Farmers and forecasts

WEST AFRICA: Giant anti-polio drive threatened by insecurity

DAKAR, 23 March 2012 (IRIN) - Health volunteers, aid agency and health authority staff are trying to immunize 111.1 million children under five across 20 countries in West and Central Africa against polio. The four-day campaign started today, but instability in some of the target countries could hamper the effort. full report

Analysis: Senegal under President Wade

DAKAR, 24 February 2012 (IRIN) - As Senegalese presidential elections approach on 26 February, the grassroots M23 and “Y’en a marre” (“Enough is enough”) opposition movements continue to hold daily protests across the country against the decision that incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade can run for a third term. Thus far, six people have been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces. full report

SENEGAL: No end in sight to Casamance conflict

ZIGUINCHOR, 17 February 2012 (IRIN) - As the body count rises from the conflict between members of the separatist Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) and the Senegalese army, Casamancais are starting to lose hope that they will ever see a path to peace. full report

SENEGAL: Drought response slowed by election fever

DAKAR, 10 February 2012 (IRIN) - While it is clear that Senegal was one of the eight Sahelian countries to be hit by poor rains in 2011, unlike most of its neighbours, the government has not yet declared that parts of certain regions are suffering drought conditions. This low-profile approach is slowing down donor and aid agencies’ preparations and responses to help pastoralists and farmers get through the lean season. full report

SAHEL: Donors learning funding lessons - slowly

DAKAR, 6 February 2012 (IRIN) - This year donors are stepping up more quickly to meet Sahel’s humanitarian needs compared to 2010, when they were slow to respond. However, they are still at fault for taking a quick-fix approach rather than addressing long-term disaster prevention and resilience needs, say aid groups. full report

SAHEL: Act now to avoid another crisis, say aid agencies

DAKAR, 14 December 2011 (IRIN) - Aid agencies are warning donors to act now to avert another drought-related food crisis in the Sahel that could mean over 11 million people sink into further food insecurity, poverty or malnutrition. full report

SENEGAL: Talibés turn traders

PIKINE, 8 December 2011 (IRIN) - It is widely assumed that few of the estimated 50,000 ‘talibés’ in Senegal - boys in Koranic schools, or ‘daaras’, studying to become Islamic teachers - who roam the streets begging for money to support their religious leader (‘marabout’) will end up teaching, and most will become vagabonds, delinquents and robbers. Now, child protection experts say their future is not always so bleak - the skills that talibés develop on the streets can turn them into successful traders. full report

SENEGAL: Prospects and pitfalls along a Great Green Wall

MBAR TOUBAB, 29 November 2011 (IRIN) - Former goat-herder Samba Ba proudly points to a row of metre-high acacia trees growing amid the fine grasses that are the only other vegetation in this part of northern Senegal's arid savannah. “Planting trees is a blessing - trees mean life. We call this the Nile River of the Sahel.” full report

CLIMATE CHANGE: Soon every African village will know what the weather may bring

JOHANNESBURG, 2 November 2011 (IRIN) - Information about how climate change may affect any city, town or village in Africa until the next century will be available by mid-2012 as scientists localise global climate data. full report