A memorandum of understanding signed yesterday in Dakar seals a three-year strategic partnership between the Municipal Development Agency and the International Labour Organization to promote the professional integration of young people and women through investment projects with a strong socio-economic impact.

The Municipal Development Agency (ADM) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) formalized their collaboration on October 2, 2025, at the ADM's premises, with the signing of an ambitious memorandum of understanding aimed at maximizing the social impact of infrastructure projects. This innovative partnership places youth and women's employment at the heart of urban territorial development in Senegal.

A system based on the HIMO approach

The memorandum of understanding, initialed by Dr. Mamouth Diop, Director General of ADM, and Ms. Samira Daoud for the ILO, establishes a framework for cooperation around the High Intensity Labor (HIMO) approach. This approach aims to prioritize the use of local labor in carrying out urban development work, infrastructure maintenance and socio-collective facilities.

The agreement is part of the shared desire of the two institutions to promote the creation of decent jobs and improve the employability of vulnerable populations through urban territorial development projects and programs.

Ambitious numerical objectives

The partnership sets specific and measurable targets. The main objective is the creation of 1,000 jobs per year , with a particular emphasis on sustainability: 70% of these jobs must last beyond six months. The scheme also provides for the training of 500 young people and women each year , with a target socio-professional integration rate of 80% within six months of training.

Fifty women per year are expected to gain leadership positions in the projects, while the average income generated for beneficiaries is set at 200,000 FCFA per month.

Additional commitments

The ILO is committed to providing technical assistance for the integration of the HIMO approach, to popularizing this approach, to supporting the training of trainers and beneficiaries, and to making methodological tools and practical guides available.

For its part, the ADM is committed to identifying projects likely to integrate the HIMO approach, to facilitating access to sites and beneficiaries, to ensuring coordination with local authorities, and to maximizing the use of local labor in its infrastructure projects.

A rigorous monitoring mechanism

To ensure the effectiveness of the partnership, a Joint Technical Committee will be established, composed of representatives from both parties. This committee will be responsible for developing an annual action plan, monitoring the implementation of activities, and producing periodic technical and financial reports.

Mr. Frédéric Bandon-Mboyong for the ILO and Ms. Ndèye Ngoné Sy, Director of Partnership Development and Innovative Financing at the ADM, were appointed responsible for monitoring this cooperation.

An innovative financing model

The protocol provides that the ILO will provide technical expertise while the WMD will provide funding for the main activities. However, both parties may jointly seek additional funding from active partners, with the objective of mobilizing targeted financial resources per year .

A three-year renewable period

The memorandum comes into force upon signature and is concluded for an initial period of three years, renewable for periods of three years. This non-exclusive collaboration will allow the ILO to conclude similar agreements with other partner organizations.

This strategic partnership marks a decisive step in the fight against youth unemployment and the economic empowerment of women in Senegal, while contributing to the systemic transformation of territories through an inclusive and sustainable development approach.