FY02 Q3 Quarterly Report: Programme Gouvernance et Paix (PGP)

The project is implemented by FHI 360 and aims to support democracy, good governance, and national reconciliation in Senegal. The PGP program has four main components: Greater Transparency and Accountability, Strengthened Fiscal Decentralization, Citizen Participation in the Electoral Process, and Dialogue for Social Stability in Casamance. Under Component 1, the project achieved positive results, including the government's decision to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and the development of advocacy plans by the Coalition of CSOs for Transparency in the Extractive Industries. The project also worked closely with the Commission Nationale de Lutte contre la non-transparence, la Corruption et la Concussion (CNLCC) to build its capacity and credibility as a capable government agency. PGP supported the implementation of anti-corruption legal reforms, including the creation of commissions to advance the recovery of stolen public funds and the declaration of assets for managers of public funds. Under Component 2, the project continued to support the improvement of Senegal's decentralization policy through the development of the new Sectorial Policy Letter on Decentralization and Local Government (LPSD). The main components of the new LPSD include developing the institutional and organizational framework of decentralization, funding for local development, building capacity of actors involved in decentralization and local development, and harmonizing technical support and planning tools. In Component 3, the project continued to support a civic education campaign and a political dialogue campaign to increase voter participation and prevent electoral violence. PGP facilitated the Groupe Technique Elections (GTE) to review lessons learned from the presidential election for the legislative elections and to ensure better coordination of funding and electoral observation by civil society organizations. Regarding Component 4, the project supported local and national initiatives to ensure that candidates and elected officials made peace in Casamance a priority. PGP worked with key actors in the conflict, including the Government of Senegal, the Mouvement des Forces Démocratiques de la Casamance (MFDC), civil society, and religious leaders, to develop proposals for a rapid resumption of negotiations. The project's achievements to date have provided a unique window of opportunity for USAID/PGP to reposition itself strategically within the new political context. The project proposes to work directly with key actors in the conflict to develop proposals for a rapid resumption of negotiations and to ensure that peace in Casamance is a priority for the new government.