Towards a Successful Collaboration Between the Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC/OECD) and UCLG Africa

A delegation of the Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC/OECD) comprising Dr. Marie Trémolières, Senior Policy Analyst and M. Philipp Heinrigs, Senior Economist made a two-day working visit to the headquarters of UCLG-Africa in Rabat from 26 to 27 January 2017.

 

During the working session chaired by Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General of UCLG Africa, the missions of the departments of the Organization were presented.

For its part, the SWAC/OECD presented the main missions of the Club and the displayed the main results of the report: «Cross-border Co-operation and Policy Networks in West Africa ” published in January 2017 in the series of West Africa Studies.

The report contains innovative analysis of the co-operation potential of West African regions, based on a methodology of social network analysis much more effective than the “quantitative and qualitative methods”, according to Dr. Marie Trémolières. The results of this study also help measure resilience for cities.

The various presentations allowed the two organizations to identify common areas for mutual collaboration. Particularly in:

-The capacity building of the members of the Network for Locally Elected Women of Africa (REFELA);

-The UCLG Africa contribution on the publication “West African Notes” of the SWAC/OECD;

-The Contribution of the SWAC/OECD to the editorial content of African Cities Magazine of UCLG Africa;

-The opportunity to co-organize a seminar on the theme: “Food Economy and Local Governments”;

-Collaboration on knowledge management (sharing best practice, dissemination of information, animation of communities of practice on topics of news or past);

-Advocacy with other institutions for more convergence in the efforts.

In addition, an invitation was made to the SWAC/OECD in order to book their participation in the next Africities Summit 2018 in Brazzaville.

“We must transform the borders from points of rupture into stitches”. With this exhortation of the former President of Mali, Mr. Alpha Oumar Konaré, Mr. Jean-Pierre Elong Mbassi showed his appreciation of the work which was presented by UCLG Africa guests.

For more information on the report «Cross-border Co-operation and Policy Networks in West Africa”, please visit the website.