Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

The project will contribute to the fight against cross-border cattle theft between Senegal and Guinea Bissau, by accompanying the authorities and communities in the restoration of security, economic recovery and social cohesion among populations.

Expected results

- An exhaustive mapping of livestock theft (identification of community and institutional actors, causes and their nature, data on the economic and social impact on the population and on local development policies).

- A livestock security and surveillance system in the buffer zones of each country through community enclosures and livestock marking.

- People communicate and collaborate with their local security forces, and incidents of livestock theft are dealt with early and effectively.

- Financial empowerment of youth and women and reduction of socio-economic inequalities in the target areas.

- Functional mechanisms (consultation framework, advocacy) for sustainable social cohesion.

Target group / Beneficiaries

Direct beneficiaries are estimated at 1500, at least 35 to 40% of whom will be women.

The project will be implemented in the border region of the two countries, which are KOLDA, SEDHIOU and ZIGUINCHOR in Senegal and CACHEU, OYO and BAFATA in Guinea-Bissau.

Activities

- Information and feedback workshops on the results of the Local Security Diagnosis to the administrative authorities and local communities and development and validation of local security plans and contracts.

- Identification of sites and support for the establishment of community enclosures and livestock marking.

- Establishment of a support fund for economic initiatives of women and youth.

- Capacity development in sustainable income-generating activities, business management and financial education.

Context

Cattle rustling has, for decades, disturbed the peace of the populations in the extreme south of Senegal, in the natural Casamance and the chain of villages in Guinea Bissau established on the edge of the border belonging to the province of Cacheu and the department of N'goré and Bafata. In this area, groups of thieves take advantage of the chronic instability of the region, which has been in armed conflict for forty years now and is subject to recurrent and multiple forms of violence, making it difficult to control the area. Cases of massive theft of cattle and small ruminants are becoming more and more frequent, with the use of firearms. Beyond the countries’ destabilisation through criminal guerrilla warfare , cattle rustling has a great economic and human impact in these border areas.