“Weex Dunx and the Quota: Plucking Local Democracy in Senegal” to be shown at the World Bank

Jesse Ribot will present his film, Weex Dunx and the Quota: Plucking Local Democracy in Senegal, as part of the World Bank Africa Film Series ( http://afr/wbafs).

24 minutes in Wolof and French with English subtitles, plus 15 minutes of pre-screening orientation by Mr. Ribot, who may also be available for disucssion after the film.

Synopsis

Mr. Weex Dunx (Mr. Scapegoat), the elected President of the Rural Council of Nambaradougou (Place of many problems), is ecstatic to learn that new decentralization laws have given his council the right to manage and use forests. The council now has the right to decide how much woodcutting will take place in their jurisdiction and who gets to do the cutting and selling. But, when Weex Dunx tries to exercise his new powers he is confronted by incredulous foresters, administrators and merchants who are in shock that he thinks he can make decisions about the forests. Exasperated because these powerful notables don’t like him if he resists and his people don’t like him if he gives in, Weex Dunx is torn between doing what is right for his community and surrendering to pressures from powerful people whom he does not want to disappoint.

Background

This film was made for a Senegalese policy audience: Senegal’s Forest Service, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Local Government, Donors and NGOs in Senegal. The film was made as a policy tool to help promote implementation of Senegal’s decentralization laws. The author will preceed the film with a 15 minute lecture to help the audience understand the policy issues that this film is addressing. The film was made in the context of a commodity chain analysis of the charcoal markets funded by the Netherlands Royal Embassy in Dakar, USAID Africa Bureau, and the World Bank’s PROFOR fund.