Dakar is set to become the global capital of health social protection in November 2026. Gathering this Wednesday, April 15, and Thursday, April 16, in a preparatory workshop for this major event, experts, ministerial authorities, specialized agencies, and development partners are deliberating on the overall framework. The focus is on refining a rigorous roadmap to host this global-scale event, which will allow Senegal to present its model and learn from other countries' performances to perfect it.

According to Youssouf Djité, Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Family, the goal of this preparatory workshop is to structure thought and action. He stated that it involves finalizing the concept note and defining the overall framework for the conference. But beyond the concept, a veritable administrative machine is being set up through: the establishment of the overall organizing committee, the creation of scientific committees to define research themes, and the appointment of working subgroups. "We must develop a roadmap that marks every crucial step before the November deadline," he emphasized.

For Senegal, a key regional showcase, this conference is not just a diplomatic meeting. It is, in fact, a platform to export its expertise, structured around an institutional architecture composed of: the General Delegation for Social Protection, the Universal Health Coverage Agency (SEN CSU), and the Food Security and Resilience Commission (CESAR).

The government plans to highlight its flagship successes, such as the family security grants program, while presenting the new ambitions of the National Systemic Transformation Agenda. This plan notably bets on a massive expansion of universal health coverage (UHC), with a membership development strategy recently approved by the highest authorities.

The event benefits from the strategic support of Belgium, through Enabel (the Belgian international cooperation agency), a leading partner. Abou El Mahassine Fassi-Fihri, Enabel's Country Director, reiterated his country's pride in supporting this co-organization.

For him, the Dakar summit will be the ideal place to compare social models in the face of growing global instability. "The world is experiencing multiple crises and external economic and climate shocks. This conference will allow us to discuss challenges shared by all countries," he said.

The Dakar Conference is scheduled for November 23-27, 2026.