By Oke Peter
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has announced the launch of the #IAMSahel campaign. This transformative and storified initiative is designed to reshape global perceptions of the Sahel region, which has historically been viewed through a lens of adversity. Informed by current realities, the campaign highlights the strength, potential, dynamism, and ambition of Sahelians.
“The Sahel is characterised by rich cultural diversity, geopolitical significance, and abundant resources, but stories of conflict, crises, and despair have often overshadowed its full potential. Yet, beneath these challenges lies a wellspring of remarkable human spirit, community resilience, innovation, and ingenuity,” said Ahunna Eziakonwa, UN Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa. “The #IAMSahel campaign is not merely a collection of stories; it symbolises our renewed commitment to supporting the Sahel as it regenerates itself through our programmatic offer focusing on – Governance, Youth and Renewable Energy”, she added.
The #IAMSahel campaign complements UNDP’s substantive programmatic contribution to implementing the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS), which has positively impacted the lives of more than 172.2 million people since 2021. This includes fostering employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for more than 10 million youth, facilitating access to justice, electoral processes, livelihoods, and infrastructure for 91.5 million people, and expanding renewable energy access for 70.7 million people across the region.
The campaign brings to the forefront the lived experiences of resilience and hope, spotlighting significant achievements and contributions of Sahelians, particularly women and youth. It aims to inspire localised collective action to forge development pathways and shape a narrative that helps catalyse investment in homegrown solutions.
“This is a moment for us to get together to inspire change. Where some observers see only crisis and turbulence, I see resilience, creativity, imagination, and determination for change.”
Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel
“Friends of #IAMSahel, we are in a generational moment and a generational movement. A movement that is telling us that our old and some of our current response systems and instruments in the Sahel may have reached their effectiveness and efficiency limits. The future of the Sahel is a future of people’s agency and human dignity,” he added.
Emerging stories from the region showcase community-driven initiatives and innovative solutions as essential to transformative impact. They highlight a region actively shaping its own development and Sahelians leading it—this is an essential narrative of the Sahel that is missing significantly in the world today. This is a region that is more than the challenges it faces.
“My experience across the region and Africa at large has shown me that we can shape the lives we want regardless of our circumstances or where we come from. I believe this is what grit is all about, and there is grit in many Sahelians striving to make a difference every day,” said Patoranking, UNDP Africa Regional Goodwill Ambassador. “It is critical to tell stories about ourselves in the best light possible because no one will do it for us. Most importantly, we should aim to use our stories to inspire a lasting and positive change that flows down to where it matters the most,” he added.
By spotlighting the Sahel’s vast opportunities, resources, human capital, and vibrant cultures, as seen through the eyes of its people, UNDP is laying the foundation for a renewed Sahelian narrative and much-needed investment throughout the region.
