Taking up the challenge of good management: two days of training for new mayors in Côte d'Ivoire.

In Yamoussoukro, on June 3th and 4th, 201 mayors from Côte d'Ivoire gathered to take part in a training course to better understand and manage their municipalities. Organized by the Union des Communes de Côte d'Ivoire (UVICOCI), the event was made possible thanks to financial support from the Urban and Municipal Development Fund (UMDF) and the African Development Bank (ADB). 

The municipal and regional elections in Côte d'Ivoire in September 2023 have brought, or renewed, representatives at the head of local governments who will have to face many challenges. In order to implement the programs for which they were elected, and help improve the lives of their fellow citizens, these decision-makers need to have a thorough understanding of the political and regulatory context. In particular, they need to understand the rapidly evolving rules of decentralization.

To this end, UVICOCI has requested support from the UMDF and the AfDB to organize a two-day series of meetings to enable elected mayors to identify the roles of the various local and national stakeholders, and to familiarize themselves with best practices in municipal management. The UMDF's grant of USD 20,000 helped finance the two days of training. 

Participants discussed the challenges of decentralization and the best tools to put in place to rigorously manage their municipalities’ own resources. Climate change was also discussed, with a view to understanding how to integrate this component into decision-making. Mayors were also made aware of alternative financing methods and decentralized cooperation. 

The event also included the participation of Micheline Savadogo, consultant to the Fund, who took the opportunity to gather the mayors' needs, and to present UMDF's programs dedicated to project financing and support for urban planning.