Strengthen Saint-Louis's International Outreach: Partnerships and Inter-City Cooperation

Saint-Louis, former capital of French West Africa, whose island is a UNESCO World Heritage site, maintains a historic decentralized cooperation with Lille (France), twinned since 1978, as well as a connection with New Orleans (United States) centered around jazz. The partnership with Lille has involved the city, the European Metropolis of Lille, the Department, and the Region. It has facilitated projects for the preservation of the island's heritage (architectural inventory, preservation plan, heritage office), free medical consultations, and public lighting projects. An association founded in 1981, "Le Partenariat avec Saint-Louis du Sénégal et sa Région" (The Partnership with Saint-Louis of Senegal and its Region), has supported school and dispensary projects from Lille. During a visit to Lille, the mayor sought to revitalize this twinning around quality of life, sanitation, waste management, public lighting, and agri-food potential. Saint-Louis also enhances its influence through its major cultural events (Saint-Louis Jazz, Fanal). This mission mobilizes the diaspora to consolidate these partnerships, find new partners (twin cities, universities, businesses, funders), facilitate access to international funding, and promote the city's projects.