URU, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 236: Invitation - A Virtual IDA Journey into the Sahel

Udenrigsudvalget 2020-21
URU Alm.del Bilag 236
Offentligt

A Virtual Journey into the Sahel: Delivering results together

Concept Note and Agenda

Overview

The Virtual Journey into the Sahel will take visitors on an immersive tour of the region, showcasing

International Development Association (IDA) projects that exemplify the World Bank Sahel strategy and

highlighting stakeholder voices. It will demonstrate how close collaboration with local partners,

humanitarian agencies, security forces and other international partners is key to solving the complex

challenges of a region like the Sahel.

The interactive site, featuring 360° images, videos, data infographics, background resources, and results

stories, will be complemented by a live virtual meeting on Thursday, June 17, 2021. The meeting will

engage legislators from around the world in discussions with World Bank regional leadership, country staff,

IMF experts, and various stakeholders from the Sahel (parliamentarians, CSO representatives, faith

leaders) on the challenges and successful strategies in achieving results for a region touched by fragility,

conflict, and violence in the midst of a pandemic.

Purpose and Objectives



Share key priorities of the World Bank Sahel Strategy and the importance of partnering with

stakeholders to address the compounded crises of climate, conflict, and COVID-19 in the region

Demonstrate the impact of IDA financing on the ground in concrete terms to highlight the relevance

of an early IDA20 replenishment among an influential group of donors and parliamentarians

Encourage and inspire donors and parliamentarians to amplify the results of their IDA contributions in

their public remarks and messaging, and to positively influence the authorizing environment for a

successful replenishment

Hear from parliamentarians about the issues that concern them and their ideas for furthering

parliamentary engagement to integrate citizen voices into World Bank programs for impactful and

inclusive development results



Background

The compounded crises of climate, conflict and COVID-19 are pushing many people in the Sahel even

further into poverty and despair with negative spillover effects far beyond the region itself. The threat of

climate change is an everyday reality for the people of the Sahel. Temperatures are increasing 1.5 times

faster than the global average. Expected impacts of climate change will reduce crop yields and livestock

productivity, affecting food securit

and food prices. As the region’s population is e pected to grow at a

high rate, the projected yield reductions are estimated to result in rising food prices.

The pandemic has triggered what is likely to be one of the deepest recessions in the Sahel countries since

independence, with an additional 1.3 million people expected to fall into extreme poverty in 2020. For

the Sahel countries and the international community, this is a moment for action to advance reforms and

improve delivery of sustainable solutions at scale and speed.

The World Bank Group, together with partners including the Sahel Alliance has scaled up financial support

to the G5 Sahel countries - Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger, notably through the

International Development Association (IDA) to support conflict prevention, resilience, and emergency

URU, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 236: Invitation - A Virtual IDA Journey into the Sahel

responses. IDA increased from $2.5 billion during the three-year period of IDA17, to $6 billion in IDA18,

with the ambition to reach 8.5 billion for fiscal years 21-23.

To deliver results at scale, the World Bank Group is focusing on three main areas: 1. Climate by

transforming agriculture and water management; 2. People by investing in human capital and women's

and girls' empowerment; and 3. Infrastructure by developing connectivity and improving access to

electricity.

As the World Bank Group takes broad and fast action to support developing countries in their response to

this unprecedented health emergency in addition to preexisting issues, IDA19 resources are being

frontloaded. An early IDA20 replenishment will be necessary to continue providing crucial support to the

world’s poorest nations.

In the Sahel alone, the ambition is to reach 8.5 billion for fiscal years 21-23.

Field visits have proven effective in making the case for IDA, mobilizing resources, and building advocacy

among key stakeholders

for the World Bank’s work in the poorest countries.

Given current constraints on

travel and gatherings, a virtual reality version of this key stakeholder engagement will allow participants

to witness development projects, learn about their impact through statistics and testimonials from local

stakeholders, and gain an understanding of the overall development trajectories in the countries through

a briefing on their portfolios. A virtual platform also renders visits possible in FCV countries where access

for a large delegation of officials may have been a challenge, notably, the Sahel.

Tentative Agenda: