Category: Strategies

ALG provides high-level expertise for the design, updating or evaluation of development strategies and plans.

The sustainable and inclusive development of African countries is a complex challenge that requires strategic approaches and well-defined plans. The importance of strategies and plans in steering this development cannot be underestimated. Indeed, these tools are essential levers for mobilizing resources, guiding public policies and ensuring the coherence of actions carried out at all levels. More and more countries and sub-state entities on the continent are designing this type of document.

Long-term vision and coherence of actions

Development strategies provide a clear vision of the objectives to be achieved, thus making it possible to direct efforts towards a desired future. In Africa, where the challenges are numerous — poverty, inequalities, climate change — it is crucial to establish priorities that meet the specific needs of each country. Well-developed plans ensure that actions are coherent and aligned with common objectives, which is essential to avoid isolated and scattered initiatives that could undermine the effectiveness of interventions. The process of developing these plans must meet certain requirements so that the vision is acceptable and shared by the majority of those concerned.

Resource mobilization

A solid strategy also helps to better mobilize financial, human and material resources. In a context where funds available for development may be limited, it is imperative to identify sources of financing, whether international aid, private investment or domestic resources. Development plans help to clearly articulate financial needs and justify investments, demonstrating the potential impact of projects on the socio-economic development of countries. Whether it is a national plan, a regional plan or a local plan, each requires a resource mobilization strategy.

Institutional capacity building

Strategies and plans contribute to strengthening the capacities of public institutions and local actors. In countries with weak administrative structures, it is essential to build robust systems that can effectively manage development processes. Well-designed plans integrate training, resources and monitoring mechanisms that enable institutions to function optimally, thereby ensuring effective policy implementation.

Stakeholder Engagement

Implementing development strategies requires the involvement of various stakeholders, including governments, civil society, the private sector and local communities. Inclusive plans foster dialogue and collaboration among these different actors, creating an ecosystem conducive to development. In Africa, where cultural and socio-economic diversity is great, it is essential to ensure that the voices of all segments of the population are heard and taken into account in defining development priorities. ALG has worked over the past few years on the establishment of community development plans in half a dozen countries on the continent. The approach followed has enabled broad consultations; which have helped to align the development offer of central authorities with the demand for development of grassroots actors.

Monitoring and evaluation of results

Strategies and plans also make it possible to establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, which are essential for measuring the impact of the actions undertaken. In Africa, where data can sometimes be lacking, it is crucial to establish clear indicators to assess the progress made. This not only allows for accountability, but also for interventions to be adjusted according to the results observed, thus ensuring continuous improvement of development policies. This type of intervention requires expertise that ALG makes available to partners who call upon us.

In short, development strategies and plans are essential for steering progress in Africa. They provide a clear roadmap, facilitate resource mobilization, strengthen institutional capacities, involve stakeholders and allow for rigorous monitoring of results. By investing in well-designed strategies and adapting them to local realities, African countries cannot only overcome current challenges, but also build a prosperous and sustainable future for their people. Now is the time to act decisively

• Mission Title: Development of the Liptako-Gourma Regional Stabilization, Recovery and Resilience Strategy
• Region/Country: Liptako-Gourma: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger
• Client: UNDP/Liptako Gourma Authority
• Period: 2002-2003
• Status of Implementation: Completed

Mission Description:

In close collaboration with the  Liptako Gourma Authority and in consultation with Member States and all stakeholders, the firm’s mission is to:

• Develop the ALG regional stabilization strategy by prioritizing areas of intervention while taking into account the ALG intervention strategy;
  Conduct an in-depth situation analysis on stabilization issues in the Liptako-Gourma region (strategic stabilization priorities, stakeholder engagement, intervention logic, etc.);
• Review analyses of conflict causes and identify entry points for peace and stability; work in parallel with the firm that is carrying out the conflict analysis of the LG region;
  Identification/mapping of partners and their initiatives involved in the areas of implementation of the stabilization project;
• Drawing lessons from the SSR in the Lake Chad region
  Support the LGA in strategically prioritizing the roles and needs anticipated for the implementation of its Regional Stabilization Strategy;
• Make recommendations on the important role that the LGA should play in convening and coordinating all actors involved in stabilization as well as in other areas of intervention, at the local, national and regional levels, including security actors; review the assessment of the institutional capacities of the LGAs and integrate the necessary support to fill the gaps and needs identified and required to ensure the sustainable implementation of the strategy over time (immediate, short, medium and long term).
  Provide the LGA with the necessary tools through which it can ensure the convergence of all stabilization efforts
  Propose the implementation mechanisms of the Strategy;
• Make relevant recommendations for the governance structures of the stabilization mechanism, particularly at the regional and local levels, while taking advantage of the Liptako-Gourma Governors Forum to ensure close collaboration and effective exchange of information for enhanced coordination for peace and security.
• The strategy should be flexible to allow for an extension of the scope of political and cooperation partnerships to other regional organizations such as the G5S, ECOWAS, has the effect of intensifying collaboration with emerging security and development policy and coordination frameworks in the region (the Sahel Coalition, the WB, IFPA, etc.); and ensure that the critical role of the Sahel Coalition/P3S is taken into account for the coordination of key partners and donors
• As part of the strategy, propose effective frameworks for civil-military cooperation/coordination; The strategy should establish a mechanism for complementarity of actions, coordination and cooperation with other actors, regional and international security forces, and other donors and development partners;
• Make a proposal for a robust monitoring and evaluation mechanism;
• Formulate recommendations on robust mechanisms to be put in place for capacity building of national, regional and local authorities to respond to conflicts, promote social cohesion, reduce the growing security threat, intra and inter-community tensions for power and resources (search for land and water by pastoralists under old transhumance models due to climate change, modern land management practices, creation of local committees for the strengthening of existing legislation on natural resource management, border restrictions and traditional conflict resolution practices).

• Project: Short-term consultancy to conduct a scoping study and develop Strategic Plan (2022-2027) for Heifer’s Interventions in the Sahelian Africa Countries
• Client: HEIFER International
• Region: Sahel
• Period: October-December 2021

Scope of work:

The overall objective of this consultancy is to conduct a comprehensive scoping study of the Sahel and develop a five-year strategic and operational plan that will enable Heifer International to implement its interventions and mandate in the Sahel.
For the purpose of this study, the Sahelian belt covers, in whole or in part, the following countries: Mali, Burkina Faso, Northern Nigeria, Senegal, Mauritania, and Norther Cameroun. The outcomes and recommendations from this study should enable Heifer to decide on which of these countries to focus resources.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
The scope of work for the Consultant will include but not limited to the following objectives, in coordination with Heifer Senegal and other Heifer Stakeholders:

• Undertake a situational analysis of relevant ongoing development programs and interventions to date in the region;
• Carry out an exhaustive stakeholders’ mapping and analysis in the Sahel, the axes of which are in line with Heifer’s missions. This mapping will include the activities of private sector, bilateral/multilateral agencies, key challenges that stakeholders face, as well as their lessons learned;
• Collect and analyze all the specific information on the Multiple uses of water, Livestock, Agriculture, Governance, etc. (production players, production systems and areas, actual supply or production, factors limiting the quality of production, associated costs, and added value, on all links in the chain: from production to end market for all value chains, etc.) in the Sahel;
• Through a consultative process and application of appropriate tools of analysis, identify focus areas, the thrust areas of interventions, long term goals, strategic objectives, key result areas for Heifer International. The thrust areas will focus on key value chain opportunities in the Sahel: collection and analysis of relevant market information, exploration of potential market channels which, if fully exploited, could contribute to the production and market efficiency, identification of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats at the level of these two value chains, in particular at the level of production and marketing systems (SWOT analysis) and proposal of improvement strategies taking into account the associated costs, added value and investment needs in key sectors of these value chains;
• Propose a strategy for achieving the strategic objectives and key results by highlighting: the strategic axes, the strategic lines of action and the implementation plan, the monitoring-evaluation framework;
•  Propose monitoring and evaluating strategies (including the theory of change, result framework, key performance indicators, etc) and mechanisms to ensure the effective implementation of the strategic plan;
• Develop a Resources Framework for the plan period. This will include the Budget and potential sources of funding and a well-defined strategy for partnership and resource mobilization;
• Hold stakeholder meeting(s) and inception workshop(s) in the Sahel to validate the draft Strategic Plan; and
• Finalize Strategic plan and submit to Heifer International.