World Bank Sanctions $140 Million Funding for Road Connectivity in Senegal’s Key Agricultural Zones

Dakar: The World Bank has approved an additional financing package of EUR 119.6 million, equivalent to $140 million, to bolster road connectivity in the northern and central agricultural areas of Senegal. This funding, part of the Enhancing Connectivity in the Northern and Central Agricultural Production Areas of Senegal Project, is mobilized through the International Development Association and complemented by a $2 million contribution from the Government of Senegal. This brings the total investment in the project to $470.8 million, directly impacting approximately 570,000 beneficiaries.According to World Bank, the latest financing builds on the project's past successes, which include the construction and upgrading of 414 kilometers of roads, thereby improving access to socioeconomic services for 350,000 people. The project will now focus on extending these achievements to the economic corridors linking Koussanar to Koumpentoum and Tambacounda to Dianké Makha, regions where agriculture and livestock are pi votal. By enhancing access to production areas, markets, and community infrastructure, the project aims to create new job and income opportunities, especially for youth, women entrepreneurs, and agricultural value chain participants. This initiative aligns with Senegal Vision 2050 and the National Development Strategy 2025-2029, promoting more inclusive and resilient territorial growth.The project envisions a comprehensive development impact. Djibrilla Issa, World Bank Division Director for Senegal, Mauritania, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and The Gambia, emphasized that connecting agricultural production areas to urban markets can enhance the economic value of farmers' harvests, expand market access for women entrepreneurs, and improve community access to essential services like schools and health centers.The project is structured around three key components. The first involves the construction of 171 kilometers of paved roads and 104 kilometers of laterite tracks, integrating climate-resilience features. The second component focuses on financing community infrastructure within a five-kilometer radius of the new roads, including agricultural processing platforms, storage facilities, market areas, water points, and essential school and health services. The third component seeks to enhance institutional capacity in road safety and asset management through training and acquisition of international-standard management tools.With this second tranche of financing, approximately 221,000 people along the two new corridors will gain improved access to regional markets and essential services, strengthening local economic dynamics and integrating rural producers into more efficient value chains, consistent with the AgriConnect initiative. The Road Works and Management Agency, under the supervision of the Ministry of Infrastructure, is tasked with the project's implementation.