On November 16 and 17, 2023, ICE-FRANCE hosted a regional seminar at the Hotel Terrou-Bi in Dakar on the theme “Democratic Governance and Local Development: Challenges and Opportunities in West and Central Africa.”
Participants and Speakers
This seminar brought together 80 participants from 12 countries: governance experts, representatives of local authorities, civil society organization leaders, and technical and financial partners. Among the speakers were representatives from the European Union, AFD, UNDP, and various African universities.
Themes Discussed
The seminar's work was organized around four themes: decentralization and local governance in a context of political transitions; the role of civil society in citizen control of public action; the integration of new technologies in governance (e-participation, open data); and gender-sensitive approaches in governance programs.
Recommendations and Follow-ups
The seminar resulted in a document of shared recommendations, which was sent to the main funding partners active in the region. ICE-FRANCE committed to organizing a second edition in 2025, in partnership with Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar.