livestock and humans. However, because of the difficulties intrinsic to Brucella isolation and typing, such data are scarce for resource-poor areas. The paucity of bacteriological data and the consequent imperfect epidemiological picture are particularly critical for Sahelian and Sub-Sahara African countries. Here, we report on the characterization of 34 isolates collected between 1976 and 2012 from cattle, sheep and horses in Nigeria. All isolates were identified as Brucella abortus by Bruce-ladder PCR and assigned to biovar 3 by conventional typing. Further analysis by enhanced AMOS-ERY PCR showed that all of them belonged to the 3a sub-biovar, and MLVA analysis grouped them in a cluster clearly distinct from that formed by European B. abortus biovar 3b strains. Nevertheless, MLVA detected heterogeneity within the Nigerian biovar 3a strains. The close genetic profiles of the isolates from cattle, sheep and horses, suggest that, at least in some parts of Nigeria, biovar 3a circulates among animal species that are not the preferential hosts of B. abortus. Consistent with previous genetic analyses of 7 strains from Ivory Cost, Gambia and Togo, the analysis of these 34 Nigerian strains supports the hypothesis that the B. abortus biovar 3a lineage is dominant in West African countries.

Unlocking Market Potential of Agroforestry Products Among Smallholder Farmers in the Sahelian and Sudanian Ecozone Countries of West Africa

In the Sahelian countries, gathering of agroforestry tree products is one of the few livelihood activities that hold great potential for income generation and poverty reduction among resource-poor households. This study explores the determinants of market participation and selling decisions, which are key prerequisites for sustainable intensification and commercialization of the rural economy. A commercialized economy provides invaluable opportunities for smallholder farmers to increase their income and escape from poverty traps that are faced by most rural households in the Sahel. The results from a cross-sectional sample of 1080 households drawn from four Sahelian countries, namely Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Senegal, lend support to the relevance of three sets of variables in explaining agroforestry farmers’ participation in markets and selling decisions. Market participation and selling decisions are affected by predisposing, facilitating and reinforcing factors. In areas where markets for tree products are functioning well, long distances from the main markets do not deter agroforestry farmers from participating in markets and selling decisions. This demonstrates that other interventions to strengthen value chains and market integration can be successful even where transportation is more costly.

Le Noma

Noma is a necrotizing ulcerative stomatitis known since Antiquity. It occurs mostly in poor countries, the Sahel countries being the most affected. Each year, several hundred thousand cases are reported. Noma affects especially malnourished children who are less than 6 years old and rarely adults with acquired immunodeficiency (HIV, cancer). Ulcerative lesion is occurring rapidly due to the production of endotoxins by bacteria from oral commensal, telluric and animal origin. Necrotic debridement leads to huge defects: loss of soft tissue (skin, nerves, vessels, eye), bone (maxilla, mandible) and teeth. Death occurs rapidly in a few weeks in 80 % of the cases. In case of survival, the consequences are functional, aesthetic, psychological and social. The goal of the treatment in the acute phase is the patient's survival and the fight against limited mouth opening. The management of the phase of sequela is an anaesthetic, surgical and physiotherapy challenge. Its purpose is the social reintegration of the patient.

What Drives Human Migration in Sahelian Countries? A Meta‐analysis

AbstractThe Sahel region has one of the most mobile populations in the world, with migration serving as a common household strategy to increase livelihood and social resilience. However, the Sahel region's population is extremely heterogeneous, and the processes and factors that contribute to migration are complex. Consequently, recent empirical studies yielded conflicting conclusions regarding the processes that drive migration. This study was designed to increase our understanding of the factors that drive migration in the Sahel region. We performed a systematic meta‐analysis of English‐language literature to synthesise the empirical evidence collected from 53 case studies covering eight Sahelian countries. We analysed the frequencies of a broad range of drivers that affected migration processes during the past three decades. Our results show that the primary impetus for driving migration is a combination of economic and social motivations, which together account for 80% of all drivers that were identified in the case studies. In contrast, only 11% of the identified drivers are related directly to demographic and/or environmental conditions. Moreover, we conclude that the majority of case studies do not explore causation among migration drivers, which clearly hampers our understanding of migration mechanisms taking place in the Sahel region. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Effects of Climatic Conditions on a Polycrystalline Photovoltaic Module in Niger

The main purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficiency of a photovoltaic module operating in a sahelian country like Niger. A brief introduction to the behavior and the functioning of a photovoltaic module has been presented and the basic equations needed for a modeling based on ambient parameters have been also written. For the validation, characteristics of experimental purpose are presented with a satisfactory reliability degree. The effects of external parameters, mainly temperature, solar irradiance and wind speed have been considered on the output current characteristic and the output power characteristic. Due to their critical effects on the operation of the panel, effects of series resistances were also studied.

Effects of Climatic Conditions on a Polycrystalline Photovoltaic Module in Niger

The main purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficiency of a photovoltaic module operating in a sahelian country like Niger. A brief introduction to the behavior and the functioning of a photovoltaic module has been presented and the basic equations needed for a modeling based on ambient parameters have been also written. For the validation, characteristics of experimental purpose are presented with a satisfactory reliability degree. The effects of external parameters, mainly temperature, solar irradiance and wind speed have been considered on the output current characteristic and the output power characteristic. Due to their critical effects on the operation of the panel, effects of series resistances were also studied.

Effects of Climatic Conditions on a Polycrystalline Photovoltaic Module in Niger

The main purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficiency of a photovoltaic module operating in a sahelian country like Niger. A brief introduction to the behavior and the functioning of a photovoltaic module has been presented and the basic equations needed for a modeling based on ambient parameters have been also written. For the validation, characteristics of experimental purpose are presented with a satisfactory reliability degree. The effects of external parameters, mainly temperature, solar irradiance and wind speed have been considered on the output current characteristic and the output power characteristic. Due to their critical effects on the operation of the panel, effects of series resistances were also studied.

English

Climate change, trend of precipitation variation is greatly affected by Sahel countries economy in general and Mali in particular, which increased the social instability in recent years. In this paper, we proposed Gumbel Weibull distribution function for modeling and predicting the precipitation of Mali. The methodology is composed of two steps: parameters computations and estimations. We computed the parameters using four computations methods such as: method of moments (MOM), maximum likelihood method (MLM), method of least squares (MLS) and probability weighted moments (PWM). To estimate the best method, firstly we used several good fit tests like: Kolmogorov-Smirnov (Ks), Chi-square, Anderson-Darling and D-index to analyze each method parameters, then the ratio of the standard error to return period for final estimation. For simulation, daily data of the period, 1949 to 2006 provided by Mali Meteorology Department of four localities (Kayes, Koutiala, Mopti and Hombori) was used. Results of simulations were suitable for Anderson-Darling good fit technique and PWM for Koutial, Mopti and Hombori precipitation; and MLS for Kayes precipitation. The plotting of the return period of the precipitations for PWM and MLS in the 1000 years has also confirmed this result. Key words: Rainfall modeling and predicting, Gumbel and Weibull distribution function, method of moments (MOM), maximum likelihood method (MLM), method of least squares (MLS) and probability weighted moments (PWM) parameters optimization, statistical analysis, good fit test estimation.

Effects of farmer managed natural regeneration on livelihoods in semi-arid West Africa

This paper used a multivalued treatment framework to assess the effects of farmer managed natural regeneration (FMNR) on selected outcomes among 1080 rural household farmers in the Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian ecozone of West Africa Sahel. The results indicate that keeping, protecting and managing trees in the farmland have significant effects on the livelihoods of the rural poor in the Sahelian countries. If 1000 households in a community decide to practice the FMNR continuously, it results in an increase in the gross income by US$ 72,000 per year. Noticeable changes are also observed on the value of tree products, with an observed significant increase in the value of the products harvested from tree by about 34–38 % among those actively practicing FMNR as compared to their counterparts. The results also lend support to the household resilience hypothesis of FMNR in that it leads to a significant increase of the dietary diversity by about 12–14 %. However, it also appeared that several factors impeded the regeneration of trees on farms. To foster the widespread dissemination and enhance the capacity of farmers to increase, diversify and sustain tree-based production systems, an enabling institutional, technical and policy environment needs to be promoted.

Global Prevalence of Small for Gestational Age Births.

Fetal growth restriction is found both in babies who are preterm or full-term, and in either case has important adverse effects on subsequent survival, health, growth and development. Fetal growth restriction is usually assessed by comparing the weight of the newborn with the expected weight for the child's gestational age using less than the 10th centile of a reference population for fetal growth as the threshold for being called small for gestational age (SGA). We estimate that in 2010 32.4 million babies were born SGA in low- and middle-income countries, constituting 27% of all live births. The estimated prevalence of SGA is highest in South Asia and in Sahelian countries of Africa. India has the world's largest number of SGA births, 12.8 million in 2010, due to the large number of births and the high proportion, 46.9%, of births that are SGA. The prevalence of SGA births is approximately double the prevalence of low-birthweight births (using the common indicator of <2,500 g birthweight) globally and in the world's regions. Thus, given the adverse effects of being born SGA, even weighing 2,500 g or more, it is important that maternal, neonatal and child health programs seek and use information on gestational age as well as birthweight to appropriately assess the newborn's risks and direct care.

Risks and Threats in the Western Sahel. Radicalization and Terrorism in the Sub-Region

Abstract. This article addresses the most important security challenges existing in the Western Sahel countries, an emerging sub-region encompassing Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. The sub-region is very much affected by developments in neighboring countries such as Algeria, Libya, and Nigeria, among others. A number of recent processes – the Arab revolts and their effects in Libya and Egypt, the reinforcement of Boko Haram as a regional terrorist threat, etc – have contributed to aggravate insecurity in a region that suffers environmental problems, political instability, inter-communitarian tensions and illegal traffi cking since a number of decades ago. All these risks and threats are inviting states and international organizations to become more and more involved in order to provide responses and, eventually, solutions. Keywords: Al Qaida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM); Ansar Eddine; Boko Haram; CEMOC (Coordination of Major Staffs from Algeria, Niger, Mali, and Mauritania); G-5 Sahel Organization; illegal traffi cking; MINUSMA (United Nations Mission for the Stabilization of Mali); MUJAO (Movement for Unity and Jihad in Western Africa).

Inhalable desert dust, urban emissions, and potentially biotoxic metals in urban Saharan–Sahelian air

Saharan dust incursions and particulates emitted from human activities degrade air quality throughout West Africa, especially in the rapidly expanding urban centers in the region. Particulate matter (PM) that can be inhaled is strongly associated with increased incidence of and mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and cancer. Air samples collected in the capital of a Saharan–Sahelian country (Bamako, Mali) between September 2012 and July 2013 were found to contain inhalable PM concentrations that exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) and US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) PM2.5 and PM10 24-h limits 58 – 98% of days and European Union (EU) PM10 24-h limit 98% of days. Mean concentrations were 1.2-to-4.5 fold greater than existing limits. Inhalable PM was enriched in transition metals, known to produce reactive oxygen species and initiate the inflammatory response, and other potentially bioactive and biotoxic metals/metalloids. Eroded mineral dust composed the bulk of inhalable PM, whereas most enriched metals/metalloids were likely emitted from oil combustion, biomass burning, refuse incineration, vehicle traffic, and mining activities. Human exposure to inhalable PM and associated metals/metalloids over 24-h was estimated. The findings indicate that inhalable PM in the Sahara–Sahel region may present a threat to human health, especially in urban areas with greater inhalable PM and transition metal exposure.

Changing water availability during the African maize-growing season, 1979–2010

Understanding how global change is impacting African agriculture requires a full physical accounting of water supply and demand, but accurate, gridded data on key drivers (e.g., humidity) are generally unavailable. We used a new bias-corrected meteorological dataset to analyze changes in precipitation (supply), potential evapotranspiration (, demand), and water availability (expressed as the ratio ) in 20 countries (focusing on their maize-growing regions and seasons), between 1979 and 2010, and the factors driving changes in . Maize-growing areas in Southern Africa, particularly South Africa, benefitted from increased water availability due in large part to demand declines driven primarily by declining net radiation, increasing vapor pressure, and falling temperatures (with no effect from changing windspeed), with smaller increases in supply. Sahelian zone countries in West Africa, as well as Ethiopia in East Africa, had strong increases in availability driven primarily by rainfall rebounding from the long-term Sahelian droughts, with little change or small reductions in demand. However, intra-seasonal supply variability generally increased in West and East Africa. Across all three regions, declining net radiation contributed downwards pressure on demand, generally over-riding upwards pressure caused by increasing temperatures, the regional effects of which were largest in East Africa. A small number of countries, mostly in or near East Africa (Tanzania and Malawi) experienced declines in water availability primarily due to decreased rainfall, but exacerbated by increasing demand. Much of the reduced water availability in East Africa occurred during the more sensitive middle part of the maize-growing season, suggesting negative consequences for maize production.

A Comparative Analysis of Life style of the Local People before and after the Construction of the Dams in the Sub Zone of Mendefera: A Case Study of Adi-Mengoti and Mai-Aron Dams

Eritrea is one of the Sahelian countries in the Horn of Africa facing acute shortage of water. In areas where rainfall is low and unreliable, the construction of dams is utmost important for irrigation, domestic and livestock uses. Agriculture is the mainstay of Eritrean people; it has been playing a vital role in the process of economic development. It is estimated that about 75 per cent of the population depends on agriculture and allied activities. In such a country where agriculture is the backbone of the economy regular supply of water for irrigation is as important as the veins and arteries in the human body. In fact, dams serve multi purposes i.e. water supply for agriculture and domestic uses, flood control, hydro-power generation, navigation, fisheries and recreation activities. But in Eritrea, dams are mainly constructed to supply water for irrigation, domestic, industrial and livestock uses. This research paper is carried out to examine a comparative analysis of life style of the local people before and after the construction of the dams in the sub zone of Mendefera (Zoba Debub, Eritrea).

Sahel Countries Nouakchott Summit

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural SeriesVolume 51, Issue 2 p. 20018A-20018A Continental Alignments Sahel Countries Nouakchott Summit First published: 21 March 2014 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-825X.2014.05548.xRead the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume51, Issue2March 2014Pages 20018A-20018A RelatedInformation