Evaluation of the AIMF programme in the framework of the strategic agreement with the European Commission

I was very happy and honored to conduct the external evaluation of the programme implemented by the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF) in the framework of the strategic partnership with the European Commission, for the period 2022-2025 (SGA3).

I would like to thank the members and collaborators of the AIMF for the trust they have placed in me and for the working conditions they have placed in me - the General Delegate Frédéric Vallier and the entire team of the AIMF secretariat, as well as the facilitators of the sub-regional networks and the project managers in the field.

This mission was of particular interest to me. Having led the advocacy action that led to the recognition of the role of local authorities in development cooperation and directed Platforma from 2008 to 2014, I would have been able to assess the progress made.

Started in 2024, the evaluation will have allowed me to know the concrete work carried out in the field by the AIMF, within the framework of the SGA3, supporting on the one hand the strengthening of the regional dialogue between local authorities and on the other hand a more operational dimension via the support of 8 field projects.

This AIMF programme has supported the activities of 6 sub-regional networks:
1. The Platform of Local Authorities of the Great Lakes Countries (bringing together the mayors of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda);

2. AVCOI, the Association of Cities and Municipalities of the Indian Ocean, bringing together the mayors of the cities of the Comoros, Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar, Mayotte and the Seychelles;

3. The Southeast Asian Cities Network (SHURN), bringing together the cities of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam;

4. The AVCAC, bringing together the cities and communities of Cameroon, Congo, Central African Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Chad;

5. The West African Cities Network, including member cities from Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo.

6. The Maghreb network, including member cities from Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania and Tunisia.

In parallel, 8 field projects have been carried out:

7. In Antanarivo, Madagascar, the construction of the First Integrated Health Centre for Women Victims of Violence;

8. In Gitega, Burundi, the construction of the Integrated Development Centre for Women.

9. In Ogou 1, Togo, the Centre for the Advancement of Women and Gender Equality in the Communes of Togo.

10. In Lokossa, Benin, the development of solar energy

11. In Luang Prabang, Laos, the construction of a decentralized drinking water supply system

12. In Ngaoundéré, Cameroon, the rehabilitation and development of the Mardock wood

13. In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the creation of the Smart City Hub

14. In Tunis, Tunisia, the realization of the Fabrique de la Ville

At the end of the mission, I could have assessed that the program was consistent with the strategic program signed with the European Commission, aimed at strengthening the crucial role of local authorities as key actors in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.

The SGA 3 of the AIMF has, in fact, fully participated in this effort, through the contribution to central themes of the 2030 Agenda, such as gender equality, the fight against climate change, the fight against poverty and essential services for the population.

I can therefore only be pleased to note the continuation of the European Commission's strategic partnership with the main international networks of local and regional authorities and the renewal of the agreement with the AIMF of SGA 4, for the period 2025-2028.