As outlined in the program document, the objective of the proposed joint UN program is for the UN System (UNS) to come together to support the sub-regional organisation called the Integrated Authority for Liptako-Gourma (ALG) in implementing its strategy and annual plans and to strengthen its capacity to do so, with the purpose of effectively addressing the multiple challenges faced by the sub-region in the area of security, governance and resilience, as understood by the three corresponding pillars of the UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS) and its Support Plan (SP).
In order to reach the above objectives, the Joint Program (JP) will intervene across four different areas, namely 1. early recovery & livelihoods, with a focus on the most vulnerable, 2. stabilization & social cohesion, 3. the fight against cross-border crimes and 4. the active participation of local actors, including authorities and civil society, all of which will be undertaken in the context of seeking to strengthen cross-border cooperation between the three member states, namely Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
The program is structured around 4 substantive results and 6 outputs which in summary looks as follows:
Result 1: improved cross-border cooperation based on continuous information sharing and coordination; with output 1 aiming at equipping ALG with the necessary capacity to fulfil its expanded mandate and output 2 to strengthen the capacity of national and local authorities for improved cross-border cooperation, including the necessary legal and regulatory frameworks.
Result 2: the judicial and security systems in Liptako-Gourma promote and respect human rights; with output 3 aiming at ensuring access for cross-border populations to a functioning judicial system, including legal assistance.
Result 3: improved resilience of the most vulnerable, in particular women and youth, to various types of shocks; with output 4 aiming at improving livelihoods, employment and access to basic social services and output 5 aiming at strengthening the capacities of the education sectors of the sub-region to respond to the crisis.
Result 4: improved capacity of the populations of the region to resist and prevent violent extremism and radicalisation; with output 6 aiming at strengthening the capacities of local authorities and the communities for conflict resolution and prevention and for social cohesion.
The joint program plans to focus its interventions on the ground to three cross-border areas between Burkina Faso & Niger, Mali & Niger and Burkina Faso & Mali. While precise locations have been identified together with ALG, more detailed studies will have to be carried out in the beginning of the program, which will also take into account the prevailing security situation.
