Senegal Secures Over €28m Loan From AfDB For Road Projects

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Senegalese Government has secured a €28.88 million loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the rehabilitation of the road and transport network linking six municipalities in the country.

The target areas are Yeumbel Nord (Dakar suburbs), Keur Massar and Guédiawaye (Dakar region), Thiès (West), Kaolack (Centre-West) and Saint-Louis (North-West). Road networks in these six new municipalities will undergo new construction and upgrading.

The financing will be sourced from savings from the Senegal Cities Modernisation Programme. The financing will also be used for drainage, public lighting, and the construction or repair of cabins that can be used as restaurants and sheds.

An empowerment centre will also set up women’s and youth employment. Under the initiative, local authorities will receive training in geographic information systems, database management, planning, investment programming and procurement.

The funds will equally support the construction of 28 kilometers of urban roads in asphalt concrete, paving stones and concrete.

These works will complement earlier project achievements including the construction of 45.4 kilometers of asphalt roads, 21.6 kilometers of paved roads and the rehabilitation of 11.2 kilometers of asphalt roads.

Launched in 2017 to boost decentralisation and drive Senegal’s economic and social development in the country, the first Cities Modernisation Programme received €114.34 million in financing from the African Development Bank. It covers 13 municipalities in the country: Diourbel, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thiès, Ziguinchor, Guediawaye, Keur Massar, Yeumbeul and Mbour

The programme is expected to improve the competitiveness of the beneficiary cities, which will be able to undertake planned growth.

Notably, the support to Senegal’s first Cities Modernisation Programme demonstrates the AfDB’s renewed approach to supporting the development of urban areas. This approach, which combines investment in infrastructure and institutional capacity building, is all the more important as it focuses on medium-sized and peripheral cities, thus contributing to regional rebalancing.