| Project Name | Dialogue and Monitoring of the Implementation of the Post-COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan for the Achievement of the SDGs |
| Commisioned by | Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) |
| Country | Senegal |
| Implementing Organisation | Conseil des Organisation Non Gouvernementales d’Appui au Développement (CONGAD) |
| Duration | November 2021 – April 2023 |
The Challenge
Civil Society Task Force: Under the oversight of CONGAD, a Civil Society Task Force was established in 2018. Since then, it has been working to monitor the progress Senegal has made in the implementation of the SDGs, while seeking to pinpoint weaknesses, limitations and obstacles.
Including the Needs of Vulnerable Groups: COVID-19 pandemic has led to setbacks in the implementation of the SDGs in Senegal. As part of the socio-economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the government developed an Adjusted and Accelerated Priority Action Plan (PAP 2A). However, the inclusion and reflection of vulnerable groups in national planning and prioritisation is lacking. Therefore, civil society needs to advocate for the needs of marginalised groups in national planning and policy and ensure the “Leave no one behind” (LNOB) principle.
The Objective
The overall objective of the project is to strengthen civil society’s capacity to influence and monitor the needs of vulnerable groups within the framework of the implementation of the SDGs and the post-COVID-19 socio-economic recovery plan.
The Target Group
The project involves national and regional levels. For the national activities, it targets various umbrella organisations, ministries and national level state bodies. For regional activities, it targets the offices at the regional level, the departments of the umbrella organisations and the deconcentralised technical services of the ministries.
About CONGAD
CONGAD was founded in 1982 by non-governmental organisations working in Senegal to coordinate the management of relations with the State and other partners. CONGAD provides capacity building for CSOs, local authorities and the media. It is also involved in coordinating development, lobbying and advocacy activities to create a strong civil society that can influence public policies.
Website: www.congad.org
The Approach
CONGAD implements the project through a contribution of the Civil Society Task Force for a follow-up of the SDGs. A national steering committee is set up to guide the implementation of the project.
Drafting a National LNOB Strategy: The national “Leave no one behind” strategy is further elaborated with the contribution of grassroots actors in interregional and national workshops. After the national strategy has been developed, PAP 2A and the LNOB strategy are linked and reviewed in further workshops to ensure that needs of vulnerable groups are addressed in implementation and monitoring.
Accountability and Data: A test facility for decentralisation and data disaggregation is being set up in one region, one department and one municipality in Senegal. Action research to disaggregate data at the local level is conducted and local development data is collected from authorities and decentralised technical services. A workshop is held to increase CSO ownership of the PAP 2A indicators and monitoring process.
Financing: A national workshop on the contribution of the private sector through corporate social responsibility is held. In addition, a concept paper on the mobilisation of domestic financial resources and the transparent management of funds for the implementation of the PAP 2A and the SDGs is prepared.
The Results
- A national “Leave no one behind” strategy is elaborated
- 14 workshops at national and regional levels are held, enhancing dialogue between government and grassroot actors
- Capacity Building for CSOs on data and the monitoring of the national action plan PAP 2A
- A concept paper on the mobilisation of domestic financial resources and the transparent and accountable management of funds mobilised for the implementation of the PAP2A and the SDGs is available
I would like to thank the Council of Development NGOs (CONGAD) for giving us the opportunity to participate in this workshop which brought together civil society actors from the regions of Dakar, Diourbel and Thiès. During this workshop, we revisited the SDGs 4, 5, 14, 15 and 17. Previously, even with CONGAD, we had participated in a workshop held in Saint-Louis. Here, in Thiès, we examined in group work the different targeted SDGs, but we also tried to evaluate the impact of these SDGs on the lives of the people […].
Bassirou Sow
Member of the Regional Youth Council (CRJ) of Thiès, Senegal and participant of a workshop implemented by CONGAD