The Crop and Food Security Situation in the Sahel

At the close of the 2002 crop season in the Sahel, representatives from governments, main donors and from diverse Institutes and NGOs met during the 18th meeting of the "Réseau de Prévention des Crises Alimentaires dans le Sahel" (Network for the prevention of food crises in the Sahel) in order to review the crop and food supply situation and the national and regional programmes on food security in the Sahel. This meeting, organised by the CILSS (Comité inter-Etats de Lutte contre la Secheresse au Sahel - Permanent Interstate Committee for drought control in the Sahel), was held in Brussels 9 to11 December in 2002 at the invitation of the European Commission.

The objective of the meeting was to share available information on the agriculture and food supply situation, the market dynamics and on the current conditions of vulnerable areas and groups. The meeting also provided an occasion to further reflect on the stakes and challenges, as well as the future prospects for food security in the Sahel (notably in presenting and discussing the strategic framework of sustainable food security in the perspective of the fight against poverty in the Sahel). The last day of the meeting was devoted to the food security policies of the European Union as well as its strategy for cooperation with West Africa for the years ahead.

The report and the preparatory documents for this meeting are available at the following address:
www.europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/resal/meeting2002/index_fr.htm