USAID Governance for Local Development Annual Report FY18

The program was implemented from October 1, 2017, to September 30, 2018, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The initiative focused on three key results: increasing the capacity of local government to respond to citizen demand, mobilizing and managing local public resources, and enhancing community participation in service delivery management. To achieve these results, USAID/GOLD collaborated with various partners, including the Senegalese government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community-based organizations (CBOs). The program established a strong presence in Senegal, with offices in Dakar and regional locations. A team of activity staff worked closely with local stakeholders to implement the program's activities and achieve its objectives. One of the key areas of focus for USAID/GOLD was building the capacity of local government to respond to citizen demand. The program worked with community leaders and elected representatives to improve their leadership skills and organizational strengths. This included enhancing planning, budgeting, and implementation processes, as well as improving public financial management and oversight of public expenditures. The program also aimed to mobilize and manage local public resources more effectively. This involved establishing social accountability mechanisms for service delivery transparency and integrating development partners' resources into the community's planning and budgeting processes. Additionally, USAID/GOLD worked to enhance community participation in service delivery management, including health, education, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and agriculture. To monitor and evaluate the program's progress, USAID/GOLD developed and operationalized an Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (AMELP). The program also conducted collaboration and learning activities to share knowledge and best practices with local stakeholders. The results of the program's activities were analyzed and discussed in detail, highlighting the achievements and challenges faced during the implementation period. The program's achievements included improving the leadership capacity of community leaders, enhancing organizational strengths, and increasing public financial management and oversight. Additionally, the program made progress in mobilizing and managing local public resources, including establishing social accountability mechanisms and integrating development partners' resources. Community participation in service delivery management also increased, with stakeholders engaging in dialogue on public needs and improving their skills to take collective action. Overall, the USAID Governance for Local Development initiative in Senegal made significant progress in strengthening local governance and improving service delivery at the community level. The program's achievements demonstrate the importance of building the capacity of local government, mobilizing and managing local public resources, and enhancing community participation in service delivery management.