This book analyzes the limits of decentralization policies in Africa and proposes territorial intelligence as an alternative. Despite substantial funding, poverty and inequality persist due to a lack of local ownership. Territorial intelligence, a combination of endogenous knowledge and modern tools (GIS, local observatories), offers an innovative way of territorializing development. Through case studies from Rwanda, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Morocco and Kenya, the author demonstrates the potential of this approach and stresses the importance of the Local Territorial Intelligence Observatory as a tool for data collection, planning and monitoring. Complemented by a practical manual, the book is both a theoretical reflection and a methodological guide for researchers, decision-makers and local players.