SNV 2019-2023: Peaceful cross-border pastoralism in the Sahel (MOPSS) SNV 2019-2023: Fredlig gränsöverskridande boskapsskötsel i Sahel (MOPSS) Denna insats rör ett stöd om 79,9 miljoner kronor till ett tre-årigt program vid namn MOPSS, vilket syftar till att främja fredlig samexistens mellan i första hand boskapsskötare och jordbrukare i västra Sahel (Mali, Burkina Faso och Niger, men också Benin och Togo), och en samsyn på hur begränsade naturresurser såsom vatten, land och bete kan komma samtliga grupper till godo samt hur konflikter runt desamma kan förebyggas och lösas.  Namnet MOPSS anspelar på programmets franska namn som fritt översatt till svenska är: "Fredlig gränsöverskridande rörlighet för boskapsskötare i Sahel och social stabilitet" (Mobilité Pastorale transfrontalière apaisée et Stabilité sociale au Sahel). 

Bakgrunden till insatsen är den kraftigt försämrade säkerhetssituationen i (västra) Sahel, den svenska regeringens beslut om att skjuta till ytterligare medel till den regionala strategin med fokus på mänsklig säkerhet i Sahel och det faktum att konflikter mellan boskapsskötare och jordbrukare visat sig lika dödlig som attackerna från beväpnade grupper samt att dessa olika konflikter därtill föder in i varandra på ett sätt som förefaller ytterligare späda på våldet och där boskapsskötande grupper inte bara tillhör de hårdast drabbade offren men också återfinns bland förövarna. Fokus ligger alltså på regionalt samarbete och gränsöverskridande utvecklingsutmaningar.    

SNV föreslår under programmet MOPSS ett samarbete med boskapsskötarnas (APESS och RBM) och jordbrukarnas (ROPPA) egna regionala socio-professionella samarbetsorganisationer i Sahel / Västafrika, liksom stöd till samarbetsplattformar mellan dessa och andra berörda intressenter (Hub Rural). Även NGOn Care, med speciell erfarenhet från och expertis inom lokala rättssystem kopplat till boskapsskötares rättigheter  ingår i konsortiet som leds av SNV och  är Sidas avtalspart. SNV kommer att vidareförmedla knappt 30% av budgeten till övriga medlemmar i konsortiet. 

Syftet med MOPSS är att:

1) stärka boskapsskötar-organisationernas (RBM och APESS) kapacitet att representera sina medlemmars intressen, men också deras interna demokrati och deltagande, med ett fokus på kvinnors och ungas speciella intressen och behov;
 
2) Påverka policy miljön och dess tillämpning, samt berörda regionala aktörer (med fokus på ECOWAS) att bättre tillgodose den rörliga gränsöverskridande boskapsskötselns behov;

3) Stötta social och ekonomisk uthållighet för gränsöverskridande, rörlig, boskapsskötsel, genom att bidra till nödvändig infrastruktur samt att stärka värdekedjor med koppling till boskapsskötsel, med ett speciellt fokus på kvinnor och ungas behov och inkomster. This contribution concerns a support of SEK 79.9 million to a three-year program called MOPSS, which aims to promote peaceful coexistence between primarily livestock farmers and sedentary farmers in the Western Sahel (Mali , Burkina Faso and Niger, but also Benin and Togo), and a strengthened consensus on how limited natural resources such as water, land and grazing can benefit all groups and how conflicts around them can be prevented and resolved. The name MOPSS refers to the French name of the program which is freely translated into English as follows: "Peaceful cross-border movement for livestock in the Sahel and social stability" (Mobilité Pastorale transfrontalière apaisée et Stabilité social au Sahel). 

The background to this proposed decision is the severely deteriorating security situation in (Western) Sahel, the Swedish government's decision to add funds to the Regional Strategy with a focus on human security in the Sahel, and the fact that conflicts between herders and farmers have proven as deadly as the attacks from armed groups, and that these various conflicts also feed into each other in a way that seems to increase violence and where herders not only belong to the most severely affected victims but also are found among perpetrators. Focus is therefore on regional cooperation and cross-border development challenges.

In the framework of the MOPSS program, SNV proposes to cooperate with the herders' (APESS and RBM) and the farmers' (ROPPA) own regional socio-professional organizations, as well as to support platforms for cooperation between them and other stakeholders (the Rural Hub). The NGO Care, with special experience and expertise from working with Community based justice systems linked to pastoral rights, is also a member of the consortium which is led by SNV who is also Sida's agreement partner.

The aim of MOPSS is:

1) strengthen the capacity of the herders' organizations (RBM and APESS) to represent the interests of their members, but also to strengthen their internal democracy and participation, with a focus on the special interests and needs of women and young people;
 
2) Influencing the policy environment and its application, as well as the relevant regional actors (with a focus on ECOWAS) to better meet the needs of mobile cross-border livestock farming;

3) Support the social and economic viability of cross-border, mobile, livestock farming by contributing to necessary infrastructure and promoting the value chains inked to livestock farming, with a special focus on women and young people. Copied from the Program Document dated 8 November 2019 and translated to English (the original results framework, in French, is copied further down):
General and specific objectives:
The overall goal of the program "Peaceful cross-border pastoral mobility and social stability in the Sahel" (Mobilité Pastorale transfrontalière apaisée et Stabilité sociale au Sahel; MOPSS) is to contribute to strengthening the resilience of agro-pastoral populations and social stability in the Sahel.
To achieve this, three inter-connected and multi-level (regional, national, local) work streams are implemented to achieve the following specific objectives:
1. Strengthen the organizational governance of RBM and APESS, especially in its accountability and credibility dimensions.
2. Make the political and legal environment more favorable to the specificities of pastoralism.
3. Support the economic and social viability of pastoralism.
The summarized detailed results framework, translated to English, looks as follows, numbered in reference to the specific objective it falls under:
Expected results with regard to specific objective number 1:
R1.1) The organizational structure and culture, in their membership and leadership dimensions, are strengthened in favor of the involvement of women and young people.  
R1.2) The capacities of analysis and influence of the members and the technical bodies are reinforced. 
R1.3) The provision of services to members and the capacity to collaborate with third parties are strengthened.
R1.4) Administrative and financial management capabilities are improved.
R1.5) Knowledge management capabilities are improved.
Expected results with regard to specific objective number 2:
R2.1) The revision and implementation of the policy and regulation of ECOWAS and its member states on livestock farming, pastoralism and transhumance integrate the views and feedback from the RPOs. 
R2.2) The coordination of interventions and the linkage of policies in the livestock sector in ECOWAS are improved.
R2.3) The respect for the rights of pastoralists and agro-pastoralists is improved through piloting and testing a community based legal system.
Expected results with regard to specific objective number 3:
R3.1) Restrictions on mobility and market access are mitigated in cross-border areas.
R3.2) The livelihoods of agro-pastoral family farms are maintained in trans-boundary areas.
R3.3) The professional skills and employability of young people (boys and girls) in pastoral and agro-pastoral settings are strengthened.
R3.4) The role of women and youth in promoting a culture of peace and social cohesion is strengthened.