Strengthening pastoral civil society in Senegal

This project aimed to improve the livelihoods of pastoral groups in Senegal by strengthening their capacity to influence the decisions and activities that affect their lives at local and national levels.

Project
Archived
,
2008
Contact: 
Ced Hesse
,

Senior fellow, Climate Change; team leader, climate resilience, productivity and equity in the drylands

Decentralisation in Senegal offered real opportunities for local people to have a say in natural resource management and planning, and how their areas should be developed. Under the provisions of decentralisation, local elected government bodies (rural councils) were legally responsible for delivering social and economic services (e.g. health, water, education) and for drawing up local land use plans for agricultural forestry pastoral and other uses.

These provisions, while offering many opportunities, also brought many challenges. Building the capacity of pastoralists and pastoral associations to participate on a more equal basis in decision-making processes and development activities was therefore crucial to improving their access to land, health, education and other livelihoods needs.

This project aimed to improve the livelihoods of pastoral groups in Senegal by strengthening their capacity to influence the decisions and activities that affect their lives at local and national levels. To achieve this we:

  • Built the capacity of pastoral associations to educate their members and the broader pastoral community of their rights and how best to influence local government decision-making processes
  • Promoted more inclusive, participatory and accountable decision-making by local government authorities, which took account of the needs of pastoral communities, and
  • Built the capacity of partners to inform and influence national policy making processes with respect to land and other resources.

Partners

This project worked with three associations in the Ferlo Region of Senegal:

  • Arwannde Dental Aynaabe (Première Association des Eleveurs)
  • Association pour le Développement Intégré et Durable
  • Association pour la Renaissance du Pulaar

It also worked with Associés en Recherche et Education pour le Développement and Innovations Environnement et Développement Afrique (IED Afrique)

Donors