Background and objectives
Delinquency, insecurity and violence threaten the quality of life in cities of Côte d'Ivoire.  This threat diverts scarce resources from social and economic development, and the situation has led the Government to take measures to centralize police action and to lead international action against drug trafficking.  A prevention strategy at the municipal level was, however, lacking.  The project began in October 1998 at the request of the National Council of Security and the mayors of Abidjan who wanted to address urban violence by developing a prevention strategy for Abidjan.  The three municipalities of Adjamé, Treichville and Yopougon were chosen.  The objective of the project is to strengthen the capacity of the city to implement prevention activities through a multisectoral and partnership approach coordinated by local authorities.  The immediate objectives are the preparation of an action plan based on the results of a local security appraisal, implementation of an action plan, formulation of pilot projects and the dissemination of this experience to other cities in Côte d'Ivoire.

Activities
Three coordinators were recruited in 1998 and attended a general training course organized by UN-Habitat/ICPC in November 1998.  They are mobilizing civil society organizations and municipal partners to formulate an action plan.  One local security council was established in Yopougon in 1998. 

Results
One month after the beginning of the project, there was a request from the Government and mayors to extend the Safer Cities project to other districts in Abidjan and to other cities in Côte d'Ivoire.  The expected results of the project are enhanced capacity of the municipalities to establish a strategy of prevention and its implementation based on a local coalition in the city.