Within its advocacy work, HOPE’87-Senegal established a working contact between its long-term local partner in the Moyenne Casamance, UGCIVD (General Union of Inter-Village Development), with the USAID programme “Economic Growth”. This programme accelerated the economic growth of Senegal and increased trade and competitiveness, by providing technical expertise and assistance aimed at private enterprise development. Amongst others, the focus was on the improvement of the commercialisation of traditional agricultural products. HOPE’87 supported its partner especially regarding re-introducing rice cultivation in the Moyenne Casamance as a means of reaching a higher level of food security.