West Africa

	Benin Burkina Faso Liberia Mali Niger

Basic education, rural development and management of public affairs

Political, socio-economic and environmental problems continue to affect the daily livesof millions of people in West Africa. With a total area whichis twice the size of the European Union, West Africa is beset with problems relating to demographic development, food insecurity, economic and institutional weaknesses as well as poor management of public affairs. All these factors are serious obstacles to sustainable development. Despite the difficulties posed by the realities on the ground, West African states can rely on their younger people and on a dynamic civil society to tackle the many challenges they face.

This is the context in which the SDC is pursuing its goal of poverty reduction in its priority countries Bénin, Burkina Faso, Mali andNiger. It is concentrating its efforts on the areas ofbasic education/professional training andrural development/local economies. It supports processes of public affairs management at the communal level. The SDC also provides humanitarian aid to Liberia to help with reconstruction and to other countries in the region according to need.

In the framework of its West Africa projects, the SDC gives preference to inclusive partnerships with all the actors working in the fields of local regional and international development. Public bodies, NGOs, civil society, donors and the private sector are among its main partners. The SDC attaches importance to this experience and takes part in the political dialogue to strengthen reform efforts and innovative measures that take account of the aspirations of the population.

Additional Information and Documents

Here, you will find more publications, links, documents and articles about Swiss development cooperation and humanitarian aid in this region.