SOS SAHEL’s annual event, is an essential meeting with its network of partners
SOS SAHEL is an international NGO and an expert in the environmental and food security space working with the most vulnerable populations in the Sahel to ensure that they are heard with respect and dignity on an international scale. SOS SAHEL values the tremendous potential of the Sahel by supporting initiatives of local actors and investing in sustainable solutions in the Sahel. We are convinced that this is the best way to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union 2063 Agenda. SOS SAHEL initiates and implements flagship programs to ensure food security and climate change. The “Green Initiative” is one of which aims to restore 360,000 hectares of land and create 100,000 jobs in six Sahelian countries.
The Africa Days falls within the framework of the Green Initiative, by bringing together institutions, businesses and local actors to discuss and promote sustainable solutions for food security in the Sahel. The Africa Days celebrate the incredible potential of the Sahel and provides recommendations for strengthening knowledge and skills on the field.
Last year, SOS SAHEL launched an Agri-Hackathon innovation competition. Taking place in May 2021, during 3 days developers designed innovative digital tools adapted to the requirements and needs of actors in the field. The Agri-Hackathon is a platform that aims to foster development and creativity while producing 10 innovative agricultural technologies to be deployed over 10 years, thus transforming the lives of 300 million Sahelians.
In 2022, the Africa Days took place on May 16 in Abidjan, in parallel with the COP15 and will have as its theme :
Together to achieve the Great Green Wall
Let’s invest in local initiatives!
During the event, we unveiled four “Champions” of the Great Green Wall, who are very active and involved in this greater vision.
The Forum ended with a signed partnership agreement between SOS SAHEL and the Pan-African Agency of the GMV which aims to strengthen collaboration between States and civil society actors, particularly within the framework of the Great Green Wall countries.
Through the Agri-Hackathon SOS SAHEL aims to identify innovative technological solutions with the potential to modernize agricultural production, strengthen food value chains and ensure economic inclusion of family farmers in the Sahel. Following exchanges during the Africa Camp, where Sahelian farmers came together to discuss their agricultural needs and problems, teams of developers will be invited to bring their prototypes to the Agri-Hackathon 2020 where they will be working with local experts to ensure their solutions are suitable to the field.
The Agri-hackathon will close with pitching sessions at the Africa Days Forum and prizes will be awarded during the Africa Days Gala.
The Africa Days forum is organized thanks to the generous support of the Hôtel Pullman Dakar Teranga. The forum brings together a variety of specialists from national and regional institutions, the private sector and civil society organizations for exchange and debate as it pertains to large-scale solutions for food security, employment and economic growth in the Sahel. The forum will also include the Agri-Hackathon technology pitching sessions.
This year, SOS SAHEL is organizing the Fourth Edition of the Africa Days Gala thanks to the generous support of the Hôtel Pullman Dakar Teranga. The event, which will follow a new format, will feature a VIP dinner and awards ceremony for sponsors and participants, followed by the Jam Sahel concert which will be open to the public for those who wish to buy tickets.
