MOPSS-2

Mobilité Pastorale transfrontalière apaisée et Stabilité sociale au Sahel (MOPSS-2) is the second phase of the "Peaceful Pastoral Cross-Border Mobility and Social Stability in the Sahel" programme, building upon the success of its initial phase from 2019 to 2023. Co-created and implemented by SNV, RBM, APESS, ROPPA, Rural Hub, and CARE, the project is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the Danish International Development Agency (Danida), and will run from 2023 to 2029.

The challenge:

In arid and semi-arid areas, pastoral livestock farming is the most important productive activity supporting the livelihoods of tens of millions of people. However, the Sahel region faces increasing pressures due to demographic growth, climate change, and limited agricultural productivity. Pastoral areas and mobility corridors are shrinking, exacerbated by ineffective regional and national policies. Moreover, insecurity, violence, and the presence of armed groups pose significant challenges, particularly affecting women and youth.

Objectives:

The primary objective of MOPSS-2 is to address the challenges posed by multidimensional crises—political, security, and humanitarian—in targeted cross-border areas across the Sahel region, including Liptako-Gourma (tri-border between Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso), Kénédougou/SKBo (between Mali, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast), and Burkina Faso-Benin-Togo-Ghana (BBTG). The project aims to enhance peaceful cross-border transhumance, foster integrated regional development of the pastoral livestock sub-sector, and promote structured transnational value chains to benefit rural stakeholders.

Approach:

MOPSS-2 focuses on promoting peaceful cross-border transhumance by:

• Improving host communities' perceptions of pastoral mobility

• Supporting new regulation and security mechanisms by states

• Integrating pastoral and agropastoral households into sustainable value chains

• Strengthening the influence of Regional Producer Organizations (RPOs) in political dialogues

The project employs cross-cutting approaches, including conflict-sensitive project management, gender equality and social inclusion, human rights-based approach, youth employment opportunities, and climate change adaptation. Additionally, the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus approach and regional advocacy are integral to the project's implementation.

Conflict sensitivity:

MOPSS-2 emphasizes conflict sensitivity, aiming to engage diverse stakeholders (herders/farmers, men/women/youth, IDPs/hosts, Sahelian/coastal countries) through inclusive dialogue. The consortium leverages its collective expertise to influence policy frameworks and enhance the economic and social viability of pastoralism for greater social stability.

Focus on women and youth:

Acknowledging the vital role of women and youth in pastoralism, MOPSS-2 prioritizes their inclusion, leadership, and economic empowerment. The project targets include quotas for young people (at least 30%) and women (40%) to ensure their active participation and benefit from program outcomes.

Vocational training and socio-economic integration of women and young people

Through the Support Programme for Pastoral Organisations and Populations Phase 3 (PAO2P3), the MOPSS programme includes a vocational training component aimed atcontributing to human capital development and the social, political and economic integration of pastoral and agro-pastoral populations in cross-border areas. This component is implemented by five national partners: POTAL MEN in Benin, Association Andal & Pinal in Burkina Faso, Delta Survie in Mali, Association pour la Redynamisation de l'Elevage au Niger (AREN) and Communication pour un Développement Durable (CDD) in Togo, under the coordination of SNV.

The PAO2P3 programme aims to improve the technical and professional skills of 20,000 young people (50% of whom are women) from pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in the five countries of intervention. Half of the young people trained, i.e. 10,000, will be supported and integrated into agro-silvo-pastoral occupations and related services.

• 50 km of marked tracks and 13 pastoral boreholes supplying 1.25 million cattle and 500,000 sheep.

• 3,400 families have rebuilt their livestock thanks to the animal kits distributed.

• 10,000 cattle treated at the Sunyani Veterinary Clinic (Ghana).

• +20 peace initiatives led by the JAPax, reaching more than 6,000 people, to strengthen cohesion and peaceful coexistence.

• Pastoral CSOs brought the voice of communities to the Nouakchott+10 Forum.