The mission of the Observatory is to coordinate research activities and practical intervention around the issue of local development in Canda and Africa. Inspired by the motto "Think global, act local", the Observatory aims to be a center of excellence and strategic advice for decision-makers and local elected officials faced with the rapid and sudden change in the classic benchmarks of decision-making: wild globalization, interpenetration of territories, relocations, destructuring, restructuring, decentralization. Hence, the Observatory aims to put people, populations and solidarity back at the center of development. The activities of the Observatory are dictated by its missions. They consist of three poles: