Richard-Toll Launches Collective of neighborhood Councils to Boost Citizen Engagement
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A new structure designed to enhance community action and citizen participation has been officially established in Richard-Toll, Senegal. The collective of neighborhood councils, installed on Wednesday, represents a significant step towards strengthening local governance and empowering grassroots communities in the region.
The initiative, which began in December 2023, is rooted in programs focused on good governance, citizen participation, and the promotion of the right to the city. “This implementation is the culmination of a process…as part of the programs of good governance,” stated a representative from the partnering NGO, Mon-3.
Expanding local Portrayal
Originally planned to encompass 12 councils, the initiative ultimately led to the creation of 14 neighborhood councils following the establishment of new neighborhoods within the municipality of Richard-Toll. This expansion underscores the growing need for localized representation and responsiveness to community needs. The process received crucial support from the catalan Development Cooperation Agency and the city of Barcelona, highlighting international collaboration in bolstering local democracy.
“This is an inclusive and participatory process which testifies to the democratic vitality at the level of grassroots communities,” a senior official emphasized.The newly formed collective will be responsible for coordinating the activities of individual neighborhood councils and ensuring the effective monitoring of key action plans.
Capacity Building and Strategic Governance
To ensure the success of this new structure, a dedicated training session was conducted for the presidents and general secretaries of the neighborhood councils. This training focused on enhancing their skills in community engagement and the effective management of local bodies.
The collective is viewed as a vital tool for local governance, capable of harmonizing interventions across different neighborhoods and addressing complex, cross-cutting issues. According to a representative of the mayor’s office, Professor Mamadou Ciss, the collective “constitutes a strategic instrument of local governance making it possible to harmonize the interventions of the different neighborhood councils.” He further noted that the councils serve as an “critically important lever” for decentralization and participatory democracy, aligning with national territorial governance guidelines.
National Integration and Citizen Network expansion
Looking ahead,the Richard-Toll neighborhood council collective is slated to integrate into the broader national network of neighborhood councils. This integration aims to contribute to the strengthening of a nationwide citizen network, fostering greater collaboration and shared learning across communities. This move signifies a commitment to scaling up accomplished local initiatives and building a more robust and participatory democratic system throughout senegal.
Why: The collective of neighborhood councils was established to strengthen local governance, enhance citizen participation, and address community needs more effectively in Richard-Toll, Senegal. It’s rooted in programs promoting good governance and the right to the city.
Who: The initiative involves the municipality of Richard-Toll, neighborhood council presidents and general secretaries, the NGO Mon-3, the Catalan Development Cooperation Agency, the city of Barcelona, and Professor Mamadou Ciss from the mayor’s office. Grassroots communities are the primary beneficiaries.
What: The creation of a collective of 14 neighborhood councils (expanded from an initial plan of 12) to coordinate local activities, monitor action plans, and provide a platform for community engagement.A key component was training for council leaders.
How did it end? The initiative is ongoing. The immediate outcome is the establishment of the collective and the completion of initial training. The
