Women Leading Change (Sahel and West Africa Club OECD/SWAC)

Latest Episodes:

Does the transnational nature of pastoralism pose a challenge to ending violence? - Matthew Pflaum Jul 22, 2021

Show notes

In this audio clip, Matthew Pflaum explores what challenges the transnational nature of pastoralism poses for finding solutions to pastoralist violence. Matthew Pflaum is the author of “Pastoralist Violence in North and West Africa”, a recent paper published in the West African Papers series by the Sahel and West Africa Club Secretariat (SWAC/OECD) in partnership with the Sahel Research Group of the University of Florida. Matthew Pflaum is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Geography at the University of Florida. He holds an M.Sc. in African Studies & International Development from the University of Edinburgh and an M.P.H. in Global Health/infectious disease from Emory University. He researches pastoralist strategies and adaptation to insecurity in Mali’s Mopti region and the wider Sahel, with particular interest in food security, violence, and mobility. To learn more about our work on security, please visit: www.oecd.org/swac

What are some solutions to attenuating pastoralist violence in West Africa? - Matthew Pflaum Jul 22, 2021

Show notes

In this audio clip, Matthew Pflaum explores possible solutions to attenuating pastoralist violence. What can be done at the varying levels of government – state governments, regional governments and regional institutions? Matthew Pflaum is the author of “Pastoralist Violence in North and West Africa”, a recent paper published in the West African Papers series by the Sahel and West Africa Club Secretariat (SWAC/OECD) in partnership with the Sahel Research Group of the University of Florida. Matthew Pflaum is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Geography at the University of Florida. He holds an M.Sc. in African Studies & International Development from the University of Edinburgh and an M.P.H. in Global Health/infectious disease from Emory University. He researches pastoralist strategies and adaptation to insecurity in Mali’s Mopti region and the wider Sahel, with particular interest in food security, violence, and mobility. To learn more about our work on security, please visit: www.oecd.org/swac

The Regional Stabilisation Strategy faces challenges in the Lake Chad region - Dr Olajumoke Ayandele May 09, 2021

Show notes

In this audio clip, Dr Olajumoke (Jumo) Ayandele discusses some of the challenges faced when implementing the Regional Stabilisation Strategy (RSS) in the Lake Chad Basin region. Dr Ayandele is the author of “Non-Military Actors as a Regional Strategy in the Lake Chad Region”, a recent paper published in the West African Papers series by the Sahel and West Africa Club Secretariat (SWAC/OECD) in partnership with the Sahel Research Group of the University of Florida. Dr Ayandele is a Research Consultant at The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) and a non-resident fellow at New York University Center for Global Affairs. Her research interests broadly focus on understanding the dynamic relationship and intersection between African conflict, human development, and political stability. She holds a Ph.D. in Global Affairs from Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey, an M.P.A. in International Development Policy and Management and a B.A. in Economics, both from New York University. To learn more about our work on security, please visit: www.oecd.org/swac

What role for non-military actors in Boko-Haram affected areas of Lake Chad? - Dr Olajumoke Ayandele May 09, 2021

Show notes

In this audio clip, Dr Olajumoke (Jumo) Ayandele discusses the collaborative mechanisms that are being implemented with non-military actors in the Lake Chad Basin region and what role these actors play in creating recovery and resilience in Boko-Haram affected areas. Dr Ayandele is the author of “Non-Military Actors as a Regional Strategy in the Lake Chad Region”, a recent paper published in the West African Papers series by the Sahel and West Africa Club Secretariat (SWAC/OECD) in partnership with the Sahel Research Group of the University of Florida. Dr Ayandele is a Research Consultant at The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) and a non-resident fellow at New York University Center for Global Affairs. Her research interests broadly focus on understanding the dynamic relationship and intersection between African conflict, human development, and political stability. She holds a Ph.D. in Global Affairs from Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey, an M.P.A. in International Development Policy and Management and a B.A. in Economics, both from New York University. To learn more about our work on security, please visit: www.oecd.org/swac

The evolution of violence across the Sahel and West Africa - with Olivier Walther and Steven Radil Mar 25, 2021

Show notes

In this podcast, the OECD Sahel and West Africa Club Secretariat is pleased to welcome Olivier J. Walther and Steven M. Radil, two authors of a recent book published by the Sahel and West Africa Club called "The Geography of Conflict in North and West Africa". African governments are increasingly confronted with new forms of political violence by organised non-state actors. The situation is particularly worrying in the Sahara-Sahel where violent extremist organisations and secessionist rebels have recently thrived on the inability of states to fully control their own territories. This degrading security situation has prompted African countries and their partners to intervene militarily to stabilise the region and to prevent the spread of extremism and violence against civilians. However, these initiatives face many obstacles due to the transnational nature and geography of violence. Launched at the Munich Security Conference in 2020, the report maps the evolution of violence across the region, with a focus on Mali and Central Sahel, Lake Chad and Libya. It asks two fundamental questions for the political stability of the region. First, which regions have experienced the highest levels of political insecurity? Second, do conflicts tend to cluster in one location or spread, potentially across national borders? To learn more about our work on security, please visit: www.oecd.org/swac