The APRM in collaboration with its strategic partners UNECA, AfDB, and UNDP has undertaken a Support Mission to Senegal from 2 to 6 December 2014. The Mission which was led by Dr. Mustapha MEKIDECHE, Member of the Panel of Eminent Persons in charge of Senegal witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) relating to the upcoming Technical Assessment Mission and the Country Review Visit in Senegal.

Dr. Mustapha Mekideche and Honorable El Hadji, Minister of Local Governance, Development and Territorial Planning and Spokesperson of the Government signed the MoU on behalf of the APRM and Senegalese government, respectively. During the signing ceremony Hon. El Hadji Omar Youm expressed his country’s commitment to the APRM process. He said the signing of the MoU marks the official start of the APRM process in Senegal.

During the four day mission, Dr. Mustapha Mekideche also paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Finance and Economy to sensitize him on the Review Process in Senegal and its financial implications on the national budget. Dr. Mekideche reminded the ministry of the importance of refining the cost of implementing the National Plans of Action in the National Budget.

The Senegalese Government has agreed to a Comprehensive Roadmap which will see a number of activities take place before the Country’s Review Mission in November 2015. Sensitization workshops for the population and for the institutions involved in the self-assessment exercise will take place from January 2015. The APRM Senegal National Governing Council and the National Secretariat will also hold a workshop to discuss the Revised Questionnaire for Self-Assessment on Governance from 15 to 17 January 2015 in Dakar. In addition, the Senegal NGC and National Secretariat are also in the process of drafting the Terms of Reference to recruit the Technical Institutes for Research (TIRs) which will assist the NGC during the country’s self-assessment exercise.

The APRM Strategic Partners representatives pledged their support to the Senegalese Government in its self-assessment exercise efforts as well as committed to ensure a successful Country Review Mission.