The Municipal Development Agency (ADM) organized a debriefing workshop in Dakar this Wednesday, marking the close of the third edition of the PACASEN (Support Program for Municipalities and Urban Areas of Senegal) trainee immersion program. This workshop, chaired by Dr. Mamouth Diop, Director General of ADM, brought together elected officials, technical and institutional partners, as well as the 35 trainees who participated in this enriching experience.

A strategic mechanism at the heart of capacity building

In his address, Dr. Mamouth Diop emphasized the crucial importance of capacity building as a major strategic focus of PACASEN. "The internship program constitutes a true bridge between the academic world and the field," he stated, recalling that this initiative is part of a comprehensive approach that includes the development of manuals, the implementation of targeted training, and Continuous Territorial Coaching (CTC).

This third edition mobilized 35 trainees, evenly distributed across the country. This strategic distribution facilitated direct immersion in the daily realities of territorial governance, offering students specializing in decentralization and local governance a unique opportunity to gain practical experience.

Multiple objectives for a lasting impact

The Director General highlighted the dual purpose of the program. On the one hand, it aims to strengthen the human, technical, and organizational capacities of the pilot local authorities in order to improve the performance of their duties. On the other hand, it seeks to support the academic and professional development of students by providing them with a practical environment conducive to acquiring essential skills.

According to Dr. Diop, the trainees seized this opportunity to better understand the internal and external functioning of local authorities, to understand the institutional, technical and organizational challenges they face, and to contribute, through experiential work and analysis, to the improvement of local public action and the quality of services provided to the population.

The voice of the trainees: recognition and commitment

Coumba Dieng, representative of the trainees and head of the PACASEN 2025 program, expressed on behalf of her peers their deep gratitude to the Municipal Development Agency. " We, the trainees of the 2025 edition of PACASEN, express our sincere thanks to the Municipal Development Agency, which spared no effort in guiding us with method and skill ," she declared emotionally.

In her speech, Ms. Dieng emphasized that the internship allowed participants to " put their theoretical knowledge into practice, develop real professional skills, strengthen their sense of leadership and gain a deep understanding of the challenges of decentralization based on territorial governance ."

Drawing on her experience within the Local Initiative Committee for Stormwater Management (COLIGEP) and the Complaints Management Mechanism (MGP) of the Stormwater Management Project (PROGEP II) in the Commune of Keur Massar Nord since 2022, she reaffirmed the collective commitment of the trainees to "work tirelessly for the deepening and consolidation of the activities of the ADM".

A plea for the future

The trainees' representative concluded her remarks with a passionate plea, requesting that the Director General " take on the responsibilities of some trainees ," even suggesting the recruitment of some of them. This request illustrates the profound impact of the program and the desire of these young talents to continue contributing to the development of local communities.

Capitalization and future prospects

Dr. Mamouth Diop explained that the capitalization workshop constitutes "a decisive step in the maturation of this system." It will allow for an assessment of the results obtained, an identification of strengths and limitations, and the drawing of useful lessons for the beneficiary local authorities, the trainees, and all stakeholders involved in the implementation of PACASEN.

"The conclusions from this workshop will make a valuable contribution to the consolidation of the program and the direction of future editions, with a view to increased efficiency, sustainability and continuous improvement," he stressed.

A shared success

In his thanks, the Director General praised the commitment of all stakeholders: the technical and institutional partners for their constant support, the host local authorities for their availability, and the trainees for their seriousness and the quality of the work accomplished.

"In this endeavor, there are no losers. You either gain knowledge or you gain valuable experience," he concluded, inviting the young trainees to "richly experiment with their acquired skills in their future professional lives."

The PACASEN program, managed by the Municipal Development Agency (ADM) of Senegal under the supervision of the Ministry of Urban Planning, Local Authorities and Territorial Development, is primarily funded by the PforR (Program for Results) instrument. This innovative mechanism, deployed for the first time in Senegal, makes subsidies to local authorities conditional on the achievement of concrete results, while supporting structural reforms to strengthen their capacity to provide basic infrastructure and social services.

This initiative is part of the Senegal 2050 strategic vision , particularly its third axis aimed at strengthening human capital and promoting social equity.