Inspired and supported by the Francophone Summer School on Public Health in Besançon, an innovative project has emerged in Senegal: the Francophone University of Dakar for Health Promotion. Since 2008, professionals and local stakeholders have gathered annually to receive training in health promotion, an emerging concept in Africa. Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Athie, president of the NGO Action et Développement (AcDev) and coordinator of the Francophone University of Dakar for Health Promotion, explains the scope of the task and the importance of familiarizing not only professionals but also elected officials with this concept, despite the challenges posed by a lack of human and financial resources.