(Ecofin Agency) - In Senegal, economic recovery is still threatened by risks such as inflation, regional insecurity, Covid-19, and climate change.  To avert some of those risks, authorities, and development partners are implementing various programs.  

The West African Development Bank (BOAD) will finance two projects, to the tune of US$64.5 million, in Senegal. According to a BOAD press release, the country and the development bank signed an agreement to that effect last Friday, June 24. 

The funds will finance a sanitation program benefiting 10 cities (cost: US$24.2 million) and partially fund the construction of classrooms to replace the temporary shelters being used currently (cost: US$40.3 million).  The two projects aim "to significantly improve the living conditions and health of the population by promoting sustainable access to public sanitation services" and "to reduce the dropout rate by 50% in the schools concerned."

In the framework of the sanitation program, wastewater collection and treatment systems as well as a stormwater drainage system will be built. Ultimately, the program will boost wastewater treatment use to 74% and the depollution rate to 50% by 2024.  It also aims to reduce the number of people affected by flooding in Kaolack by 30% and increase wastewater treatment capacity by 46% in the area. According to the release, the project will create 1,500 indirect and induced jobs, 50 direct jobs during its operation, and 300 indirect and induced jobs during its implementation and operation.

For the second program, 1,529 equipped classrooms will be built for elementary schools while 1,107 administrative blocks made of local materials will be built for elementary, junior high, and high schools. Also, 607 sanitation blocks will be built for elementary and junior high schools as well as 59,000 linear meters of fencing walls made of local materials. The project, which will be completed in 2024, covers all of Senegal’s 14 regions. 

Jean-Marc Gogbeu