Gestion participative et décentralisation démocratique

This case study examines the participatory management of the Samori forest in the commune of Baye, Mali, analyzing the intersection of NGO-led community initiatives, state administration, and the process of democratic decentralization. The author argues that despite the presence of participatory structures, a true democratic decentralization has not occurred because power and decision-making authority remain concentrated with the state and the facilitating NGO, rather than being transferred to representative local institutions.

• The management of the Samori forest is characterized by a lack of democratic decentralization, as there is no 'downward accountability' between the state, NGOs, and local populations. The author concludes that the current participatory approach is 'provoked participation' rather than a democratic transfer of power.
• The NGO SOS Sahel GB has been the dominant actor in implementing participatory management since 1992, creating 'neo-traditional' management bodies. While these bodies have improved technical capacities, they lack genuine autonomy and financial independence, remaining dependent on the NGO for funding and decision-making.
• The state of Mali maintains a monopoly over environmental management despite official discourse on decentralization. The state has not effectively transferred decision-making competencies or the legal status of the Samori forest to the commune of Baye, leaving the local communal council as 'interested but powerless spectators'.
• The 'neo-traditional' management structures created by SOS Sahel—including 'village mères' (mother villages), steering committees, and surveillance brigades—attempt to mimic pre-colonial customary rules (such as the 'ton' associations). However, the author argues this 'retraditionalization' is an ideological justification that ignores significant socio-cultural changes since the pre-colonial era.
• Technical achievements resulting from the NGO's intervention include the protection of 39,000 hectares of forest in Zérémendougou, reforestation efforts, the creation of nurseries, and the establishment of forest management structures in the pilot villages of Losogon and Songoré.
• There is a sharp conflict in perception between different actors: SOS Sahel views its intervention as salutary for the ecosystem, while government delegates claim the NGO's associations are plagued by internal division and conflicts of competence. Meanwhile, the communal council reports over a hundred cases of illegal clearing for new fields.

APA

Kassibo, B. (2002). Gestion participative et décentralisation démocratique. World Resources Institute. http://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/eaa_decent_kassibo_french.pdf

Chicago

Kassibo, Bréhima. Gestion participative et décentralisation démocratique. World Resources Institute, 2002. http://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/eaa_decent_kassibo_french.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kassibo |first1=Bréhima |title=Gestion participative et décentralisation démocratique |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=February 2002 |url=http://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/eaa_decent_kassibo_french.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kassibo2002gestion, author = {Kassibo, Bréhima}, title = {{Gestion participative et décentralisation démocratique}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2002}, month = feb, url = {http://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/eaa_decent_kassibo_french.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }