Gourcy – In a significant move towards inclusive governance, the Special Municipal Delegation of Gourcy conducted its third session of the municipal consultation framework on Thursday, December 21, 2023. The session, held in Gourcy, focused on empowering young people and women in the community.

According to Burkina Information Agency, President of the Special Delegation, the consultation’s primary agenda included evaluating the legal framework of the Monitoring Committees and Development (COVED), discussing the resilience of young people and women as a driving force for the delegation’s actions, and reviewing the mid-term progress of the 2023 agricultural campaign. The president emphasized that the municipal consultation framework aims to create a platform for dialogue between various partners, enhancing coordination and complementarity in development programs tailored to the municipality’s grassroots development priorities.

This session marked a notable shift towards involving young people and women more centrally in the municipality’s developmental strategies. The initiative is supported by the Fraternal Union of Believers (UFC) of Dori through its project aimed at ‘Preventing radicalization and violent extremism through the resilience of local communities in the Sahel and North regions’. This collaboration underscores the municipality’s commitment to fostering inclusive community resilience.

Looking ahead, the commune of Gourcy plans to establish COVEDs across its forty villages and five sectors. These entities, as per the new provisions, are set to become pivotal in steering local development, replacing the Village Development Committees (CVD) under the same guidelines. This strategic move signifies a substantial shift in the local governance structure, prioritizing grassroots involvement, especially of youth and women, in decision-making processes.