Action intersectorielle locale pendant la pandémie de COVID-19: une démarche de développement territorial en milieu rural.

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic affected the action of collaborative networks, connecting organizations from the public, community, and private sectors. Intersectoral action is a recognized strategy for tackling complex problems and reducing social inequalities. This study aims to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic modified local intersectoral action to improve the living conditions of rural populations.

Methods: Data for this qualitative, case study were collected through semi-structured individual interviews, observation sessions, and documentary analysis. Actor-network theory was used as the theoretical framework. Data collection took place from March 2021 to June 2022. The data were processed using a thematic analysis inspired by the analytical framework.

Results: The pandemic disrupted local intersectoral action, hampering networking operations and promoting a sectoral approach. Strategies favouring networking (use of technology and the liaison work of collective stakeholders) made it possible to create spaces for negotiating shared interests, identifying common causes, committing players to new roles, and sharing resources.

Conclusion: When faced with disruptions, networks can be flexible, testifying to the relevance of intersectoral action to meet the needs of the population. Even if the network was in a state of near-fragmentation before the pandemic, its reconstitution and remobilization were relatively easy for the community organizers.