WATER AND POVERTY LINKAGES IN AFRICA: SENEGAL CASE STUDY

The report examines how water resources in Senegal intersect with poverty alleviation and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). While progress has been made in urban water supply, rural sanitation remains a challenge. The study highlights a heavy reliance on groundwater, the role of the Senegal River Basin in food security, and the vulnerability of coastal zones to sea-level rise. It argues for a more holistic Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) approach that includes rainwater harvesting and better local community participation to ensure sustainable development.

• Senegal has made significant progress toward MDG targets for drinking water, but sanitation targets are less likely to be met, particularly in rural areas where additional financial commitments are required.
• There is a critical reliance on groundwater for domestic supplies due to rainfall variability, yet the sustainability of this extraction is uncertain because institutional monitoring and legal frameworks have not kept pace with abstraction technology.
• Agriculture is the dominant water consumer in Senegal, accounting for 92% of annual withdrawals for irrigation, while rainfed agriculture and livestock are estimated to use approximately 5.1 km3 per year.
• To meet MDG targets on hunger and provide a balanced diet (80% vegetal, 20% animal) for the growing population, Senegal's water allocation for food consumption would need to increase to an estimated 16.9 km3 annually by 2015.
• Climate change poses severe risks to Senegal, with a projected sea-level rise of 2-4 meters potentially affecting 5-10% of GDP, 10% of the population, and causing the loss of 35% of current wetlands.
• The Senegal River Basin's dam developments (Diama and Manantali) have provided benefits such as flood control and irrigation but have also caused ecological damage, including increased water pollution, loss of biodiversity, and the proliferation of water-borne diseases like bilharzia.
• In the Saloum Basin Biosphere Reserve, the regeneration of mangroves is essential for poverty alleviation, as they support the harvest of oysters, which provides significant income for local women.
• Current water development strategies in Senegal are criticized for being too 'top down,' often implementing high-tech pumping solutions that increase vulnerability by requiring external energy, rather than promoting 'off-the-grid' solutions like rainwater harvesting.

APA

Barron, J., Fox, P., & Koudeoukpo, J. B. (n.d.). WATER AND POVERTY LINKAGES IN AFRICA: SENEGAL CASE STUDY. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Water-sanitation/AfDB-Water-and-Poverty-Senegal-FINAL.pdf

Chicago

Barron, Jennie, Patrick Fox, and Juliette Biao Koudeoukpo. WATER AND POVERTY LINKAGES IN AFRICA: SENEGAL CASE STUDY. Stockholm Environment Institute, n.d. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Water-sanitation/AfDB-Water-and-Poverty-Senegal-FINAL.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Barron |first1=Jennie |last2=Fox |first2=Patrick |last3=Koudeoukpo |first3=Juliette Biao |title=WATER AND POVERTY LINKAGES IN AFRICA: SENEGAL CASE STUDY |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Water-sanitation/AfDB-Water-and-Poverty-Senegal-FINAL.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{barronndwater, author = {Barron, Jennie and Fox, Patrick and Koudeoukpo, Juliette Biao}, title = {{WATER AND POVERTY LINKAGES IN AFRICA: SENEGAL CASE STUDY}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Water-sanitation/AfDB-Water-and-Poverty-Senegal-FINAL.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }