As part of the Savoirs Sahel 2 program, which aims to support Sahelian think tanks in enriching public debates, a proposal development workshop was recently held in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire on April 18-19, 2023. This workshop brought together five preselected teams from the Sahel region (Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Senegal, and Chad), who were competing for available grants to strengthen their institutional needs and capacities. The workshop was attended by independent advisors and the GDN team, and aimed to empower the participants to refine their ideas and develop full support proposals. It provided a platform for the think tanks to present their project/program of action, build institutional networks, and interact with peers in a collaborative and constructive manner.
During the workshop, participants focused on key topics of discussion and exchanges, such as the mission and public role of their respective think tanks in strengthening national and/or regional public debate. They also conducted an auto-assessment of their strengths and weaknesses in key areas and presented proposals outlining their institutional support needs. These proposals were then revised and refined during breakout sessions with independent advisors. The feedback session provided an opportunity for each team to present their proposals again, incorporating inputs and contributions from the facilitators and peer learners.
Overall, this event was an interesting exercise that allowed the think tanks to strengthen their project proposals and obtain valuable feedback from experts and peers. It also helped foster relationships and networks among think tanks in the region, opening the door to future opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing. Finally, it was a valuable space for GDN to develop a direct relationship with the think tanks by establishing working relationships with them.
Learn more about the Savoirs Sahel program. Contact Wendyam Aristide Sawadogo for more details.