KIDIRA, Senegal – Strengthening citizen participation and dialogue among local stakeholders was the focus of a workshop held on 9 December 2025 in Kidira, eastern Senegal. Organised by the Centre for Action for Development and Research (CADRE), with financial support from International Budget Partnership Senegal, the workshop aimed to familiarise local stakeholders with the rules and procedures governing the Territorial Consultation Framework (TCF).
KIDIRA, Senegal – Strengthening citizen participation and dialogue among local stakeholders was the focus of a workshop held on 9 December 2025 in Kidira, eastern Senegal. Organised by the Centre for Action for Development and Research (CADRE), with financial support from International Budget Partnership Senegal, the workshop aimed to familiarise local stakeholders with the rules and procedures governing the Territorial Consultation Framework (TCF).
The event was organised as part of the 2025 joint action plan and forms part of broader efforts to strengthen local governance by improving stakeholders’ understanding of institutional mechanisms designed to involve citizens and local organisations in public affairs management.
A regulatory framework to promote citizen participation
Discussions focused on Decree No. 2021-1697 of 9 December 2021, which establishes the composition, organisational arrangements and operating procedures of Territorial Consultation Frameworks.
Provided for under Article 7 of Senegal’s General Code of Local Authorities, the mechanism is intended to provide an institutional platform for dialogue and consultation among stakeholders within a given territory.
Its purpose is to promote more inclusive participation by communities and local organisations in discussions and decision-making processes relating to territorial development.
For local authorities, the challenge is to establish effective consultation spaces that take into account the concerns of different groups, strengthen transparency in public affairs management and encourage more participatory approaches to local governance.
From understanding the decree to organising local dialogue
The workshop in Kidira focused on three main areas: presenting the contents of the decree and its implications for local stakeholders, clarifying the operating procedures of the Territorial Consultation Framework, and planning the next stages of the 2025 joint action plan.
The capacity-building initiative was designed to help participants better understand their respective roles and responsibilities in the implementation and functioning of the mechanism.
The challenge, however, goes beyond understanding the regulatory framework. It also involves translating its provisions into practical consultation processes that reflect local realities.
A clear understanding of procedures, well-defined responsibilities and the effective involvement of different community groups will be essential to ensuring that the mechanism operates as intended.
A broader governance challenge beyond the workshop
The workshop comes amid ongoing efforts to strengthen citizen participation in local public affairs management, a central issue in Senegal’s decentralisation policies.
While regulatory provisions establish the foundations for consultation, their effectiveness ultimately depends on how well they are understood by local stakeholders and whether these consultation platforms are actively used.
For CADRE, with financial support from International Budget Partnership Senegal, the initiative reflects a commitment to supporting local stakeholders in promoting transparent, inclusive and participatory governance.
The next challenge will be to translate the outcomes of the workshop into practical measures under the 2025 action plan and support the effective functioning of the Territorial Consultation Framework.
In Kidira, the priority is now to turn consultation into a meaningful instrument for citizen participation and sustainable territorial development.