A good point for local authorities, in the context of diversifying funding sources, in line with the Vision 2050 of the State of Senegal which promotes a "territorialization of climate finance".

A first in the decentralization sector

The Municipal Development Agency (ADM) has just taken a significant step towards becoming a major player in decentralized climate finance in our country. The Board of Directors of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved ADM's accreditation as an observer organization with the GCF.

By achieving this recognition, it becomes the first entity in the decentralization sector to reach this institutionally prestigious and technically impactful level. The information was made public on March 17, 2026, through decision GCF/BM-2026/04.

With this status within the Green Climate Fund (GCF), ADM, according to its Director General, Dr. Mahmouth Diop, feels " motivated and committed to being one of only two organizations in West Africa, in its category, to reach this milestone." This status allows it to "reconcile access to climate finance with the imperative of operationalizing structuring projects to strengthen the decentralization of climate action in Senegal ," he argues.

An interesting green inclination for our territories

The ADM is opening a promising new path. This new, closer relationship with the GCF's governing bodies makes it easier for the ADM to seize all related opportunities, particularly access to information on major trends in climate finance. Furthermore, according to an authorized source, the ADM will be able to position itself, "at the invitation of the co-chairs, to speak at public sessions of the Council meetings or to participate as an observer in committee meetings."

With the express authorization of the Council or a Council working group, it may also participate in Council meetings under specific circumstances. In either case, mastering information on global environmental governance will be an important asset for the Agency to leverage in the near future.

In any case, observer status at the GCF allows ADM to have a certain proximity to the decision-making bodies which should facilitate an anticipatory reaction to the various developments in the Fund's intervention framework.

Real benefits for an introduction to climate finance

Beyond institutional recognition, this accreditation concretely strengthens ADM's ability to support partner local authorities in their introduction to FVC practices.

One of the most prominent challenges lies in the rapprochement with the National Designated Authority, to facilitate its entry into the fold of decentralized climate finance.

This opportunity provides the Agency with an effective channel of intermediation between local authorities and international finance, opening up the possibility of translating municipal or departmental development plans into bankable projects aligned with the country's climate priorities, at the time of the territorialization of the NDC 3.0, by the services of the Ministry of the Environment and Ecological Transition.

ADM, a recognized performance-based approach

Over the past two decades, ADM has demonstrated its capacity to execute large-scale projects and programs financed by the World Bank, the French Development Agency (AFD), the West African Development Bank (BOAD), and other technical and financial partners. These programs, including the Municipal Support Program (PAC), the Local Government Capacity Building Program (PRECOL), the Support Program for Municipalities and Urban Areas of Senegal (PACASEN), the two phases of the Stormwater Management Project (PROGEP I and II), the Emergency Recovery and Resilience Project (SERRP), and the Coastal Protection Project in Saint-Louis (PPCS), have enabled the successful experimentation of approaches to contracting, financial performance, urban resilience, and local governance based on planning, accountability, climate risk management, and transparency.

The institution now has a consolidated internal structure, organized around technical and financial departments, environmental and social management units, procurement and monitoring and evaluation units, although these mechanisms deserve to be strengthened to meet the fiduciary standards of the GCF.

Created to support the implementation of decentralization and urban development, the Municipal Development Agency (ADM) is one of the most proven instruments of the Government of Senegal for financing, coordinating and providing technical support for territorial urban development.

A public utility association, ADM is placed under the supervision of the Ministry of Urban Planning, Territorial Communities and Regional Development (MUCTAT).

Its mandate covers support for urban planning, resource mobilization, delegated project management for municipal infrastructure, as well as strengthening the institutional and financial capacities of local authorities.

FVC Missions

As a reminder, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a global fund created to support the efforts of developing countries to meet the challenge of climate change, but also to limit or reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to adapt to climate change.

It aims to promote a paradigm shift towards low-emission and climate-resilient development, taking into account the needs of countries that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.