Pathways to scale: Expanding economic inclusion for jobs and resilience in the Sahel

This policy note explores key dimensions to consider when reflecting on how to sustainably scale up economic inclusion programs. The Sahel faces some of the highest poverty rates in the world, with an average of 42.5% of the population living on 1.9 dollars per day, a growing number of people joining the working age population, and significant gender disparities that persist. 

Drawing on recent experience in the Sahel, this note distills six considerations that can support this reflection:

1. Embed economic inclusion programs within established safety nets for greater impact.
2. Balance quality and cost.
3. Secure sustainability through strong anchoring in national policies, institutionalization of programs, resource mobilization, and capacity building.
4. Make adaptation to climate change a core program objective.
5. Implement adjustments for fragile, conflict, and violence (FCV) contexts.
6. Address gender-specific constraints through tailored program design.