In 2012, irregular rainfall combined with civil conflict, high food prices and shocks, including locust infestation, rendered more than 18 million people food insecure, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

 

In an effort to move beyond addressing only the symptoms of these factors, the Sahel Joint Planning Cell (JPC) was formed to bring together the expertise of both USAID humanitarian and development assistance actors to find innovative and collaborative ways to build resilience among vulnerable populations in the Sahel.

 

In 2013, USAID operationalized its efforts by creating the Sahel Regional Office and tasked the new office with implementing USAID’s resilience programming in the Sahel. The Sahel Regional Office seeks to leverage existing humanitarian and development assistance to reduce risk, build resilience and facilitate inclusive economic growth among chronically vulnerable households across the Sahel.