Senegal and Mauritania officially inaugurated the Senegal River Valley Resilience and Community Development Project (PRDC_VFS) on Thursday in Rosso, Mauritania, marking a collaborative effort to strengthen the region.
This cross-border initiative, backed by the World Bank, aims to build the resilience of communities along the Senegal River Valley against climate shocks, social exclusion, and territorial imbalances in a sustainable manner.
The launch ceremony was chaired by Senegal’s Minister of Family and Solidarity, Ms. Maimouna Dieye, and brought together a wide array of stakeholders, including government representatives from both nations, local officials, religious and traditional leaders, civil society organizations, and the Senegalese Embassy in Mauritania. Minister Dieye conveyed greetings from President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, emphasizing the strong political commitment of both Senegal and Mauritania to jointly address shared challenges. “The PRDC_VFS represents a vital and structured response to the vulnerabilities of the valley. It embodies our shared determination to build a fairer, more equitable, and more resilient future,” she stated.
The project’s objectives include ensuring equitable access to essential social services such as education, health, and drinking water, developing climate-resilient infrastructure like dykes, irrigation systems, and rural roads, and promoting inclusive local governance through the active participation of local populations.
Beyond its technical aspects, the PRDC_VFS is envisioned as a model for sub-regional integration. While its initial phase focuses on Senegal and Mauritania, plans are in place to extend the project to Mali, further solidifying cooperation within the framework of the Senegal River Development Organization (OMVS). The project’s launch is particularly timely given the increasing vulnerability of rural populations to the effects of climate change, including erratic rainfall, land degradation, and food insecurity.
Minister Dieye called for ambitious collective action, urging technical and financial partners to support this innovative project, which is founded on the principles of social justice, territorial equity, and solidarity between the two nations.
Through the PRDC_VFS, the Senegal River Valley is positioning itself as a hub for resilience and joint development, reflecting the aspirations for a more integrated, sustainable, and citizen-focused West Africa.
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