The Senegal River Valley Community Resilience and Development Project (PRDC-VFS) and Gaston Berger University (UGB) officially sealed a partnership agreement on Tuesday aimed at strengthening research and knowledge management in the service of territorial development.

Through this agreement, UGB establishes itself as a key academic partner, particularly in the implementation of the sub-component dedicated to research and knowledge capitalization. As a leading institution in the northern region, the university will play a central role in scientific production and the dissemination of knowledge related to the challenges facing the Senegal River Valley.

At the national level, UGB will work closely with research institutions located in the project's intervention areas. The objective is to create synergies and support the Project Management Unit (PMU) in carrying out the planned activities.

At the regional level, this partnership is also part of a cross-border dynamic. UGB will collaborate with its Mauritanian counterpart, notably the University of Nouakchott, to contribute to the production of scientific knowledge and the development of solutions adapted to the specific challenges of the Senegal River Valley, a space shared between Senegal and Mauritania.

One of the main innovations of this partnership lies in the establishment of a Knowledge Management and Dialogue Platform (KMP). This platform will be based on two major pillars: the collection of data and the production of integrated knowledge at the regional level (database on climate and fragility, investment register, research catalogue, scholarships, digital innovations, etc.); the establishment of a regional dialogue framework through the organisation of forums and workshops bringing together the various stakeholders.

According to Mamadou Diedhiou, coordinator of the PRDC-VFS, this project, financed by the World Bank and led by the State of Senegal, aims to strengthen decentralization, improve connectivity and sustainably structure knowledge management in the territories concerned, particularly the regions of Saint-Louis, Matam and Tambacounda.

The choice of UGB as the leader for the knowledge management component is explained by its recognized expertise in research.

“It is essential to capitalize on and disseminate the experiences from development projects, an aspect that is often neglected,” stressed Mamadou Diedhiou.

The project thus adopts a participatory approach involving all stakeholders: local authorities, Regional Development Agencies (ARDs), government departments, researchers, and technical partners. Research grants, dissertations, and thematic studies will be funded to populate the platform and strengthen the production of local knowledge.

Beyond Senegal, this initiative is resolutely regional. Forums will be organized to foster the sharing of experiences between Senegalese and Mauritanian stakeholders. This cooperation between universities and institutions aims to pool knowledge and provide coordinated responses to the climate, economic, and social challenges of the Senegal River Valley.

Through this partnership, PRDC-VFS and UGB are laying the foundations for an innovative knowledge management system, serving more resilient and sustainable development in this strategic area.