Getting it Right: Linking Concepts and Action for Improving the Use of NR in Sahelian Africa

This paper summarizes the key issues in the aménagement/gestion des terriors villageois (AT/GT) approach to improving community level management of natural resources implemented in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger during late 1990. The approach has been conceived as a global, multisectoral, integrated, participatory and long term approach to agrarian livelihoods in the risk-prone Sahelian region. The AT/GT approach promotes the terrior villageois as a unit of analysis and as a unit for assisting local intervention. The origins and essential features of the AT/GT approach are considered in this paper, along with the key issue of participation. The paper also considers the interaction between AT/GT and local level development structures, both those pre-existing colonialism and those since introduced by the independent state. In both cases the paper highlights the importance of a supportive policy environment. The AT/GT approach holds considerable promise for NGO efforts to promote involvement in improving agricultural production through raising concern for the physical environment and more effective management of resources. The paper concludes that many NGOs and government organizations rush ahead with policy adopting AT/GT terminology without a fundamental change in practices taking place. The paper lastly considers a number of problems with the approach. (CAB Abstract)