As part of its mission to promote sustainable local development and social responsibility, the town hall of Méouane, a large local authority distinguished by its historic natural resources in the Tivaouane department, is pleased to formalize a strategic partnership with the mining company Eramet Grande Côte (formerly Grande Côte Opérations SA) for project financing. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the sub-prefect of Méouane, Abdoulaye Ndiaye.

This collaboration marks an important step in the shared desire of both parties to strengthen actions for the well-being of local populations. This partnership, according to GCO Director General Frédéric Zanklan and Méouane Mayor Cheikh Tidiane Sall, aims to support concrete initiatives in three key areas: "Children's education through support for school infrastructure, the provision of

educational materials and the promotion of equitable access to education; agriculture, by supporting local producers to improve yields, diversify crops and enhance production chains; the promotion of women, by supporting their economic empowerment, their access to training and their active participation in community development.

This alliance is based on a shared vision of inclusive, participatory development that respects local realities. It demonstrates Grande Côte Operations SA's commitment to working alongside local authorities for a better future and the determination of Méouane City Hall to mobilize all levers to meet the aspirations of its citizens.

The purpose of this memorandum of understanding is to establish the terms and conditions under which GCO will provide support to the town hall of Méouane for the financing of community projects, particularly in the areas of education, agriculture and the promotion of women's groups.

Commitment of the parties

GCO undertakes to provide financial and/or material support for the jointly identified projects. The projects defined with the municipality, the subject of this agreement, are "agriculture: supporting local producers in the corridor by installing nine equipped agricultural perimeters (boreholes, retention basins, fencing, inputs and equipment) and technical monitoring; the agricultural project of the corridor is part of a context where agriculture remains an essential component of the Senegalese economy"; "education: building two classrooms in schools selected by the municipality; developing 800 linear meters of fencing; developing a multifunctional field at the Méouane high school; distributing 300 school kits to students in the municipality who have passed the CFEE in 2025; awarding monthly scholarships of 15,000 CFA francs to the five best students in 3rd grade, for the duration of the school year. The selection will be made each year by a joint GCO-mairie committee, taking into account the socioeconomic situation of the families."

In addition, there is "health: GCO will provide the municipality with a budget of 18,000,000 CFA francs for the construction of a health center in a village in the area"; "women's promotion: as part of the entrepreneurship of women's promotion groups, GCO will provide an envelope of 5,000,000 CFA francs for the financing of structuring projects for the benefit of women and the community."

The town hall undertakes to "use the funds and resources made available by the company exclusively for the agreed projects"; "identify the beneficiaries in consultation with GCO"; "regularly provide reports on the progress of the funded projects".

For Mayor Cheikh Tidiane Sall, this is a first between the local institution, since its creation in 1972, and a private company established in the area. "We recognize and welcome the significant contributions your company makes to our country's economy. But as residents of the commune of Méouane, we are pleased that you have understood that local content must also be localized, in other words, the communities living nearby must feel the benefits," the mayor said.