Senegal

2022 saw progress in the implementation of the programmes in the fourth Indicative Cooperation Programme (ICP IV, 2018-2023) between Luxembourg and Senegal, which focuses on two priority sectors: (i) the health sector, and specifically strengthening emergency medical assistance services, combating non-communicable diseases and improving access to universal sickness coverage, and (ii) the vocational training and labour market integration sector for young people, with a particular focus on improving access to and provision of training as well as strengthening the capacities of state actors. Luxembourg continued to act as lead partner of the technical vocational training and labour market integration sub-group until June 2022. In order to make up for some delays in implementation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the ICP IV has been extended by one year until the end of 2023, and the financial commitment has been increased by EUR 13.3 million, resulting in a total financial envelope of almost EUR 85 million.

In the health sector, the year 2022 saw, among other things, the provision of equipment in emergency and intensive care departments, the operationalisation of the emergencies skills and care training centre using medical simulation in Dakar, that had been inaugurated in 2021, raising of awareness among the population concerning non-communicable diseases (e.g. cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes), the professionalisation of the three mutual health insurance companies in the central zone, and the ratification of the Strategic Emergency Management Plan 2022-2026 and the Strategic Plan for the Development of the Universal Health Coverage Agency 2022-2026.

In terms of vocational training, the programme has made it possible to develop access and improve the quality of training provision, to provide support for 1 692 young people to enter the labour market, to empower and strengthen the capacities of vocational training centres and secondary schools, short-term training (i.e. 3 to 9 months) leading to qualifications for 4 300 young people, and to deploy nine mobile training units in which 2 600 young people have been trained.

A mid-term review of the ICP IV between Senegal and Luxembourg was carried out by Luxembourg in the first half of 2022. The results of this review not only highlight the level of maturity of development cooperation between the two countries, but will also feed in to the thinking about the next cycle of programming, ICP V, which will include interventions that will be implemented as early as 2024. The process of identifying this new ICP, led by the Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in Dakar in close collaboration with the Senegalese authorities, was launched during an inaugural workshop held on 6 December 2022 in Dakar. The ambition for the years ahead will be to consolidate our development cooperation relations through the ICP V, continuing our commitment in the health sectors, as well as in the sector of vocational and technical training. Luxembourg plans to position itself in a third sector, that of water and sanitation, which will make it possible to include more environmental considerations within the next ICP.

Luxembourg continued to support Senegal to combat the COVID-19 pandemic through new support to the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, with a total budget of EUR 1.2 million euros, covering three separate actions: (i) deployment of 360 000 rapid diagnostic tests within the Senegalese and West African monitoring system, (ii) organisation of a course in “Genomic Algebra” applied to the analysis of COVID-19 genomes; (iii) provision of cold chain equipment to strengthen the system for collecting and storing field samples.

Multilaterally, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) continued its activities to strengthen the health and social protection system with a view to improving access to high-quality healthcare. The International Labour Office (ILO) has continued to implement its programme, designed to equip the vocational and technical training system with appropriate human resources and to strengthen the training of trainers in entrepreneurship.

In 2022, ten Luxembourgish NGOs (ECPAT, Frères des Hommes, Guiden a Scouten fir eng Welt, Handicap International Luxembourg, PADEM, Pharmaciens Sans Frontières, SANA, Chaîne de l’Espoir Luxembourg, SOS Sahel and SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde asbl) have implemented projects in Senegal in various areas such as basic social services, health and sanitation, education and vocational training, agricultural development, women’s equality and democratic participation.