In Dakar, Senegal, a recent gathering of young people, local officials, and international partners has led to concrete recommendations for strengthening youth participation in local decision-making. The event, organized by Polaris Asso with support from the Swiss Embassy, aimed to address the role of youth in local governance. Participants emphasized the need for young people to be at the forefront of discussions and decision-making processes.
Three young leaders presented key proposals, focusing on creating permanent mechanisms for consultation and co-decision making, revitalizing neighborhood councils, and recognizing sports and cultural associations as vital partners in local development. Fatou Touré, national rapporteur of the Senegalese Youth Consultative Council, advocated for establishing permanent consultation frameworks between youth and municipal councils in every commune.
Babacar Gérard Mbaye, a municipal agent, proposed revitalizing neighborhood councils through regular consultation and action, suggesting a monthly schedule for collective reflection and initiative implementation. He also recommended leveraging digital tools to facilitate citizen participation. Pape Ousmane Badiane, a municipal councilor, emphasized the importance of recognizing sports and cultural associations as key partners in local development.
Discussions with local officials, including mayors Khadija Mahécore Diouf and Magueye Boye, allowed for further exploration of these proposals. Diouf encouraged young people to take their place in decision-making spaces and shift from criticism to proposal and action. Boye stressed the need for intergenerational governance, where young people are involved in all stages of communal development.
Patricia Danzi, director general of the Swiss Development and Cooperation Directorate, welcomed the proposals and identified potential areas for action, including strengthening public consultations, promoting financial autonomy for youth associations, and integrating youth consultative councils into decision-making bodies. She encouraged participants to seize opportunities for engagement and be bold.
The event also featured workshops that generated additional recommendations, such as incorporating civic education from a young age, creating open consultation frameworks, and developing mentorship programs. Participants emphasized the importance of youth training, women's involvement in sports and cultural activities, and integrating entrepreneurship into association initiatives.
Ousseynou Gueye, executive director of Polaris Asso, highlighted the need to move beyond mere consultation with young people, stating, "We talk a lot about young people, but we still talk too little with them." The recommendations from these dialogues will be presented to high-level authorities, with the goal of promoting more effective citizen participation and leveraging the 2026 Youth Olympics in Dakar as a catalyst for strengthening local democracy.
Key points
- Youth in Senegal are pushing for greater participation in local governance, shifting from consultation to co-decision making.
- Recommendations from the dialogue include creating permanent consultation frameworks, revitalizing neighborhood councils, and recognizing sports and cultural associations as key partners.
- The goal is to contribute to more effective citizen participation and make the 2026 Youth Olympics in Dakar a lever for sustainable strengthening of local democracy.
