Sahel Insight is relaunching its activities to strengthen public engagement in the fight against inequality
Launched in 2022 with training programmes, community building, awareness-raising and advocacy, AfricTivistes is continuing the Sahel Insight initiative to reduce inequalities in the Sahel through digital technology. This new phase, which begins with the revamp of the dedicated Sahel Insight platform, aims to consolidate the progress made and strengthen citizen participation in favour of public policies better suited to the realities of the Sahel.
In the Sahel, inequalities continue to have a profound impact on people’s living conditions. Access to essential services such as water, electricity, healthcare and education remains highly unequal, against a backdrop also characterised by environmental and security challenges. Public policies and investment do not always adequately meet the needs of local communities.
It is against this backdrop that AfricTivistes continues its commitment through Sahel Insight, building on the existing grassroots movements and with a view to strengthening collective action in the face of inequality.
Consolidate what has been learnt
It all began with training programmes in four countries: Burkina Faso, Senegal, Chad, Niger. The aim was to enable young civil society activists to gain a better understanding of the inequalities affecting their communities and to develop the skills needed to take action.
Citizen leadership, advocacy, digital campaigns and community mobilisation were the hallmarks of this first phase.
Following the training sessions, communities of Sahel Activists were established in each of the countries. These committed young people then launched awareness-raising initiatives on issues directly related to their local environment.
In Senegal, a campaign focused on child begging, whilst in Niger, the Zero Classes in Straw Huts campaign highlighted the learning conditions faced by many pupils.
Behind these campaigns lies a shared conviction: citizens can help bring about change in the way inequalities are addressed when they have the knowledge, tools and opportunities they need to take action.
These experiences, along with the collaborations and connections forged between participants, now form the foundation on which Sahel Insight continues to build.
A redesigned platform to support this new phase
This new phase is accompanied by the revamp of the Sahel Insight platform, whose architecture and content have been redesigned to better showcase the voices, initiatives and realities of the communities involved.
The platform, which was set up to highlight issues relating to inequality in the Sahel, is taking on a new dimension to showcase community-led initiatives.
The new presentation aims to consolidate the progress made, to continue awareness-raising and advocacy efforts, and to strengthen citizen participation in order to contribute to the development of public policy. It also brings together content produced on the themes of inequality, grassroots campaigns, initiatives by Sahel Activists, and citizen mobilisation since the project’s inception.
Furthermore, the website shines a spotlight on issues relating to inequality: gender, education, health, natural resources, digital inclusion and social justice. It helps to raise awareness amongst decision-makers and mobilise stakeholders. The website features a range of content, including articles, infographics and audiovisual material, all dedicated to initiatives aimed at reducing various forms of inequality in the region.
Giving citizens’ voices a greater platform
Sahel Insight also aims to pursue an approach that goes beyond simply documenting inequalities; it also seeks to highlight those who experience them, analyse them and take action to mitigate them.
The Sahel Activists communities play a central role in this process. Their commitment helps to highlight local realities, spread awareness and contribute to advocacy for public policies that are better suited to the needs of local communities.
This initiative forms part of AfricTivistes’ strategic direction, which aims to strengthen best practice and citizen mobilisation in support of public policies designed to reduce inequalities in the Sahel.
