CLimate Finance - Projet d’appui à la mise en place de pôles de développement résilients et de préservation de la biodiversité (Senegal)

The regions of Fatick, Kaffrine, and Saint-Louis in Senegal are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including biodiversity loss, declining food security, land degradation, salinization, and desertification. Strengthening the resilience of local communities is therefore critical, alongside the promotion of sustainable agroecological practices and the sustainable management of natural resources such as land, forests, and water. The UNDP project “Projet d’appui à la mise en place de pôles de développement résilients et de préservation de la biodiversité” seeks to address these challenges through an integrated approach that combines climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable local development. The project supports the adoption of agroecological production systems, strengthens the sustainable management of ecosystems and natural resources, and enhances the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities to climate-related risks. By promoting resilient development poles in some of Senegal’s most climate-vulnerable regions, the project aims to contribute to improved livelihoods, increased food security, and the preservation of biodiversity, while helping to combat the ongoing processes of land degradation, salinization, and desertification. The initiative is aligned with Senegal’s climate and sustainable development priorities and contributes to long-term resilience at both the community and ecosystem levels.

SO1: Promote the emergence of resilient development hubs around vulnerable areas through the sustainable and coherent use of local resources and development potential, while ensuring the systematic involvement of communities as key partners in order to strengthen social cohesion, security, and peace in these sensitive areas. The expected outcomes are:Improved management and utilization of surface water and groundwater resources; Promotion of sustainable agricultural practices; Development of a local green economy; Enhanced management of natural disaster risks; and Strengthened governance frameworks at both national and local levels. SO2: Strengthen the management of mangrove ecosystems surrounding the Community Natural Reserves (RNCs) of Gandon and Sokone. This objective aims to promote the sustainable management of these ecologically sensitive mangrove ecosystems through:Improved zoning of the Community Natural Reserves, including the establishment of ecological corridors and watering points for transhumant livestock; and Capacity building and communication activities targeting local stakeholders to support effective ecosystem management and conservation.