CORE II - #7
July 2026
REGIONAL AFRICA MEETING IN LOMÉ, TOGO
From June 1st to 5th, 2026 , Lomé , Senegal, hosted the African partners of the CoRe II program. Benin, Senegal, and Togo were represented, along with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Mauritania, as well as Secours Catholique-Caritas France, for five days of work and exchange focused on the regional dynamics of CoRe II in the Sahel.
The links between the Sahel and the other members and activities of the program were worked on. Thematic and methodological groups were formed, with online participation from TAM (Palestine) for the gender group, colleagues from Secours Catholique to discuss advocacy, awareness-raising and mobilization, and numerous Asian partners to discuss agroecology and food system change.
This week also dedicated specific time to the PAES (Sahel Agro-ecology Program) to plan its future, focusing on its financial sustainability, governance, and ability to influence agricultural and food policies 🌱
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NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Brazil 🇧🇷 - Ouricuri Community, Uavá (Bahia)
In Brazil, the CoRe program supported the Ouricuri community in Uavá, Bahia, for four years. Rooted in the traditional practices of Fundo e Fecho de Pasto, this Semiárido community works daily for the preservation and collective management of its natural resources. The video retraces their journey: the challenges they faced, the organized resistance they mounted, and the solutions they developed to defend their territory against threats to their shared resources.
Brazil 🇧🇷 - "Notorious Knowledge": an award for Joana Fidélix
From July 1st to 3rd, 2026, in Maceió, the Brazilian Ministry of Culture honored masters of popular culture. Among them was Joana Fidélix, a Macuxi ceramicist, who had previously participated in CoRe program training sessions for Mura and Maraguá women. We, along with the Macuxi people and CIMI, welcome this recognition.
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Bolivia 🇧🇴 - Communities and territories under pressure
Since late 2025, the country has been experiencing a political and economic crisis with direct effects on Indigenous and rural communities. Between the elimination of fuel subsidies, land conflicts, and the state of emergency declared in June 2026, rural communities and the organizations that support them have been weakened. In this context, several civil society organizations, including CIPCA, partners of Secours Catholique (Catholic Relief Services), have been subjected to pressure. This article provides context for the situation and reiterates Secours Catholique's commitment to its partners.
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OTHER NEWS
Secours Catholique joins the ALIMENTERRE Festival!
This documentary film festival dedicated to sustainable and solidarity-based food celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026, and Secours Catholique (Catholic Relief Services) officially joins as a partner. The anniversary edition's program includes 14 films, exploring themes ranging from agroecology to food sovereignty, and offering practical suggestions for organizing a delegation event.
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Consult the 2026 call for participation
Rehabilitating the Caatinga, with the youth
In the community of Ouricuri (Bahia, Brazil), a 52-hectare area has been protected since 2016 to allow native vegetation to regenerate. Jair Cardoso Matos, 24, a farmer and agroecology student, is one of those leading this initiative, supported by ASA and IRPAA. It's a great example of community-based efforts to combat desertification.
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