Presentation of the Region of Bourgogne’s actions in support of development:

“In my position as Vice President of international and european relations and of decentralized cooperation for the Regional Council since 2004, I have strived to encourage Burgundian initiatives in support of economic and social sustainable development throughout the world. I am referring not only to the commitment of the Regional Council in particular, but also to initiatives headed by local actors from the associative, economic, and educational fields. It seemed logical to me to develop a volunteer policy in terms of international solidarity utilizing the mobilization of actors and skills available in Bourgogne.

My ambition is to create in Burgundy a region that is truly open towards the world by reinforcing economic, technical, scientific, and cultural ties and solidarity—between regional actors as well as those from foreign territories.”

Marie-Françoise MULLER, Vice President of Bourgogne (F), Chair of AER Sub-Committee "Interregional and International Cooperation"

Several policies have been implemented since 2005

• Financial support of local actors involved in international cooperation via three calls for projects each year (special attention is given to projects in Morocco, Madagascar, and in French-speaking countries).
• The organization of Regional meetings concerning international solidarity and the publication of a local directory of actors working for international solidarity and decentralized cooperation in Burgundy—a networking tool for local actors.
• The organization of trainings that aim to strengthen the competences of local actors heading international solidarity projects.
• The organization of meetings as opportunites for exchange and for cooperation in each country.

The Region of Burgundy also wishes to be involved through the development of partnerships with the community of the “South”—notably with Morocco and Madagascar (accompanying initiatives of Burgundians).

An example of a project supported within the framework of the call for action in International Solidarity and Development:

Association Agir AbcdProjet « une bibliothèque pour Aliouène » (Algeria)

Assists with the creation and operation of a French language library in order to improve educational conditions and cultural access for residents of Aliouéne: training in Algeria and Burgundy of the library staff. Several educational activities focusing on development are organized in Burgundy simultaneously.

Website: www.cr-bourgogne.fr

Development projects in the Republic and County of Jura (RCJU)

The Republic and County of Jura (RCJU) is one of 26 counties of the Swiss Confederation. Each county has its own constitution, parliament, government, and courts. Tasks that do not fall expressly into the domain of the Confederation (foreign policy, security policy, customs, currency, and legislation when it applies to the entire territory) fall under the county’s jurisdiction.

In the County of Jura, development aid is managed by the Cooperation Service. This department manages other types of cooperation as well, such as proximate cooperation (with neighboring counties and regions), interregional cooperation (with regions that do not border the Jura), European affairs, etc.

The distinctive feature of the RCJU in terms of development aid is that it directs its own projects; in other words, its projects are not subcontracted to organizations or associations.

The RCJU is active in the following development projects:

Cameroon/Central Province: Primary health care

The RCJU has been active in Cameroon since 1991. The project started in the department of Méfou and was extended to the department of Lekié in 2002 with the support of the Republic and County of Geneva. The principal objective was to improve, within the framework of Cameroon’s health policies, the health of the zone’s populations, with particular attention paid to the poorest residents. First, wells were constructed in order to allow the zone’s inhabitants access to potable water. A system was then established for the distribution of medication to the most destitute populations. In addition, the infrastructure necessary to treat common illnesses and injuries was established and certain rooms were remodeled in order to create a professional health training system. The objective was to improve the medical knowledge of the staff.

Emphasis is placed on the prevention of AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis in order to raise the population’s awareness and reduce its rate of infection. The RCJU is also active in the fight against chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension.

In the opinion of specialists and Cameroonian authorities, the primary health care project has been a success. It is now considered a benchmark in the public health policy of Cameroon.

Cameron / Central Province: Program of rural development

In 2002, a new program of co-operation was launched by the Republic and County of the Jura in the field of rural development in the department of Lekié, with the support of the Direction of Development and Swiss Co-operation.

The project of rural development had as its principal objective the development of a spirit of initiative and of wealth production from the cocoa fields, food crop and wood, placing particular emphasis on the introduction of basic trainings and modulars directed towards these goals.

It was in this framework that the agricultural Institute was opened in autumn 2003. The Institute offers a formation to the agricultural vat and short formations intended for a rural public of the region having or not a scholar formation. The project reinforces its activities by rural animation team, which works directly with the organizations of producers in order to develop experience and the know-how of the peasants. Community Radio will be opened in 2007. It will in particular make it possible to consolidate the agricultural training activities and the prevention in the field of health.

Rumania/ Deva: Multimedia Institute/ Internet Website: www.iim.ro

From its action in Assembly of European Regions, the Jura developed many relations in Central and Eastern Europe. Co-operation with these countries was solidified through the launching of training schemes mainly on partnership and the enterprise comparison. Then it was marked by the concentration of the co-operation projects in the Rumanian area of Hunedoara where a Multimedia Institute was built to offer formations in the field of informatics.