UNLOCKING ADAPTATION POTENTIAL: Insights into Senegal’s climate change policies, initiatives and local actions

This report by the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI) and ENDA Energy examines the landscape of climate change adaptation in Senegal, specifically focusing on the alignment between national policies, such as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) practices. Through mapping and three case studies in agriculture, coastal zones, and health, the research identifies a gap where community-driven strategies are often ignored by central government planning and suffer from a lack of direct financial access, despite being well-aligned with national goals.

• Senegal has established a harmonised framework for climate action that aligns the Emerging Senegal Plan (PSE) 2035, the 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the NDC 2030. This framework incorporates adaptation into economic and social development planning, specifically through National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) for priority sectors including agriculture, coastal zones, and health.
• There is a significant financing gap for Senegal's NDC adaptation measures, with total needs estimated at USD 14.5 billion by 2030. The national budget is insufficient, leaving a dependency on technical and financial partners for USD 12.725 billion, which creates uncertainty in the mobilisation of funds for local communities.
• Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) is actively occurring in Senegal and aligns with NDC priorities, yet it is poorly integrated into central government policy and governance. This lack of integration is driven by barriers in financing, a top-down approach to climate governance, and a lack of technical capacity at the local level to demonstrate 'climate additionality' for funding.
• In the agriculture sector, the Daga Birame 'climate-smart village' initiative demonstrates successful LLA through the use of climate information services (CIS), assisted natural regeneration (ANR), and solar-powered boreholes. While aligned with the NDC, the community reported low support from the central government regarding direct access to funding and decision-making power.
• The Dionewar Island initiative utilizes 'Maltese groins' (Epis Maltais Savard)—nature-based structures made from stakes and palm fronds—to combat coastal erosion. This soft solution has resulted in a beach gain of 2.6 m and is viewed as a viable, low-cost alternative to hard infrastructure, though it faces challenges regarding the resistance of materials to strong swells.
• In Widou Thiéngoly, the community implemented an early warning system to mitigate the health impacts of heatwaves, which can reach 46 to 48°C. This intersectoral approach involves the Directorate of Civil Protection and ANACIM to provide alerts and medical consultations for climate-sensitive diseases, though it is hindered by the mobility of the pastoral population.
• Climate governance in Senegal is characterized by a diverse ecosystem of actors, including the Directorate of the Environment and Classified Establishments (DEEC), the National Climate Change Committee (COMNACC), and various international partners. However, the implementation of adaptation is often siloed, and there is a lack of a robust Monitoring, Reporting, and Verifying (MRV) system to evaluate performance.

APA

Ibrahima, S. (2023). UNLOCKING ADAPTATION POTENTIAL: Insights into Senegal’s climate change policies, initiatives and local actions. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/projects/climate-adaptation/uploads/files/800798-APRI-Senegal-report.pdf

Chicago

Ibrahima, Sy,. UNLOCKING ADAPTATION POTENTIAL: Insights into Senegal’s climate change policies, initiatives and local actions. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2023. https://afripoli.org/projects/climate-adaptation/uploads/files/800798-APRI-Senegal-report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ibrahima |first1=Sy, |title=UNLOCKING ADAPTATION POTENTIAL: Insights into Senegal’s climate change policies, initiatives and local actions |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=2023 |url=https://afripoli.org/projects/climate-adaptation/uploads/files/800798-APRI-Senegal-report.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ibrahima2023unlocking, author = {Ibrahima, Sy,}, title = {{UNLOCKING ADAPTATION POTENTIAL: Insights into Senegal’s climate change policies, initiatives and local actions}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2023}, url = {https://afripoli.org/projects/climate-adaptation/uploads/files/800798-APRI-Senegal-report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }