The Kaffrine region hosted the official launch of the second phase of the National Observatory of Local Development Data (ONDDL), a strategic tool designed to improve planning and decision-making at the local authority level.

The Director General of the Local Development Agency (ADL), Djamé Signaté, recalled the importance of this instrument in the territorial governance process.

"Indeed, we are here as part of the launch of the second phase of the ONDDL in the Central hub, particularly in Kaffrine. As you pointed out, the ONDDL is a tool made available to all stakeholders. It is a framework that provides the right information to provide authorities, whether decentralized or central, with the opportunity to make good decisions, have a clear vision, and conduct effective planning," he said.

For Mr. Signaté, Senegal has a solid administrative organization which, if well exploited, can provide all the information necessary for effective governance.

"It is enough to know and identify these services, then organize ourselves at each level to collect and share data. This will allow authorities to make informed decisions," he stressed, citing as an example the need for reliable data in the education sector in order to optimize the use of available resources.

According to the Director General of the ADL, information today constitutes a strategic lever for development:

"Information governs our communities. It is therefore necessary to take it seriously and work in synergy to provide reliable data to decision-makers," he insisted.

This second phase of the ONDDL will be marked by an adaptation to current realities and an improvement of the tools made available to local authorities.

"The Senegal of 2014 and that of 2025 are not the same: there is an evolution, and we must adapt to it. The information must be true and useful for local authorities," Mr. Signaté affirmed.

Finally, he recalled that the ONDDL is a sustainable instrument at the service of decision-makers: "As the minister often says, our States have an interest in governing with tools, because people come and go, but the tools remain and allow us to resolve problems in a sustainable manner," he added.

The Local Development Agency thus intends to strengthen its partnerships with local authorities to promote inter-municipality, the pooling of resources and the implementation of shared solutions with a view to improving the living conditions of populations.