This special issue of Universitas Forum constitutes the final activity of the National Competition for Innovative Practices of Local Development, a project of the Programme "Connaisances Innovantes sur le Dévéloppement Local – CIDEL. CIDEL was a programme of the Senegalese Ministry of Territorial Governance, Development and Territorial Planning (MGTDAT) with funding from the Italian Government. The KIP International School provided technical and methodological support to MGTDAT in implementing the programme. In particular, KIP's Universitas Programme supported the design and implementation process of the National Competition.

We especially would like to acknowledge the individuals who generously dedicated their time and commitment to make this publication possible: Mr. Oumar Wade, who coordinated the CIDEL programme on behalf of MGTDAT; Professor Sambou Ndiaye (Gaston Berger University of St. Louis) who coordinated the National Competition; Professor Amadou Hamath Dia (Assane Seck University of Ziguinchor) who, together with Professor Ndiaye, worked closely with their respective students to transform the students' field reports into publishable articles; the students who carried out field research and co-authored the articles of this publication (Fatou Kiné Doucouré, Ndeye Absa Diop, Aicha Hathie, Ndèye Yacine Sall Diop, Idrissa Coly, Lamine Dieng, Samba Mamadou Sow); Alessandra Pierella who, on behalf of KIP International School in Senegal, provided constant support to MGTDAT and all the actors involved throughout the duration of the CIDEL programme and the preparation of this publication; Mariapaola Pietracci Mirabelli, who has tirelessly managed all the Universitas communication tools and the editorial process for this publication.

Ndeye Awa Faye provided translations from French to English. Mariapaola Pietracci Mirabelli and Alessandra Pierella provided translations from French to Italian. Lucia Baldi edited the French translations and Sara Swartz edited the English translations.

Sara Swartz, coordinating editor of Universitas Forum