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World Bank Support Unleashes Prosperity from Senegal River Resources
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n Senegal, near the village of Sadel and five hours of rough road northeast of Dakar, the markets are anything but deserted. Thanks to improved irrigation, communities along the river are now able to sell watermelons, squash, tomatoes, and even rice. Now, the riparian population can enjoy the waters flush with fish and earn their livelihoods almost entirely from river resources.
The Senegal River Basin has huge potential and can transform the lives of 35 million people. Currently, less than 30 percent of the basin’s hydropower potential of 1,200 MW is utilized. Less than 40 percent of the 375,000 hectares of irrigable lands are developed. Of the nearly 140,000 hectares that are serviced, only 90,000 are really usable. The World Bank–funded Senegal River Basin Multi-Purpose Water Resources Development (MWRD) Project brought some solutions as it addresses fisheries, irrigation, health, and water resources management in Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal. As part of the World Bank’s Regional Integration Program, the project goes beyond countries to bring cross-border solutions that make a long-term dent in poverty. The approach used offers more opportunities to develop infrastructure with multiplier impacts for agriculture, water supply, energy, navigation, and health than a single operation. As proven by the results and the recent inclusion of Guinea to the Senegal River Basin Organization, when countries jointly manage shared water resources, there are significant benefits—benefits that emerge beyond the water sector in terms of poverty reduction, low carbon growth, regional trade, and stability. For the 12 million residents of the Senegal River Basin, water is a vital part of their livelihoods. Not only are fish from the river a source of food, but the annual floods during the rainy season are crucial for replenishing the nutrients that sustain pasture land and irrigated crops. Without access to
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UNCCD . World Bank
