Le Cheylas (France) | A 30-year legacy of cooperation expands to Senegal

(3/6) Discover today how Le Cheylas (France) and 6 other municipalities are building on a 30-year experience with Mali’s local governments to develop new projects with Bandafassi (Senegal). This is one of the 6 shortlisted projects for the final phase of the PLATFORMAwards, our prize to reward the best practices in decentralised development cooperation. The jury will announce the names of the 3 finalists on 1^st April in Seville (Spain). Register to the World Forum of Local Economic Development (WFLED) to attend the award ceremony.

(Projects are sorted by alphabetical order)

Context

Since 1995, decentralised cooperation between several French communes and four rural communes in southern Mali has strengthened the links between the two areas, with the support of the ARCADE association, Une terre pour vivre, which has been running local development projects for over 30 years. At the end of 2022, the association was forced to cease its activities in Mali following a decree by the Malian junta, which banned NGOs from working on Malian soil.

In view of the situation in Mali, the French municipalities involved have questioned the relevance of decentralised cooperation and then decided to continue this cooperation dynamic by exploring new areas.

A new phase of cooperation

In 2023, ARCADE was asked to identify a new partner. In 2024, the municipality of Porte de Savoie joined the consortium, demonstrating the collective desire to strengthen this new phase of cooperation. Two exploratory missions were carried out in the field in 2023, laying the foundations for this partnership. These visits, combined with the presence a local ARCADE coordinator, enabled effective dialogue with the Bandafassi authorities in the Kédougou region (Senegal) and the establishment of priorities for the coming years.

Main objectives

The objectives of this decentralised cooperation are numerous, each responding to needs identified during missions in the field:

1. Strengthen local capacities in terms of governance and project management. This includes training local elected representatives and administrative managers in key areas such as municipal organisation, citizen participation and mapping (SDG 11 and SDG 16).
2. Support local economic development, in particular through sustainable agriculture projects, crafts and the promotion of local micro-enterprises. Emphasis will be placed on training young people and women (SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth).
3. Improving access to essential services such as drinking water, education and health. The cooperation aims to support Bandafassi in setting up appropriate infrastructure to meet the needs of the population, particularly in the most remote areas. (SDGs 3, 4 and 6)
4. Guarantee reciprocity through school exchanges between French and Senegalese elementary schools. (SDG 4: Quality education)

Achievements to date

The first stages of the project have already produced encouraging results:

1. Definition of local priorities: The missions carried out by ARCADE in 2023, with the participation of French elected representatives, enabled the Bandafassi authorities to define the priority areas of cooperation for the coming years, focusing on governance, strengthening health systems and support for education, as well as integrated management of water resources (SDG 6: clean water and sanitation).
2. Development a joint action plan: A detailed action plan has been drawn up in partnership with the Bandafassi town council. This document sets out the broad outlines of the projects to be developed and the terms of cooperation between the French and Senegalese municipalities.
3. Initial training for local elected representatives: A series of workshops has already been held with local authorities to strengthen their skills in municipal management, involving the active participation of citizens in decision-making.

Expected final results

We have defined a number of expected medium- and long-term results for this cooperation:

1. More autonomous and better trained local authorities: the training given to elected representatives and technicians will improve municipal management and strengthen local decision-making, based on a participative approach.
2. A more dynamic and inclusive local economy, thanks to economic development projects that will generate sustainable jobs and sources of income for local residents, particularly young people and women.
3. Improving the quality of life of local residents: infrastructure to provide access to drinking water and the construction of new school and health facilities will have a direct impact on the health and education of the people of Bandafassi.
4. Concrete action to protect the environment, with awareness-raising programmes, reforestation and the installation of renewable energy systems, helping to combat the effects of climate change.

More information

• https://www.ville-le-cheylas.fr/arcade.php