Project: Senegal

Country Overview

The former French colony gained its independence in 1960 after merging with French Sudan to form the Mali Federation. After a number of unifications and separations with neighboring nations, Senegal formed its current boundaries in 1989 and remained a socialist state until becoming a democracy in 2000. Senegal is known for being one of the most stable democracies and economies in Africa and has a long history of keeping peace in the region.

Senegal is located on the western-most part of the bulge of Africa. The country has a tropical climate in the south and desert in the north. Though the economy was once driven by the slave trade, gold and ivory during the 17^th and 18^th centuries, it is now largely based on agriculture.

Fifty-eight percent of the population is rural. A large population of Europeans and Lebanese immigrants, reside mostly in the urban areas of Senegal. Though French is the official language, it is only used by a literate minority. All Senegalese speak an indigenous language, of which Wolof is most widely spoken.

Heifer's Work in Senegal

Heifer Senegal started operations in August 2007 with an office in Thiès, a small town about 47 miles from Dakar, the capital. A legally recognized NGO since December 2008, Heifer Senegal initially worked in partnership with Mission-Inter Senegal (MIS), a nationally renowned organization whose major domains of intervention include women, education, health, literacy, communication and evangelization and socio-economic issues.

Heifer Senegal is in its infant stage.  It seeks to build foundations for a successful country program based on leveraging positive practices.  It has currently launched its first series of projects in three geographically distinct and ethnically distinguished zones in an attempt to explore the potential and challenges of Heifer’s approach in different contexts. 

Key Services Heifer Provides:

Sustainable agricultural production: Livestock breeding and management training

Post-harvest management and processing: Providing training for producing produce for export; Agricultural and livestock supplies commercialization

Market development: Providing micro-credits and loans; Developing value chains; Developing networks between sheep and pig breeders

Technology: Improving gene pool of livestock; Artificial Insemination

Nutrition: Promoting food security through advocacy and sustainable food systems