Maintaining stability in the Sahel is key to end conflict, FAO Director-General says

28 August 2019, Yokohama - Instability is the main driver of conflict in the Sahel region, and we need to create employment opportunities for rural youth and improve the livelihoods of farmers and their communities to overcome this challenge, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu said today at the Special Conference on Peace and Stability in the Sahel Region in Yokohama.

The FAO chief highlighted the fundamental role that the agricultural sector and rural development play in paving the way towards lasting peace in the region where up to 70 percent of the population depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, particularly pastoralism and crop production.

“First and foremost, we need to respond to immediate emergencies and then focus on development in rural communities,” Qu added.

FAO’s work in the Sahel

In 2018, FAO reached 1.7 million people across the region, including restocking small ruminant herds, vaccinating almost 3 million livestock, providing animal feed, crop and vegetable production kits and distributing over $3.6 million in cash-based transfers.

The UN agency is now implementing a three-year regional response plan to address immediate livelihood needs and strengthen the resilience of 8.2 million people.