Narrative of international aid and the challenges of the triple nexus ‘Humanitarian Assistance / Development / Peace and Security’ in the Sahel

Florence Cassam Chenai

The paper, written by Florence Cassam Chenai, PhD in International Relations, was the winner of the 1st GATE Center Prize for Development Studies in Africa and Asia, awarded in the framework of the VII International Congress of Development Studies organised by REEDES in 2024. The author analyses the dynamics of international aid in the Sahel and the challenges associated with the ‘triple nexus’ between Humanitarian Assistance, Development, and Peace and Security. This concept emerges as a discursive and operational strategy to address protracted and multidimensional crises in this priority region for donors such as the European Union and France.

From a historical and geopolitical perspective, the paper examines how the Sahel has evolved as a regional entity, both in terms of its challenges and its perception within the international community. It emphasises that the region, known for its climatic and socio-economic vulnerability, has been conceptualised as a laboratory for the experimentation of aid and security policies, particularly in the aftermath of 9/11 and the subsequent war on terror.

Cassam Chenaï’s analysis highlights how the vocabulary associated with the triple nexus reflects normative trends that seek to optimise the effectiveness of international interventions by integrating actors with diverse interests. However, it points to practical and ethical limitations in its implementation, especially in the Sahelian context, where armed conflicts, local power dynamics and fragmentation of interests hinder effective cooperation. The author also explores how the strategies pursued by more classical donors and new international actors, such as Russia and China, could redefine the dynamics of influence and aid strategies in the Sahel.

The paper concludes that, although the triple nexus represents a powerful discursive tool, its practical application faces multiple challenges and reveals an ethnocentric approach that excludes local actors. This suggests the need for more inclusive models adapted to the regional context in order to effectively address the complexities of the Sahel.