The Thiès region continues to face several challenges related, in particular, to "the prevalence of informal work"; to "social vulnerabilities in rural and peri-urban areas"; to "demographic and land pressures" and to "the need to better link social protection, employment and local development".

To address these challenges, the General Delegation for Social Protection and National Solidarity (DGPSN) is promoting the territorialization of social policies. Hence the organization, on October 30 and 31, 2025, in Thiès, of a regional workshop to strengthen the capacities of social protection stakeholders in the Thiès region.

According to the Delegate General for Social Protection and National Solidarity, Mr. Matar Sène, this event is part of the national initiative to build an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable social protection system based on the principle of solidarity. This involves strengthening local capacities and fostering collective commitment to advance social justice in Senegal, with the support of the European Union through Expertise France.

He notes that social protection, an essential pillar of social cohesion and social justice, is based on four main functions: prevention, protection, promotion, and transformation. It aims to reduce the vulnerability of populations to social risks such as illness, unemployment, and old age, and to guarantee a minimum set of rights for all.

Mr. Sène points out that this system is structured around contributory mechanisms (social insurance) and non-contributory mechanisms (assistance, social safety nets), thereby strengthening the resilience and opportunities of the most vulnerable populations. Historically, he says, social protection in Senegal has evolved from a logic of ad hoc assistance during the colonial period to a modern, rights-based approach, with the ambition of achieving universal social coverage by 2035 through the National Social Protection Strategy (SNPS 2016-2035).

It is also worth highlighting that the progress recorded between 2019 and 2023 revolves around "children's health coverage reaching 42%"; "health coverage for working people increasing from 19% to 27%"; "more than 75,000 beneficiaries have an Equal Opportunities Card"; "development of school canteens, cash transfers and agricultural insurance".

Matar Sène also discussed the creation of regional social protection hubs, which aim to tailor responses to the specific needs of local populations. He clarified that social protection is fully aligned with the Senegal 2050 Vision, where it is considered a cornerstone of stability and national cohesion, rooted in sovereignty, justice, and prosperity.

The General Delegate stressed the importance of a strengthened synergy between the State, local authorities, technical and financial partners, civil society and the private sector, to make social protection a true act of national solidarity.

The Thiès stage marks the end of the regional capacity-building workshops campaign for social protection actors.