ISS West Africa and Monaco Strengthen Their Partnership to Support Local Dynamics in the Sahel

A fund to support 45 local initiatives benefiting women, youth, and vulnerable communities

The International Social Service West Africa (SSI-WA) and the Direction de la Coopération Internationale de Monaco (DCI) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Dakar, marking the launch of the second phase of the INISA – Initiatives Sahel programme.

The programme aims to sustainably strengthen local development dynamics in four Sahelian countries: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Senegal.

Grounded in a strong localization-of-aid approach, INISA 2 seeks to directly support frontline actors—including local organizations, enterprises, community initiatives, and research institutions—by providing both financial resources and structured capacity-building support.

“This is a project we care deeply about,” stated Her Excellency Isabelle Berro‑Amadeï, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Monaco, during the official ceremony.

Following a successful first phase that supported 17 local initiatives and reached several thousand beneficiaries, this new phase aims to support at least 45 local initiatives, reflecting a significant scale-up of the programme.

Beyond financial support, the programme places strong emphasis on capacity strengthening for local actors, enabling them to better structure their actions, enhance their impact, and ensure the sustainability of their initiatives.

Particular attention will be given to the empowerment of women and girls, as well as the socio-economic inclusion of young people, two major priorities in the Sahelian context.

For ISS West Africa, a regional organization headquartered in Dakar and networked with organizations in more than fifteen countries, this partnership aligns with its continued commitment to strengthening local actors and promoting inclusive development.

The signing of this agreement therefore opens a new phase of strategic collaboration between Monaco and ISS-WA, driven by a shared ambition: to foster sustainable local solutions led by communities themselves.

Through INISA 2, Monegasque cooperation reaffirms its commitment to combining aid effectiveness, strong local ownership, and long-term impact, in the service of more inclusive and equitable development across the Sahel region.