The International Observatory of Participatory Democracy for Africa (OIDP Afrique) and its partners have organized a training session for facilitators in participatory budgeting and citizen engagement. The session, which took place in Dakar from September 8 to 18, 2026, brought together participants from several African countries, including Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, and Senegal. The training aimed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge needed to accompany local authorities in implementing participatory budgeting and citizen engagement.
The training session covered various topics, including decentralization, local governance and taxation, public finances, and participatory budgeting techniques. Participants, who included local elected officials, administrative cadres, civil society leaders, experts, and local development practitioners, followed 85 hours of training. The session featured a combination of lectures, group work, and simulations to ensure that participants gained practical experience.
According to Bachir Kanouté, an international expert and lead trainer, the goal of the training is to bring public decision-making closer to the people. He emphasized that the objective is to support countries in taking into account citizen participation in public management and anchoring this participation at the local level. Kanouté highlighted the importance of identifying the needs of populations, particularly their economic, social, and cultural rights, and ensuring that these rights are translated into concrete actions.
The training session is part of OIDP Afrique's efforts to build a pool of African expertise capable of supporting states and local authorities in implementing participatory approaches. Previous sessions have been organized in Casablanca, Morocco, and Côte d'Ivoire. Abidou Diao, executive director of the NGO Accountability Lab Mali, emphasized the potential of participatory budgeting to unlock the wealth of African territories and promote autonomous and inclusive development.
The session concluded with an evaluation of the acquired skills, the presentation of individual action plans, and the awarding of certificates of competence signed by OIDP Afrique and CGLU Afrique. A follow-up is planned to support the practical implementation of the acquired skills and facilitate the exchange of experiences. The initiative aligns with the ambitions of the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 11 and 16.
The training session is expected to contribute to the development of local governance and citizen engagement in Africa. OIDP Afrique and its partners aim to support the implementation of participatory budgeting and citizen engagement in various countries. The organization of the training session in Dakar demonstrates the commitment of OIDP Afrique to promoting participatory democracy and good governance in Africa.
The article was published by Télé Futurs Médias and read 280 times. The OIDP Afrique and its partners will continue to work towards promoting participatory democracy and good governance in Africa. The organization will also provide support to countries and local authorities in implementing participatory approaches.
Key points
- OIDP Afrique trains facilitators in participatory budgeting and citizen engagement in Dakar.
- The training session aims to support countries in taking into account citizen participation in public management.
- The initiative aligns with the ambitions of the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 11 and 16.
