At the heart of Senegal’s most vulnerable regions, BudgIT monitors and supports projects that directly impact the lives of local communities. Through its regional coordinators and the engagement of grassroots actors, the organization ensures that each initiative brings tangible and lasting improvements to living conditions while strengthening resilience to climate and economic shocks.
Saint-Louis: Managing Flood Risks and Urban Climate Vulnerability
In Saint-Louis, rising sea levels, urban water congestion, and deteriorating sanitation networks affect more than 45,000 residents in peri-urban areas. These communities regularly face flooding and health risks related to stagnant water.
To address these challenges, the PROGEP (Stormwater Management and Climate Adaptation Project) was launched to improve urban drainage, restore fragile embankments, and install pumping stations. The project includes 12 km of drainage canals, four pumping stations, and the rehabilitation of several embankments, resulting in a 60 percent reduction in the average duration of flooding in priority neighborhoods between 2023 and 2025.
In addition, the SEERP (Rainfall Risk Mapping and Alert System) identifies vulnerable zones and provides early warnings across 15 high-risk neighborhoods. This mechanism enhances coordination among technical services such as Urban Planning, Environment, and Civil Protection, enabling faster responses and minimizing damage.
Despite these improvements, the annual maintenance budget of around 85 million FCFA remains insufficient to cover all needs. This highlights the necessity of continuous monitoring to ensure long-term impact.
Within this context, Mrs. Coumba Gueye, BudgIT’s Regional Lead, plays a key role on the ground. She works closely with community champions and local institutions to collect reliable data on infrastructure conditions and their alignment with residents’ needs. She regularly sends letters and reports to decision-makers, identifying areas requiring urgent intervention and alerting them to dysfunctions or funding gaps.
Casamance: Advancing Climate-Smart Agriculture for Food Security
In Casamance, declining crop yields, soil salinization, and rainfall variability are undermining local food security. To address these issues, the Climate-Smart Agriculture Investment Plan (PIAIC) mobilized 114.5 billion FCFA with the objective of modernizing agricultural practices, improving productivity, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The project includes the installation of 28 agro-meteorological stations, 450 hectares of pilot agroforestry systems, and the distribution of 12,000 climate-smart input kits, accompanied by training sessions for 1,500 farmers.
On the ground, BudgIT’s Regional Lead, Helena Camara, has initiated coordination with local authorities to establish an effective collaboration framework and ensure close monitoring of PIAIC activities. This engagement is crucial in a region where communities historically depended on mangrove ecosystems that are now less productive. Continuous monitoring and support for climate-smart agricultural initiatives remain essential to restoring productivity and safeguarding livelihoods.
Sine-Saloum (Fatick): Building Climate Resilience and Expanding Economic Opportunities
In the Sine-Saloum delta, more than 120,000 residents face significant climate vulnerability, which is compounded by an economy heavily reliant on seasonal tourism and traditional agriculture. Low-income levels further heighten exposure to climate-related risks.
To address these challenges, several government and partner-supported projects are being closely monitored by BudgIT. The Natur’ELLES Project, funded at USD 20,939,850 for 2023–2027, strengthens women’s climate resilience through the sustainable use of natural resources. BudgIT observed that the project has trained 45 women’s groups, provided 2,000 oyster-processing tools, and restored 250 hectares of mangroves, contributing to income diversification and the protection of key ecosystems.
The ARD Fatick Project, with a budget of approximately 2.83 billion FCFA and implemented by the Regional Development Agency, focuses on restoring degraded land through assisted natural regeneration and reforestation while training 2,000 farmers in climate-smart practices. BudgIT’s field assessments indicate that these initiatives have improved agricultural productivity and stabilized rural incomes, though continued efforts are required to scale up these practices across the region.
The DyTAEL Agroecological Transition Project, supported by NGOs and research institutions, has mobilized 20 local farmers’ organizations through workshops and awareness caravans.
Complementing these efforts, the Agropole Centre project invests nearly 14.7 billion FCFA to strengthen local agricultural processing, aiming to create 19,200 jobs, the majority of which will be for women and youth. This initiative is expected to diversify income sources and stimulate the regional economy.
Similarly, the GMES-Africa Fisheries Resource Management Program supports approximately 3,500 fishers in protecting and sustainably managing fish and shellfish nurseries, thereby contributing to food security in communities that depend on fishing.
Babacar Diom, climate activist and president of the youth bureau, plays a vital role in linking communities with project implementers. Through his efforts, key information on progress and challenges is regularly shared with authorities to ensure that interventions remain relevant, effective, and sustainable.
The monitoring of initiatives across Senegal highlights significant progress in addressing climate challenges and promoting local development. Projects designed to meet the specific needs of each region are now being implemented effectively. BudgIT applauds these achievements and will continue to support their rollout, confident that sustainable success depends on transparent governance and active citizen participation
Aminta Laye Diop
Project Officer