Practices and representations in terms of sustainable local development: lessons learned from the port of Lomé[Pratiques et représentations en matière de développement local soutenable : enseignements tirés du cas du port de Lomé]

The United Nations recommends implementing three types of practices in order to achieve sustainable local development. These are (a) local content measures (provision of infrastructure for local populations, measures in favor of employment and training, creation of links with local business circles, etc.), (b) practices for evaluating the impacts of the projects carried out and (c) complaint mechanisms allowing local populations to enforce the commitments made by companies and public authorities. We interviewed the actors of the Autonomous Port of Lomé, to define to what extent these practices recommended by the UN in terms of sustainable local development are known by these actors in the field. Our study shows that the first two types of measures are well identified and spontaneously mentioned and detailed, in particular by management. On the other hand, the complaint mechanisms to ensure the effective implementation of these measures are still largely ignored.