Compliance with environmental and social standards is a mandatory condition in the implementation of projects and programs by Territorial Communities (CT) within the framework of PACASEN, which is working to strengthen the capacities of territorial agents.

As part of the ongoing territorial coaching under the leadership of the ADM (Municipal Development Agency) for the implementation of PACASEN, and in collaboration with the ARD (Regional Development Agencies) and the DREEC (Regional Directorates for the Environment and Classified Establishments), a genuine dialogue and exchange has been established. This is part of the coaching of social and environmental management which focuses on the mandatory minimum condition.

According to Ndeye Sagne, the objective is to strengthen the capacities of Local Authorities on the very good understanding of the tools put in place, in particular the Environmental and Social Management Manual (MGES), and the Complaints Management Mechanism (MGP) during the implementation of projects of common interest.

This meeting for exchange, sharing and harmonization brought together three people from each PACASEN pilot community in the regions of Kolda, Sédhiou and Ziguinchor.

"How will local authorities today integrate these aspects of planning into studies and project implementation?" This is the whole point of this meeting held in Kolda. The participants are municipal secretaries, social and environmental management focal points, and complaints management focal points at the PACASEN municipal level.

​For Ndeye Sagne, an expert in environmental and social management at PACASEN, environmental and social management is crucial and very important in the implementation of projects and investments.

She justifies this by explaining that it allows the community to remain compliant with regulations, particularly with the Environmental Code implemented in 2001 and revised in 2023. Moreover, this Environmental Code requires that, in the implementation of projects, all environmental assessment procedures be respected.

This is what leads Abdou Sané, environmental and social management focal point at Ziguinchor town hall, to say that compliance with these environmental and social regulations allows the community to ensure good management of its project by preserving the environment through all risks of pollution, good waste management, and also by preserving the health and safety of local populations. He states that all the floods and disease epidemics that exist in Senegal are due to the fact that our environment is very poorly managed.

​As for the issue of complaints management, Amélie Diatta reassures that this aspect is working well through exchanges and dialogues that allow for amicable solutions to be found. This social worker and focal point for complaints management at the Oussouye town hall welcomes the holding of this meeting, which she describes as a high-level forum for exchange and knowledge sharing thanks to this capacity building of stakeholders by the Program for the Improvement of Municipalities and Agglomerations of Senegal (PACASEN).