RPCA

The Sahel and West Africa Club is a group of West African regional organisations, countries and inter-national organisations that work together towards the development and integration of the West African region. Created in 1976, the Club’s mission is to pool together Members’ experiences, ideas and perspectives to help build more effective regional policies. Drawing on factual studies and independent analyses, the Club devises strategic guidelines and policy tools for Members and other stakeholders. The SWAC Secretariat is hosted at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It is the oldest initiative of solidarity and partnership between the OECD and Africa.

Improving the governance of regional food and nutrition security has been at the core of SWAC’s funding mission. Co-facilitating with CILSS, the SWAC Secretariat ensures the smooth running of the Food Crisis Prevention Network (RPCA). It facilitates informal dialogue and consensus building among Network members. The SWAC Secretariat organises with CILSS the two RPCA statutory meetings, co-ordinates regional analysis and ensures the RPCA’s animation throughout the year. Over time, the SWAC Secretariat was able to win the buy-in of West Africa’s regional organisations which are now formally assuming the political leadership of the Network. The SWAC Secretariat also plays a bridging role between Sahelian and West African leaders and technical and financial partners.