We must prove that our target group, the poor, is reached and that the money doesn't go into the pockets of some mediators at any level. It is totally not acceptable for us to have a preparation phase of three or four years before starting a project. This is a loss of time. Community involvement We need professional facilitators, resource persons and coordinators particularly in poorer and sometimes illeterate communities. Instead of a few bureaucrats invading our workshops, we want the target groups and their leaders actively involved both in the planning and in the implementation of our projects.
Any project is planned in a workshop held at the local level .
Within the partner town projects address councils, residents and market committees and other local associations involved in local development. These must be involved when planning strategies and measures targeting sustainable development. The Local Agenda 21 should now move from a pilot stage to a continental program for Africa. AULA should request all National Associations of Local Authorities and all Local Government Ministries to adopt this agenda in all african towns. Interview by Fran ois Milis in Mombasa, Kenya.