Senegal: Promoting Initiatives and Cultural Industries in Senegal

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Senegal has developed policies to promote the country's great cultural diversity, but some regions and groups have been left behind. The goal of the Joint Programme was to support the government in implementing national policies aimed at promoting culture as an engine of sustainable human development, with a focus on vulnerable groups such as women and young people.

The programme focused on the following initiatives:

  1. Improving national capabilities in terms of competitiveness and product quality, added value and skilled job creation and investment. 
  2. Increasing the revenue stream for the poor and for vulnerable groups working in the area of culture and development.  
  3. Ensuring the sustainability of the livelihoods and local environment of vulnerable groups through the development of natural resources and an environmental protection response. 
  4. Improving the capacity of public institutions to apply the principles of human rights, gender equality and sustainable development in policies and programmes relating to culture and development. 
  5. Boosting the capability and resources of local communities and community organizations to participate more effectively in the process of decentralization and management of local development. 

Main achievements included:

The sites of the Saloum Delta and the Bassari Landscapes were recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. The revenue generated by the increase in tourist visits has helped to improve the living standards of local communities.

The Cultural Centre of Toubacouta was opened with a space for handicrafts, women, youth and an eco-museum. Its management plan included local population to allow them to benefit from the installations and improve their livelihoods. The multi-ethnic Bassari Grand Ballet was founded, along with the Allalaké and Betenti Women artisan groups in the Saloum Delta .

Local producers received training to improve the quality of products from agriculture, farming, fishing and handicrafts and to benefit from tourism.

The programme supported the creation of micro-, small- and medium-enterprises to improve incomes. Initiatives promoting partnerships created a climate of confidence and knowledge exchange. In the tourism sector, two websites were launched to assist in the marketing of tourist campsites in both regions.

To diversify funding sources for businesses and to promote a culture of saving, the programme established cooperatives, a mutual guarantee company and a savings and loan organization. This has allowed beneficiaries to move from the informal to the formal sector.
 
Multimedia Community Centres were created to spearhead awareness raising campaigns. In the area of environmental protection, these campaigns contributed to a better understanding and ownership of issues related to the environment, health and safety.
 
Particular attention was paid to gender issues, with training and awareness raising campaigns. For example, a festival of films on sexual violence and violence against women was organized, a "School for Husbands" was created and literacy and continuing education centers for women were established in the two program areas.
 
 
Click for more detailed results from the Joint Programmes in Senegal.
 
 

JOINT PROGRAMME QUICK FACTS

Net funded amount $6,500,000
Participating UN agencies UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNIDO, UNWTO
National partners Ministère de la Culture, Direction du Patrimoine Culturel ; Ministère des PME, Ministère Collectivités locales (PNDL, ARD), Ministère de l’Economie et des Finances (DDI/CAP), Ministère de la Communication et Direction des TIC (CMC), Ministère du Tourisme, Ministère de l’Environnement (DEEC, DPN), Direction de la Famille, Direction du Genre, Direction de l’Artisanat Primature (SCA, Services CADL)
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