As part of its commitment to economic and social development, the NGO PDEF, in consortium with ChildFund and CORAF, has just launched the Feed the Future Senegal Dooleel Ndaw Ñi project in the city of Ndangane. Funded to the tune of 2 billion CFA francs by USAID for a period of 5 years (October 2023 – September 2028) in the central zone (Kaolack, Fatick Kaffrine), this project is based on the emancipation and inclusion of youth Senegalese and aims to be one of the guiding axes of the project of a sovereign, just and prosperous Senegal. USAID, whose collaboration with Senegal goes back more than 60 years, aims to invest massively in the field of education, capacity building and quality professional training to offer the 113,000 targeted young people and which represent very important human capital, concrete opportunities to acquire the skills necessary to succeed in a constantly evolving labor market. Therefore, through this program, it will be a question of strengthening young people’s skills in leadership and citizenship through the creation of 4-H clubs. Also, to succeed in this challenge, the University of Sine Saloum, Elhadj Ibrahima NIASS (USSEIN), High Schools, Colleges, Daaras, youth associations, local authorities and youth structures constitute strategic partners. According to USAID Director Alyssa Leggoe, “as we evolve our approach, we intend to work directly with local partners. This launch is a direct engagement with Senegalese NGOs. Also, this program is in line with the priorities of a new administration aimed at promoting youth employment.” This initiative, she explains, is the result of an inclusive approach made possible through collaboration with key development stakeholders. “Senegal is a key partner of the US government. Our investments at Kaolack are an example of the type of partnership we have with players in the sector. This allowed us to develop approaches that are jointly aligned with local priorities,” she assures. This project should contribute to reducing youth unemployment which causes social disruption. Which promote irregular migration, political instabilities, radicalization, criminal activities and an increase in poverty. According to the executive director of the PDEF, Gora Ben Fall, “we will exchange with young people, supervise them and try to awaken their talents, to offer them the best orientations for their future so that they can actively participate in the development of their country “. “To be able to help young people and succeed in this project, we will strengthen their capacities to enable them to undertake development projects for their country and to be autonomous,” he maintained. And added: “Because without this preparation beforehand, all this is doomed to failure. So our objective is to equip 113,000 young people in Kaolack, Fatick and Kaffrine to enable them to undertake and participate wherever they are in the development of their country.”
Ultimately, these young people will be able to adapt to the requirements of modern job markets, particularly in the agricultural value chain sectors so that they become an engine of community development and economic growth.
It should be remembered that the activity was held with the participation of more than 150 people, including the regional governor, Ousmane Kane, prefects of the central zone, representatives of USAID, local partners, implementation stakeholders. and implementation partners of the said project.
