OUR FOCAL POINTS – Cicodev africa

Since the creation of CICODEV in 2007, coinciding with the Steering Committee meeting held in December of 2018, focal points were tasked with conducting surveys/studies in relation to CICODEV’s Health Program and contributing to popularizing the challenges and benefits of the Universal Health Coverage Program (UHC) among grassroots populations.

Following this meeting, the roles of CICODEV’s focal points expanded and evolved into representing CICODEV in all of its projects and programs within their respective localities. While retaining all preexisting responsibilities (which mainly revolved around the UHC); focal points will also contribute to the development of their bases and carry out various activities in relation to CICODEV’s priority and cross-cutting programs.

Through the observatories they coordinate, these focal points, men and women in the field, with recognizable leadership in the community and the necessary skills in information, education and various forms of communication; have been trained in modern techniques for collecting information and data, conducting surveys, facilitating meetings and awareness-raising sessions. Today, they carry out various outreach activities as part of the projects and programs implemented by CICODEV.

As a reminder, CICODEV has established observatories in 11 localities in the country, namely Dakar’s city, Dakar’s suburbs, Fatick, Saint-Louis, Thiès, Kébémer, Municipality of Diokoul Ndiawrigne, Tambacounda, Kédougou, Kolda and Ziguinchor. Others will soon be established in five (5) other regions of Senegal to implement and monitor CICODEV’s activities, programs and orientations at a local level.

The focal points/observers work in close collaboration with other groups/social actors, namely, the UHC regional agencies, the "bajenu gox" (godmothers district responsible for the education and guidance of women in poor households), neighborhood delegates, youth, women's associations, religious leaders, mutualists, health professionals, etc., all of whom are vocal and able to contribute to activities and keep the conversation going; thereby sensitizing and mobilizing their communities. As always, all of this is done in relation to CICODEV’s main intervention target areas.