On February 11, 12, and 13, the final international forum of the Work Networks – Community Pathways for Youth and Women in Senegal project was held at the Manufactures sénégalaises des arts décoratifs in Thiès.
The project, promoted by the Piedmont Region and co-financed by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation under the 2019 Local Authorities Call, started on May 1, 2022, and will conclude on April 30 of this year.
The first day of the forum, officially opened by the Governor of Thiès, began with greetings from the mayors, AICS, and the Piedmont Region, who joined via video link. During the morning session, the project’s results were presented, followed in the afternoon by an in-depth discussion on the involvement of the five Senegalese municipalities directly participating in the initiative.
The second day featured a roundtable discussion with project experts and external organizations, focusing on strategies for youth employment. In the afternoon, working groups explored various project themes, including territorial partnerships, local governance of employment services, and successful strategies for professional integration and the stabilization of service centers.
The final day was dedicated to the participatory drafting of a concluding statement of intent. At the end of the forum, the Mayor officially inaugurated the second Job Fair of Thiès.
The forum, marked by the high quality of its discussions, highlighted the excellent results achieved by the project and served as an important moment for exchange and capitalization on the experiences gained over the three years of activity.
The initiative aims to support Senegalese local authorities in developing strategies to create more opportunities for decent employment for youth and women. The project was implemented by a broad network of partners, including:
- In Italy: Piedmont Region, Sardinia Region, Municipality of Turin, Municipality of Asti, Municipality of Cuneo, Municipality of Carmagnola, ENAIP Piemonte, RE.TE ONG, CISV, LVIA, CPAS Onlus, ENGIM, CISAO – University and Polytechnic of Turin, CIF OIL Torino, Compagnia di San Paolo, Co.Co.Pa, ANCI Piemonte, COP.
- In Senegal: Commune de Thiès, Commune de Pikine Est, Commune de Louga, Commune de Koubalan, Commune de Ronkh, CEFAM, Association KDES.