A new kind of co-design platform, called Alododo, was started in Grand-Popo, Benin, in March 2016. It is geared to help locals to co-create sustainable grassroots-level solutions for their own communities. Good case practices, and the whole process, can then be replicated in other parts of Africa and beyond.

Alododo means "joined hands" in mina, a language spoken in Southern Benin and Togo. The Grand-Popo community got the first glimpse of Alododo unity the 2nd of April when the initiative was launched to local public. The Alododo song, written by one of the musically talented team members, Gustave Dylamour.

Now we want to put this Alododo song, or a couple of them, in a studio and record it. By selling the CDs and distributing the digital version online, Alododo will make itself known to a wider public and raises funding for the implementation of the solutions - together.  

Alododo is all about collaboration: bringing the locals together, listening to their needs and ideas, and co-designing workable solutions together. To research the local needs, wishes, issues and ideas is a group of 30 young volunteers were trained to interview their fellow villagers. These research findings are then discussed together with everyone and core issues are identified. Only after forming this mutual understanding can we start with co-designing the solutions.

Rather than continuing the vicious cycle of aid-reliance, this approach awakens locals' collaboration ability and own initiative. Joining hands with local partners, people will co-design six systemic solutions during the 2016-2017 pilot phase. These make the area more resilient, active and self-sustaining when it comes to e.g. energy, food, water and healthcare – improving 10,000 lives.