The note examines regional planning, andfuture participatory methods for economic development inWest Africa, based on the work carried out by the Club duSahel - a branch of the Organization for EconomicCooperation and Development (OECD) - responsible forcoordinating northern donor agencies, in support of foodsecurity, and natural resource management in the desert-edgeportions of West Africa, in cooperation with the InterstateCommittee for Struggle Against Drought in the Sahel. Theresults prompted controversy, because of disagreementsbetween Europeans - favoring urban-oriented scenarios - andNorth Americans - more inclined toward rural-oriented ones -including the views of Northerners who provided theanalysis, in contrast to that of African researchers whofelt somehow shortchanged. However, collaboration on aparticipatory study of decentralization, and capacitybuilding, involving case studies of local communities,assumed a major new development, and managementresponsibilities on their own. Through a trial methodology,researchers invited debate, and analysis on futurecommunity, and regional cooperation. The work coveredexamining changes occurred in communities, country, and theWest Africa region, concentrating on the environment,demography, economy, society and culture, and politics.Findings suggest the exercise transformed the strategy intoa set of tools for self-assessment, and strategic planningof local associations, and businesses.
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