Africare-Senegal

Africare’s History in Senegal

 

Africare began interventions in Senegal in 1976 after signing an accord with the Government of Senegal. Since then, the organization keeps regular presence in providing technical and financial support to various beneficiaries in different regions of the country. In recognition of the importance of this support and impact, the initial accord signed in 1976 was changed in 2000 into an “Accord de Siege” giving Africare more privilege and a diplomatic status in the country.

Since 1976 Africare has supported activities in agricultural research and development, natural resource management, community health care, functional adult literacy, reforestation and rural enterprise development.  Africare has worked in most areas of Senegal, with a focus on the Kaolack, Tambacounda, Thies and Ziguinchor regions; and has acquired a wealth of institutional knowledge about the Casamance and the agricultural, natural resources management (NRM), health, education and other development challenges facing that area. In addition, Africare has also implemented the USAID-funded Casamance Integrated Watershed Management and Enterprise Development (CIWMED) project in the department of Bignona.

 

In the health sector, a major initiative is the Senegal Tuberculosis and Malaria Control program with focus in the departments of Bignona, Ziguinchor and Oussouye. Africare has also implemented governance activities as a sub-contractor to the AID/Senegal-funded DGL Felo project.  Also, various projects have been implemented in microenterprise, agriculture, functional literacy and community health realms. 

 

Africare-Senegal Today

 

Africare is currently providing assistance to 56,350 (14,850 direct and 41,500 indirect) beneficiaries in Kaolack, Kaffrine, Tambacounda and Kedougou region to develop an agribusiness approach to farming. This involves selecting alternative crops, introducing appropriate technology, resolving funding constraints through micro-credit, and locating market niches for those crops. The agribusiness approach is proven to be particularly empowering for women and youth.

 

The Community Health and the Presidential Malaria Initiatives project focuses mainly on reproductive health, health and social policy reforms, and malaria and nutrition prevention. These projects are implemented in Ziguinchor, Kolda, Sedhiou, Tambacounda, Kedougou and Kaffrine regions and benefit 443 communities.   

 

Africare partners with decentralized administrative authorities, as well as regional and districts medical and agricultural team services for the implementation of these projects.

 

In addition to the country office in Dakar, Africare has five field offices: Ziguinchor office covering Ziguinchor, Kolda and Sedhiou regions; Tambacounda (two offices) covering Tambacounda and Kaffrine; Kedougou office; and, Kaolack office.

 

Country Profile: Senegal

REGION: West Africa
CAPITAL CITY: Dakar
POPULATION: 12.5 million
LAND AREA: 196,722 sq km

Independent Senegal's first president, Léopold Senghor, presided over a socialist system of rule from 1960 to 1980. (Senghor was also a poet; and with fellow artists, helped create négritude, an intellectual movement that asserted distinctive African characteristics, values and aesthetics.) Democratic elections were first held in 2000, Senegal has maintained a stable democratic government ever since ― despite a low-level separatist struggle in the southern Casamance region ― and it has contributed significantly to regional peacekeeping. However, its people on the whole remain poor, lack adequate health services and cope with environmental issues such as drought and desertification. Senegal is continental Africa's westernmost country. Gorée Island, a short boat ride from the capital city of Dakar, was a major departure point for slave ships in the 17th and 18th centuries.

 

Country Stats Life expectancy: 63 years (USA: 77.9) Under-5 child mortality: 116/1,000 live births (USA: 7/1,000) HIV prevalence, ages 15-49: [0.4 - 1.5]% (USA: [0.4 - 1.0]%) Physicians per 100,000 people: 6 (USA: 256) People undernourished: 20% (USA: 0%) People with access to safe drinking water: 76% (USA: 100%) Adult literacy: 60.7% (USA: 99%) Gross National Income per capita ( PPP US$): $1,560 (USA: $41,890) People living on less than $1 a day: 17% (USA: 0%) (HIV prevalence statistics, UNAIDS. All other statistics, 2007/2008 Human Development Report, UNDP)

(Updated, June 2010)