The Minister of Water and Sanitation officially launched the Project for Access to Secure Water and Sanitation Services for Sustainable Resilience in Disadvantaged Areas (PASEA-RD) this Saturday in the municipality of Kanel.

Funded to the tune of 30.49 billion CFA francs by the African Development Bank, of which 80% is from the Bank Group (AfDB loan and ADF grant) and 15% from the national counterpart, PASEA-RD aims to improve the quality of life of approximately 1.8 million people, 51% of whom are women, through several structuring actions.

The Rural Water Supply sub-component, whose works were officially launched by the Minister, includes several projects. As announced by Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, these include the construction of five surface water treatment and purification units in the localities of Gourel Daral and Dembancané in Matam, Aroundou in Tambacounda, and Soukouta and Samécouta in Kédougou. In addition, the project secures the drinking water supply for five major rural centers: Goudiry, Bokidiawé, Kanel, Kidira, and Thilogne. The project also includes the provision and installation of 15,000 social connections to the drinking water network in the regions of Louga, Saint-Louis, Matam, and Tambacounda, as well as network extensions of over 300 km, in partnership with SDE-R.

According to the Minister of Water and Sanitation, the project aligns with Senegal's new development trajectory, as defined by the Senegal 2050 Vision and the President of the Republic's National Transformation Agenda. It incorporates Pillar 2 of this Agenda, concerning "Quality Human Capital and Social Equity," which prioritizes universal access to drinking water and sanitation.

Specific objective OS2.5 aims to improve access to basic social services, with two expected outcomes: access to quality water and improved sanitation services. Beyond this strategic contribution, the authority reaffirmed the State's commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the goal of "ensuring access to water and sanitation for all and guaranteeing sustainable management of water resources." Hence the importance given to the Sanitation sub-component.

This component provides for the construction of collective and semi-collective sanitation networks in the towns of Kanel, Ourossogui, Ranérou, Koumpentoum and Goudiry, through the construction of 4 pumping stations, 2 treatment plants, 5 sludge treatment plants and 70 km of sewer networks to which thousands of homes will be connected.

In rural areas, the project will make it possible to build 23,000 family latrines of the manual flush toilet type and 30 public toilets in schools, health centers and markets, said Cheikh Tidiane Dièye.

In his speech, the minister added that PASEA-RD will also support agricultural and pastoral activities in the regions of Tambacounda, Kaffrine and Louga.

“This sub-component is essential for the empowerment of women and young people. By making water available for productive activities, we offer these vulnerable groups real opportunities for income and food security. This will involve the construction of watering troughs (5 sites) and the development of market gardening activities, 50% of which will benefit women, through the development and supply of water and compost to agricultural areas using treated water and sludge from the wastewater treatment plants of semi-urban centers,” he explained.

Reiterating the State's commitment to meeting the expectations of the people, the minister welcomed the vision of the President of the Republic, placed under the coordination of the Prime Minister, in favor of the sustainable transformation of territories and the improvement of living conditions.

"This ceremony is special for our government, under the authority of His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye and the coordination of his Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, for the people of this beautiful region of Matam and those of Tambacounda, Kédougou, Louga, Kaffrine and Thiès who will directly benefit from the spin-offs of this structuring project," he said.

Taking the opportunity, the minister warmly thanked the African Development Bank, a privileged and historical partner of Senegal, particularly in the field of water and sanitation.

Before the minister's speech, the mayor of the town and the representative of the president of the Kanel departmental council welcomed a project that addresses a long-standing grievance of the population. They emphasized that "access to drinking water and adequate sanitation infrastructure is a response to the imperative of human security, promoting stability, improving public health and the living conditions of communities, especially rural ones."