Kankan Market Community Services Programme
- Kankan, Guinea
- 2024
- DWA FOUNDATION
ADVANCE coordinated a community services programme around a Kankan market, connecting trader priorities, shared-space improvements and locally accountable arrangements for ongoing upkeep.
The challenge
Market users raised concerns about shared washing areas, waste collection and the condition of common routes, but responsibilities were divided between trader groups, service providers and local authorities. Previous discussions had produced competing priority lists without a maintenance plan. Women traders and people using less prominent market sections were not consistently represented. The programme needed an agreed scope that reflected daily use and could be maintained after initial improvements.
Our approach
ADVANCE facilitated separate listening sessions and joint planning meetings to understand how different groups used the market. A shared issues map distinguished immediate service problems from works requiring technical or authority approval. The team coordinated agreed improvements with responsible providers and documented upkeep duties, reporting contacts and escalation routes. Community representatives reviewed progress, while accessible feedback arrangements allowed users outside formal leadership structures to raise concerns.
The result
The programme delivered an agreed set of shared-space and service improvements with named responsibilities for continued upkeep. Trader groups and local stakeholders gained a clearer mechanism for reporting problems and reviewing outstanding obligations. Participation extended beyond the most visible market representatives, making the process more responsive to everyday users. The outcome combined practical improvements with a locally usable accountability structure rather than relying on a one-off handover.
Outcomes
- Community-agreed service improvements
- Inclusive market user participation
- Documented upkeep and reporting duties