International cooperation: the Sahel questions NGOs about security procedures in highly unstable areas and they seem to be moving in a bubble

ROME (DIRE Agency) – The Sahel questions humanitarian organizations in depth: it does so starting from the safety procedures employed in a scenario of increasing instability, which often give the idea that operators are moving in “bubbles”, with consequences on the work on the field. But also in the relationship with local civil society base organizations, which contribute in a fundamental way to the process of getting to know the beneficiaries but who then, often, do not see their contribution adequately recognized. Critical issues and discussion points that emerged during a congress organized by the NGO Intersos on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of his birth.

The key role of civil society. The scenario is that of the Maxxi museum, in the Flaminio district of the capital. It reflects on the Sahel region, understood, suggests the title of a panel, such as “Crossroads of emergencies: war, migration, economic crisis and climate change“. In such a complex context, a key role is played by small civil society organizations. Veronica Ngum, founder and top manager of the association of women with disabilities, talks about it. Community Association for Vulnerable Persons, based in the northwestern region of Cameroon. The area has been the scene for at least five years of a conflict between local separatist militias and the central government, which broke out from the requests for greater representation of the Anglophone population, which is mostly in this part of the country. “We are between a rock and a hard place”, complains Ngum. “We do a daily work of mediation also to guarantee support for the population living in the epicenter of hostilities. When we talk to the militiamen we are accused by the armed forces of taking a stand in their favor, while when we speak with the authorities we are threatened by the armed groups. . Several of us have been killed or tortured. “

“Responsibilities with respect to decisions not taken by us”. The role of grassroots civil society organizations also presents complexities with respect to their role in the humanitarian aid system. “There are the largest national NGOs, then there are the foreign ones and then the international organizations”, explains the activist. “Realities like ours often participate in the process of assessing the beneficiaries’ needs, but this presents two problems: on the one hand, we are the ones who take responsibility with respect to people for selection procedures that are not decided by us. Furthermore – Ngum continues – the lack of resources that characterizes our associations does not allow us to establish a relationship of true partnership with larger organizations, even when they rely on our work “.

“Making the requirements easier to access funding. Hence some appeals to the world of international organizations such as, for example, that of “simplifying the eligibility requirements to be awarded funding, which are often prohibitive for smaller companies”. Safety is instead one of the central themes touched upon in his speech by Francesco Strazzari, professor of International Relations of the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa and expert in African scenarios. “In the Sahel countries we are witnessing an increase in the activities of armed groups and in the number of civilian victims, with an increase in attacks of 30 or 40% per year”, points out the teacher. “Jihadist-inspired militias control the territory of some countries, especially in the north, with the result that a landscape is emerging in which the capitals remain security bubbles, occasionally attacked by militias, and the rest of the country is almost inaccessible”.

The white man’s trap. The world of humanitarian assistance can also get stuck in this polarization. “We can turn to criticism related to the idea that the western white man is among western white men, safe. There are those who exploit this rhetoric – Strazzari warns – such as Russia, which is increasing its influence in the region. , from Mali to Burkina Faso, even selling itself as an anti-colonial force. This is an element that is something absurd “. There are processes of exiting from this trap, however, says the professor, even by answering an operator’s online question on the question of privilege. “We need to focus on the needs of the beneficiaries and then conceive of security as a relational fact”, says Strazzari, who warns: “It is not obtained by closing in a fence, but by deepening the knowledge of the local community”.