ECOPAS - Participatory Ecology in Senegal

The project aims to make civil society organizations in the Dakar region protagonists in governance and social development processes through the involvement of citizens in environmental management.
In particular, ECOPAS intends to strengthen and reconcile all the ecological efforts of 4 municipalities in the capital region: Sam Notaire, Ndiareme Limamoulaye, Whakhinane Lanzat Nimzatt and Yeumbeul Nord.

The direct beneficiaries of the project are 2.000 young people, 4.000 women, 400 civil society organizations, 200 MIVs (Green Micro Enterprises), 200 decision makers (local politicians, municipal technicians, management and forestry officials).

The Municipality of Milan is involved in the mapping of the food system in the project areas, supporting from a methodological and editorial point of view the creation of the Cartography of the food system and the overall Atlas of the planned mappings.

The partners are:

● CISV (leader),
● FONGS,
● SUNUGAL,
●    Hydroid,
●    Directorate of Water and Forestry - Senegal,
●    Municipality of Milan,
● University of Turin - Department of Geography, Politics and Society,
● University of Dakar - Faculty of Technical Sciences,
● Municipalities of Sam Notaire, Ndiareme Limamoulaye, Whakhinane Lanzat Nimzatt and Yeumbeul Nord.

The project lasts 3 years (1 April 2018 - 31 March 2021).

  • Contribute to the protection and restoration of the environment and ecosystems in order to improve the living conditions of the populations of Dakar, 
  • Implement the agro-ecological transition by encouraging the sustainable use of natural resources such as water, land and forest as part of the fight against climate change,
  • Encourage the process of transition, observation and effective participation of farmers in the results of the reconversion of the agro-ecological sector as a combination of economic interests and ecological interests.
     

  • Dissemination of the results of national and international environmental studies on climate change among civil society organizations and of the direct consequences of these on the region;
  • Creation of a cartography of the food system and of the overall Atlas of the planned mapping (food, water and land occupation systems, institutions involved);
  • Continuous training of civil society organizations on the topics of leadership, representativeness and responsibility of associations;
  • Joint development between the beneficiary groups of a territorial pact for the preservation of fibers and aquifers and for the prevention of soil waterproofing;
  • Experimentation of biotechnology for horticulture and reforestation nurseries;
  • Systemisation and strengthening of the 120 green micro enterprises existing in the target municipalities. Identification and launch of 80 new “green” jobs;
  • Introduction of MIV "model" (creation of agroecological gardens; valorization of bio-coal production; bio-fertilizer production units, agricultural product transformation units, water purification, production of seeds, plants and compost).

  • Development and implementation of a territorial policy for the protection of coastal areas, for an agro-ecological transition and for the sustainable use of natural resources as a result of a participatory process of the civil society organizations of the 4 Municipalities. The structured dialogue between the aforementioned subjects will also have to identify threats and risks due to ongoing climate changes and the economic and social opportunities for the sustainable development of the intervention area;
  • Regeneration and co-management of the Filaos tree band by the civil society organizations of the 4 Municipalities with a view to a sustainable reconstitution of the ecosystem; 
  • Improving the environmental, economic and social impact performance of the existing 120 MIVs (green micro enterprises) started by young people and women. At the same time, 80 new "green" jobs are created with a view to sustainable socio-economic development.
     

Updated: 31/12/2020