New EU support for Senegal to strengthen governance, food security and access to water and sanitation
BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, February 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, will announce €347 million of new EU support to Senegal for the period 2014-2020 during a visit to the country on 12-13 of February. In partnership with the government of Senegal the EU will work to strengthen democratic governance, foster sustainable agricultural development and food security and invest in improved water and sanitation.
Ahead of his arrival Commissioner Piebalgs said: “Senegal is an important partner for the EU in West Africa. Our financial support for the coming seven years will be aligned to the government's strategic priorities and strengthen the country on its path to sustainable development and growth. We will help, for instance, with turning the agricultural sector into an engine of economic growth, as well as consolidating political stability, justice and security.”
A sanitation and urban rehabilitation programme in the wider area of the capital of Dakar will be launched at the occasion of the Commissioner's visit. This project will contribute to improving the lives of 44,000 people in communities that are undergoing rapid urbanisation. Activities include the rehabilitation of roads and public service infrastructure (such as water and electricity supply), installing storm drainages, sanitation and domestic waste water infrastructure and the organisation of a system of solid waste collection.
During his stay in Senegal Commissioner Piebalgs will meet President Macky Sall and several Ministers as well as representatives of the private sector and members of the Senegalese civil society. He will also visit a number of successful projects of EU-Senegal cooperation in the areas of fisheries and of water and sanitation.
Background
The new financial support of €347 million will be mobilised as part of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) which provides EU support to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in the years 2014-2020. It succeeds the 10th EDF (2008-2013), under which Senegal has benefited from €317 million, focusing on two key areas: trade/regional integration and sanitation. 31% of the funding was provided in the form of budget support, to underpin the efforts of the country to generate a strong and balanced growth, increase access to basic social services, protect vulnerable parts of the population and promote good governance and the rule of law.
Over the same period, Senegal has also received EU funding of an additional €23 million to cope with the increase in food prices, the adverse effects of instability in export earnings and the food crisis. Further support in the sectors of water, energy, environment, food security, peace and security and support to civil society groups and local authorities amounted to approximately €60 million.
Examples of EU cooperation with Senegal
Creating a coastal transport corridor: Over the period 2000-2013, the EU has funded the rehabilitation of 400 km of sections of regional corridors in West Africa, reducing travel time and transport costs, facilitating trade and growth through this investment in infrastructure. Senegal's Route Nationale (RN) 2, which runs along the coast from Dakar to the north of the country, is an important part of the Western African coastal corridor from Nouakchott (Mauritania) to Lagos (Nigeria). With EU support a section of 116 km has recently been rehabilitated, linking the northern cities of St. Louis and Rosso. The project also resulted in the rehabilitation of 65 km of rural roads and 30 km of urban roads and pathways to decongest St. Louis and Richard-Toll. Financed with €56 million of EU funding, the new section of RN2 will be inaugurated on 11 February.
Sanitation infrastructure in the town of Mbour: On 13 February Commissioner Piebalgs will visit a large-scale sanitation programme in the town of Mbour that has provided a system of waste water management to 3,900 households and a total of 27,000 people. Infrastructure funded by the EU includes the installation of 52 km of ground collectors and the construction of a waste water treatment plant for the town. In addition, 134 toilets were installed in public places and schools, benefiting up to 30,000 students.