What we do

'Sahel’ is the Arabic word for shore. The Sahel refers to the zone of low rainfall south of the Sahara that stretches from Senegal on the Atlantic Coast to Somalia on the Indian Ocean. This region contains some of the poorest countries in Africa. Dryland areas in general have been neglected for decades. Nomadic groups in particular face hostility and discrimination. And yet dryland farmers and livestock-keepers have long demonstrated their ability to manage an unpredictable environment with great skill.

The role of SOS Sahel UK is to address the underlying problems facing the people of the Sahel. We look for innovative ways in which dryland groups can challenge marginalisation and discrimination. We support local organisations that help farmers and livestock-keepers gain security over key natural resources. And we draw on these experiences and relationships to bring the facts about dryland poverty to the attention of those with the power to do something about it. We believe that sustainable change for those living in the Sahel will only come about when they are in a position to demand more from others – from governments, donors, NGOs, and their own leaders – and to hold them to account.

With the exception of Sudan, where we directly implement a programme on the ground, our focus is regional rather than country-specific. As a small, specialist organisation our strength lies in innovation and flexibility: testing out new ways of working, bringing people together around shared concerns, and providing a specialist source of information to those who need it.

 

Useful links

World Initiative for Sustainable Pastoralism (WISP)
International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)
UNDP Drylands Development Centre, Nairobi
Drylands Resarch
International Land Coalition
Pastoral and Environmental Network in the Horn of Africa (PENHA)
Pastoral Communications Initiative (PCI)