The Comprehensive Development Program aims to offer an integrated approach to the rural population needs based on local communities cohesion and responsible leadership.
The sustainability of any development and investment in West Africa must address at least the following components:
World ORT International Cooperation together with ORT-Guinea suggests to develop a comprehensive rural project in the Mamou region (Guinea) aiming to integrate and improve the basic population's needs.
The Préfecture de Mamou is situated in Fouta-Djalon, 268 kms from the Guinean capital Conakry with a population of 618,000 people. The region depends almost exclusively- 79% of the population- on agriculture and cattle breeding, with some local craftsmanship. Due to the distance from the capital the services to the population (education, health) are particularly deficient.
ORT is active in the Mamou region by the unique Forestry School in Guinea -ENATEF- active since 1994 and by ORT-Guinea, its local NGO (located in Mamou and registered with the Guinean Ministry of Economy and Finances). Based on the professionals of ENATEF and ORT- Guinea, an important effort is done in developing local leadership and educating adults for reading and writing.
The combination of these programs has created a strong partnership with the local population's formal and informal groups constituting an efficient relay to the rural isolated population.
The project will provide the basic needs of the population, enhance the community cohesion in order to reach the best level of self-governance and provide to the rural population the tools to improve their income and quality of life. ORT-Guinea constitutes a strong pole of influence and support for the region's population and, by then, a model to be replicated.
Based on its experience and capabilities, World ORT and ORT-Guinea suggest establishing an Integrated Community and Development Project called Comprehensive development Program for the Mamou Region-, as a duplicable pilot-project.
The concept is based on focusing on 4 priorities:
ORT will coordinate the complete project from the definition of the specific needs, the building of the infrastructures, the development of the various programs and the community work up to the stage of self-ability of the local community to run the project autonomously.
The start-up period (surveys, planning and premises building and community work, staff training) should take between 18 months to 2 years. ORT will accompany the project during the five first years of operation.