News
Latest Updates from the SRF
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Annual Retreat of the Sahel Regional Fund Board members
On September 11, the Board of Directors of the Sahel Regional Fund (SRF) convened in Dakar for its annual retreat — a pivotal moment to reflect on the Fund’s first two years of operations, review achievements, and chart the course for the future. The session provided a space for strategic dialogue on strengthening the SRF’s structure as it transitions toward a more robust and adaptive pooled fund tailored to the needs of the Sahel region.
🔑 Key Highlights
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Review of results: Presentation of the SRF’s accomplishments over its first two years, particularly in pioneering innovative and sustainable humanitarian financing mechanisms.
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Governance and management discussions: Examination of fund management practices, project calls, and the potential transition to a pooled fund to enhance flexibility and responsiveness to crises across the Sahel.
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Localization in action: Emphasis on the importance of localized humanitarian responses and the need for financing models that reflect and respect regional specificities.
The SRF Board of Directors, composed of both permanent and non-permanent members, was established to ensure balanced representation of international organizations, local civil society actors, donors, and independent observers. The Board is committed to fostering sound, ethical, and transparent governance in alignment with the principles of the SRF’s Charter and Mission Statement.
Engaging discussions took place with partners including:
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Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
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Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
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International Rescue Committee (IRC)
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) – United Kingdom
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Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
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Secrétariat Permanent des Organisations Non Gouvernementales (SPONG) – Burkina Faso
as well as local organizations such as AKARASS and AMSS/PONAH.
Participants reaffirmed the urgency of highlighting the SRF’s distinctive role and its capacity to deliver impactful, localized humanitarian action across the Sahel.
In the coming weeks, the SRF will share updates on the major advancements and programmatic outcomes achieved under its framework. These insights will demonstrate the Fund’s direct impact on the ground and its ongoing contribution to a more effective, inclusive, and locally driven humanitarian response in the region.
Highlights
November 2024 focus
Call for Proposals Launched for Eastern Chad
The Sahel Regional Fund (SRF) has launched a Call for Expressions of Interest to support the response in Eastern Chad. This call aims to address humanitarian needs while promoting increased localization of aid.
The call is structured into two components:
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A window for International NGOs.
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A window dedicated to Chadian NGOs.
NGOs present and active in Eastern Chad who are interested in this call are invited to consult all necessary information (submission guide, timeline, forms, links for expressions of interest, etc.) at the following address: https://www.sahelregionalfund.org/fr/appels/appels-a-projets-tchad/.
Local Window – Chadian NGOs are invited to express their interest using the dedicated link on the website before December 8, 2024.
International Window – International NGOs must submit their concept note, using the downloadable template available on the same website, via email to tender@sahelregionalfund.org before January 5, 2025.
Update on the Sudanese crisis and the results of the SRF
The Sudanese clashes that erupted on April 15, 2023, triggered a substantial refugee influx into neighbouring countries, notably Chad. In response to the crisis in eastern Chad, the SRF Board, backed by an additional GBP 1 million from FCDO, expanded its coverage accordingly.
Given the urgency, the Fund Management Unit (FMU) advised the SRF Board against a call for proposals, opting instead to supplement operational partners in the region. IRC, the sole SRF partner in Chad, with emergency capabilities and planning, received a top-up to collaborate with Concern Worldwide.
This swift action allowed SRF partners to be at the forefront, providing assistance to thousands refugees entering Sila and Ouaddaï provinces. Over the four-month intervention, 53,563 people received primary healthcare, nutrition, WASH, shelter, and NFI aid. Two months after the allocation, the FMU conducted a field visit in Chad, assessing emergency activities implemented by IRC and Concern, gathering local stakeholder perspectives, consulting with OCHA, UNHCR, national authorities, and fostering collaboration for future funding allocation priorities. During its visit, the SRF was congratulated by the local and national authorities for the rapid allocation of emergency funds and the selection of partners who responded immediately to the most urgent humanitarian needs.
Testimonials from our partners
From 16 to 20 October 2023, the Dewral project and RALLIER project hosted the first supervision mission of the SRF's FMU (Fund Management Unit) team in Burkina Faso. This mission is part of the SRF ongoing commitment to monitor the quality of its partners’ operations on a quarterly basis.
The mission unfolded in three stages: a collaborative meeting with the teams from the Dewral and RALLIER consortia, a field visit, and a presentation of the mission’s key points. The consortia shared insights into the project’s implementation status and the challenges encountered in Burkina Faso. They also facilitated a field visit, allowing the SRF team to engage with key project stakeholders, including local authorities, beneficiaries, and technical partners. The feedback phase was meaningful in providing both project teams with valuable insights to enhance project implementation, particularly in terms of stakeholder coordination and budget utilization.
Despite the rapidly evolving context, the mission affirmed the coherence and relevance of the project’s actions. It also highlighted the effective collaboration between the Dewral and RALLIER consortia and local and regional authorities, underscoring the participatory and inclusive nature of the project implementation.
From March to December 2023, Dewral's multisectoral and integrated interventions in the 3 intervention countries (Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali) reached 2,268 displaced households and vulnerable hosts, i.e. 1,667 people, with multipurpose cash assistance (MPCA) activities. Furthermore, all supported communities benefited from awareness sessions on cohesion and coexistence, leading to over 80% of communities reporting improved social cohesion.
They are talking about us
UK announces nearly £40 million to provide vital food and water to West Africa - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-launches-new-sahel-humanitarian-fund
ICVA Launch and Roundtable Discussion of the Pooled Funding at a Crossroads Report
In 28 June, ICVA co-hosted with Switzerland and HERE-Geneva the launch event for the “Pooled Funding at a Crossroads: A Comprehensive Review and Analysis” report. Following opening remarks by Switzerland and ICVA, an overview of the key findings of the research was presented by its authors, Marzia Montemurro and Elise Queguiner, before OCHA CBPF Section, A4EP and Sahel Regional Fund Manager to provided key remarks on the report. A discussion was held with participants to the event, around humanitarian pooled fund mechanisms and avenues to explore to enhance the efficiency, impact and access to pooled funds to the benefit of people affected by crisis. Check the recording and presentations.