In Senegal, according to statistical data from the 2023 General Population Census, people with disabilities represent 1,210,736 inhabitants in absolute numbers, or 7.3% of the population. To improve their living conditions, Senegal has made significant progress, according to the Director General of the Directorate General of Social Action.

 

Boucar Diouf opened the launch workshop for the National Disability Management Strategy in Thiès, organized from December 15 to 17, 2025, by the Ministry of Family, Social Action and Solidarity, through the Directorate General of Social Action, as part of the implementation of presidential directives relating to the restructuring of the national framework for disability management.

 

He cited, as key achievements: "the creation in 2012 of the Directorate General of Social Action (DGAS) currently composed of (02) technical directorates respectively responsible for the management of disability and vulnerability; the adoption of three (03) implementing decrees of the social orientation law relating to the equal opportunities card, special education and community-based rehabilitation of disabled persons; the finalization of the process of developing all fifteen (15) implementing texts of the social orientation law relating to disability."

 

Not to mention “the holding of an interministerial council on the state of implementation of the social orientation law relating to disability on February 13, 2018; the production of 100,021 equal opportunity cards linked to social safety net programs such as universal health coverage and family security grants; the adoption of a national instrument for measuring disability linked to the equal opportunity card for perfect control of statistical data relating to disability”.

 

On the achievements list, there is also the provision of equipment to 43,08 disabled people as part of the project to improve access for disabled people to technical aids and rehabilitation services carried out by the Directorate General of Social Action since 2024; the appointment of disabled people to high responsibilities, notably at the Presidency of the Republic in the position of Special Advisor in charge of disability.

 

However, Boucar Diouf notes that these advances remain fragile due to persistent systemic limitations that hinder the overall impact of public policies in the field of disability. These include insufficient funding for disability management programs due to weak synergy between programs; a lack of control over statistical data on disability, with a significant gap between the national prevalence rate (7.3%) and WHO estimates (16%); and the low production rate of the Equal Opportunities Card, currently at 8.26%, compared to a target of 58% to be reached by 2029.

 

Among the constraints cited are the ineffectiveness of all 7 services linked to the equal opportunities card, the delay in adopting all the implementing texts of the 2010 law (only 3 out of 15 adopted to date), the weakness of the governance system linked to a weak territorial network of local disability management bodies and the absence of a high authority in charge of disability.

 

The workshop to launch the national consultations on disability aims to deepen reflection on constraints and outline possible solutions with a view to developing a new strategic document and an integrated disability management program.

It is part of the national dynamic of promoting an inclusive society based on equity, social protection and the development of human capital.

 

Its aim is in particular to "officially launch the process of developing the new national strategy for disability management; present and validate the conceptual instruments (concept note, budgeted roadmap); initiate the work of the sectoral consultation tables; share the key achievements of the State and partners, and consolidate a common vision of the challenges and priorities of the sector."

 

An initiative of vital importance, playing a strategic role in the protection and promotion of the rights of people with disabilities.