In the field of cooperation, relations between Canada and Senegal stem from programs implemented by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). These two organizations responsible for providing official development assistance for Senegal work closely together in several areas of common interest, notably in education, environment, and social and economic fields.

The Canadian International Development Agency

Development Cooperation

Introduction to CIDA

Created in 1968, CIDA is the federal organization primarily responsible for the Canadian international cooperation program. CIDA's mandate consists in applying policies related to the Canadian official development assistance (ODA) program and managing the bulk of its budget. CIDA's programs thus aim to support development to reduce poverty and to contribute to a more secure, equitable and prosperous world.

In developing countries, CIDA is active in six priority areas:

• basic human needs;
• women in development;
• infrastructure services;
• human rights, democracy and good governance;
• private sector development;
• the environment.

If you wish to learn more about CIDA's programs, we invite you to visit the following web sites:

What we do

Major global issues

Priorities

Countries covered:

CIDA's office in Dakar is located in the Canadian Embassy and implements the assistance program for the following countries:

• Cape Verde
• Gambia
• Guinea-Bissau
• Senegal

I ) THE BILATERAL PROGRAM

The bilateral program in Senegal was created in 1962 and remains one of the most significant in Africa (cumulative disbursements of about $500M in 35 years). Between 1998 and 2003, the Canadian cooperation budget in Senegal for the bilateral program is C$100M.

In accordance with the Agency's mandate, and in response to the challenges Senegal faces, the strategic objectives of our cooperation program aim to reduce, and eventually eliminate, poverty in Senegal. This can be done by establishing various activities to meet basic human needs, in terms of developing democracy and stimulating economic growth.

Areas of intervention:

Social development and economic growth

CIDA's objective in terms of social development is twofold:

1. Meeting basic human needs, including basic education (formal and informal), is the number one priority. The Ministry of National Education, the Ministry of Literacy, Technical and Vocational Training, and the Ministry of the Economy and Finance are Canada's main partners in executing projects in education, which form part of the ten-year education and training program (PDEF).
2. The area of good governance, decentralization being one of its strategic elements, constitutes the second part of this area of intervention. Canada's partners in this area are the Ministry of the Economy and Finance, and associations of local elected representatives.

Activities implemented in the two areas are:

Curriculum Testing Support Project (Pamisec), 2001-2005

This project is at the planning stage. It is designed to allow the testing of the program schedule booklet (LHP) in classes and the development of the curriculum's other components.

Action Plan Support Project (Papa), 1996-2001

This action plan made it possible to accommodate 6,000 young people aged 9 to 15, including 65% girls, in 200 alternative classes and to train 73,000 auditors aged 15 to 59, comprising over 70% women, in the project's five regions of intervention. In terms of post-literacy, 31 titles printed in 31,000 copies have been published, as well as five regional monthly newspapers.

Basic Education Curriculum Building Project, 2000-2001

The project should make it possible to produce a consensual, crosscutting, relevant and functional curriculum.

Project to Improve the Quality of Education and Academic Achievement (Paquers), 2001-2005

The project is in the planning stage. It will allow the strengthening of learning evaluation practices by supporting assistance measures to improve student performance.

Local Taxation Review Project, 1996-2001

A diagnostic study of local taxation in Senegal was carried out and published in a vast communication campaign involving 600 people, who discussed the findings of the study and made proposals for reform. Feasibility studies of the proposed reforms are being reviewed. Adopting a new local taxation system will allow decentralized communities to perform their new and existing functions with a high enough degree of financial self-sufficiency to properly meet the population's principal basic needs.

Decentralization Stakeholder Consultation Project, 1998-2001

The project funded a joint workshop by the Agence française de développement and the Association des Présidents de Communautés rurales on the theme of "Harmonizing support systems for local development in the decentralization process". The workshop report will be considered in developing the general policy document on local development in Senegal.

Local Official Support Project, 2000-2005

The project has been approved but has not yet started up its activities. Its execution will focus on developing services for local communities, establishing dialogue between local officials and the Government on the application of its decentralization policy, and building the self-financing capacities of associations of local officials with a view to their financial self-sufficiency.

In the areas of economic growth, CIDA's objective is to help to involve as many Senegalese as possible in the creation and equitable sharing of national wealth, by giving them easier access to savings and credit, and by building their technical and organizational capacities. The popular economy (made up of small economic operators, women's organizations, and farmers) will be the main beneficiary of Canada's activities in this area. To this end, Canada works in partnership with the Ministry of the Economy and Finance, the Water and Forestry Directorate, Développement international Desjardins, and the Centre canadien d'études et de coopération internationale, SOCODEVI.

The following activities have been implemented in this regard:

Savings and Credit Union Project Support in Senegal, 2000-2004

Pamecas has allowed the establishment of 27 savings and credit unions, which have enabled over 30,000 members to mobilize savings totalling nearly 1.5BCfa francs. Credit outstanding totals more than 800M Cfa francs. The repayment rate remains steady at over 98%. Today, moreover, women represent 60% of credit union members, 41% of mobilized savings and 72% of credit extended. The credibility and influence of Pamecas has led Belgium and Senegal, through their counterpart fund, to provide it with a credit line of 200M Cfa francs.

Project to Support Rural Entrepreneurship in the Niayes Region (Paep), 1998-2003

To promote the economic growth of the natural region of Niayes by strengthening rural entrepreneurship

Various studies and diagnoses of rural organizations have been done in the project's area of intervention. The project will aim to improve competitiveness in the onion and potato industries on domestic and sub-regional markets, consultation among market gardeners, and effective, sustainable management of reforestation areas by forestry services and forest groups, in which women play a leading role.

Kolda Forestry Entrepreneurship Support Project, 1999-2004

The project will allow the growth and diversification of products and jobs in the honey, cashew and bamboo industries, the development of production-marketing chains for these products, and increased revenue from forestry.

Popular Economy Building Fund (Frep), 1999-2004

The project seeks to improve the cost-effectiveness of local financial and micro-financial institutions, especially those owned by women, by building their medium- and long-term credit response capability. The region's management and support organizations will also benefit from the project's activities.

Project to Support Alternative Policies for Sustainable and Equitable Development (PROPAD), 1999-2001

This IDRC-sponsored project will provide institutional support for the Centre de recherches économiques appliquées (CRÉA) to support the Government of Senegal in developing alternative economic policies to increase opportunities and income for the poor in Senegal.

Project to Provide Institutional and Operational Support for Export Development in Senegal (PAIDES), 1999-2001

To provide tools and information designed to highlight export development and promotion efforts and opportunities in Senegal's private and public sectors.

The project aims to assist Senegal in implementing its policy of adjusting trade balances and accelerating economic growth through better use of its export capacities.

Project to Support Agri-Food Operators in Senegal, 2000-2004

The project involves supporting operators in the formal and especially the informal agri-food sector, strengthening their structure (Agri-food Forum), and improving the services provided to them by the Institute of Food Technology (Ita).

In addition to activities related to the themes of social development and economic growth, others relate to the crosscutting themes of gender equality and the environment. The activities implemented involve the advancement of the status of women and sustainable management of the environment and natural resources.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) is considered in all field managed programs and projects.

The following projects are executed:

Advocacy and Empowerment of Women in Senegal, 1997-2002 (PDFP)

The project has allowed better knowledge of the status of women, particularly through studies of the role of women in decision making and the media, female genital mutilation and domestic violence. The project has also made it possible to conduct information and awareness campaigns on equal gender relations and to produce tools in this regard. Finally, the partner in the project, the "Siggil jigéen" network, an umbrella group for women's advocacy organizations, has had its organizational and technical capacities built.

Apart from this project, the Senegal program has a Gender Equality Strategy whose purpose is to help to establish equal and equitable gender relations in all Canadian cooperation projects.

Canadian Cooperation Support Unit, (BACC) 1998-2003

To help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the assistance program by providing professional, logistic and administrative support for CIDA personnel and stakeholders involved in project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

CCSU web site: Information to come

Thematic Groups:

Canadian cooperation coordinates the Decentralization Committee, a mechanism created by the Decentralization Fund Donors' Committee in 1997. This committee provides support totalling 169.219B CFA francs. Canadian cooperation is also involved in other consultative committees in various sectors, such as:

• Education
• Private sector
• Microfinance
• Environment
• Gender and development (GAD)
• Fisheries

II) COMPLEMENTARY PROGRAMS

Local Development Fund (FLD) / Line of Credit, 1997-2002

Initiated in 1997, the "Local Development Fund/Line of Credit" project actually comprises two projects. One involves the supply of Canadian goods. The other focuses on ensuring the availability of the financial resources generated by the first project. To this end, it seeks to achieve two objectives: to enable Senegalese firms to import goods and services from Canada, such as sulphur or spare parts; and to fund development activities included in bilateral programming. To this end, Canada has made financial resources available to the Government of Senegal in the form of a line of credit (C$15,000,000 from the bilateral program), to benefit private and public enterprise.

FLD resources are mainly used to fund projects designed to create jobs and generate revenue for vulnerable segments of society (women and youth), and to give people better access to basic services.

Examples of FLD-funded projects include: Project to Support Youth in the Ziguinchor Region (neighbourhood cleanup and youth job creation). Rehabilitation of three "Maisons de Quartier" (multipurpose community outreach and development centres).

Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI)

The Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) complements efforts made as part of CIDA's bilateral activities, adds an element of flexibility to the structure of Canadian development programs, and gives posts a means to respond more quickly and effectively to local demands and needs in countries of accreditation. Finally, CFLI funds a type of project that lends itself more easily to active participation by local communities.

With an annual resource envelope of about C$250,000, CFLI aims to reduce poverty in communities through ad hoc activities that focus on meeting basic human needs (water, primary education, market gardening), economic growth (agri-food production and processing units, sewing shops and so on), environmental improvement (waste collection and processing, composting, recycling of plastic bags), and technical and organizational capacity building of women and youth.

Regional Program

On another level, Senegal benefits from some of the activities of the Regional Program, Africa and the Middle East Branch (AMEB), which offer a common solution to a number of countries facing the same problems: 1) Support in Regulating Savings and Credit Unions in WAEMU Member Countries, which aims to ensure access to tailored financial services provided by recognized financial institutions and offering a good degree of security for their members or users; 2) West Africa AIDS Program, which seeks to minimize the spread of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases; 3) Support for Fishery Resource Management Initiatives (Sigreh), which aims to strengthen sub-regional cooperation and to improve fishery resource management; 4) OMVS Energy Development Project, which seeks to equip the Manantali hydro-electric power project to achieve a capacity of 200 MW and to install an economically viable power grid.

PanAfrican and Francophonie Program

Sample project:

Lead International , 1999-2004

The key partners in this project are Lead International and Enda Tiers-Monde. The Francophone African component of the LEAD program is one of the concrete results of the last Francophone summit, which was held in Moncton, Canada, in September 1999. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has provided $3.7M in funding over four years to execute this project. The Francophone African Lead program is designed to train young Francophone African leaders to increase their understanding of sustainable development.

Canadian Partnership

Through its Partnership Program, CIDA financially supports development projects and activities executed in Senegal by Canadian institutions, associations, non-governmental organizations and private business firms, in close cooperation with Senegalese counterpart organizations.

A large volume of activities attests to the vitality of partnership in institutional and industrial cooperation.

Institutional Cooperation Program

Several Canadian universities and colleges, as well as organizations specializing in international cooperation (CECI, World Vision, Plan International, CCODP [Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace], CODE [Canadian Organization for Development through Education], Oxfam Quebec, Partnership Africa Canada, World without Borders, YMCA Canada, Inter Pares, Institut Cardinal Léger contre la lèpre) are active in Senegal in a wide range of sectors: technical and vocational training, food security, primary health care, water, literacy and revenue-generating activities. These activities are complemented by the sending of volunteer advisers (CESO [Canadian Executive Service Organization]) and young interns (CCI [Canadian Crossroads International], Jeunesse du Monde, Club 2/3).

Here are some examples:

The CAERENAD Program (Centre d'Application, d'Études et de Ressources en apprentissage à distance) [distance learning application, study and resource centre]

The project comprises five countries (Senegal, Mauritius, Costa Rica, Chile, Brazil) with a total value of $13,204,451, including $4,997,451 in funding from CIDA, over a five-year period from January 1998 to December 2004.

In cooperation with Télé-Université (Téluq Canada) Cheikh Anta Diop University and École Normale Supérieure.

Aim: To develop and establish a centre to bring together educational institutions. To promote multilateral communication and the exchange of information through networking among partner institutions.

Institutional Support to enhance the quality of vocational training in the private sector through the use of computers

October 1997-September 2001
Collège Édouard Montpetit
Collège St-Michel (Dakar)
CIDA contribution: $392,234 for three countries

Réseau de Formation Informatique

Association of Canadian Community Colleges
Partners
Collège St-Michel (Dakar)
Instec (Abidjan)
Collège Enseignement Technique (Cameroon)

To contribute to the economic growth of the countries concerned by supporting them in their private sector development effort by developing the human resources and computer skills at their disposal.

CIDA funding: $350,000
Start date: November 4, 1998

CIDA's scholarship program for Senegalese students is another aspect of institutional cooperation. The following scholarships and fellowships are available to Senegal:

Canadian Francophonie Scholarships Program

Francophonie scholarships are awarded by competition for studies leading to a bachelor's, master's or doctor's degree in Canada.

Marine Scholarship Program

The Marine Scholarship Program awards over 20 scholarships each year to specific programs in French leading to a master's degree in marine resource management at Université du Québec à Rimouski, or in English leading to a master's degree in ocean management at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia.

Federation of Canadian Municipalities

This CIDA-funded program partners Canadian municipalities with local governments in less developed countries for human resources development. Activities aim to strengthen municipal management and governance methods.

Additional Canadian Partnership information is available on the Branch's web site.

Doing business with CIDA
Funding
Youth
International Youth Internships
NGOs
Scholarship Programs
AUCC
Partners

Industrial Cooperation Program -

Over 20 Canadian private businesses execute CIDA-funded technology transfer and human resources training projects in a variety of sectors: construction, electrical and electromechanical engineering, higher education, publishing, urban traffic and transportation, water supply, engineering, municipal waste collection, environmental impact assessments and mining.

This business partnership has even produced a few joint ventures: the Canada-Senegal consortium with Le Groupe Chagnon and Keur Khadim (a household waste collection firm), Ba Eau Bab (quality water treatment and supply), Socere Lambert Somec (installation of power distribution systems), and Sorem (electromechanical repairs).

Multilateral Program and initiatives

Senegal benefits from Canada's multilateral cooperation. Canada plays a leading role in key international organizations, such as the United Nations, the Commonwealth and La Francophonie, and in international financial institutions. Through these organizations and institutions, Canada is able to wield greater influence in international development and to address major problems affecting Senegal (environment, security, trade, children's rights, health and so on) that are too broad to be addressed solely at the bilateral or national level.

Multilateral
Financing bank information:
Link to IDRC and other international organizations

International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

Created in 1972, IDRC's regional office for Western and Central Africa (BRACO) is based in Dakar and covers 24 countries. Its mission is to ensure IDRC's active presence in the region and to implement its programs by supporting its partners' development research efforts. These projects are spearheaded mainly by universities, government ministries, researchers or NGOs. They encompass a variety of fields, such as new technologies, capacity building and institutional support, education, health, economics, information and communication.

To find out more

IDRC Senegal site

CIDA AND GUINEA BISSAU

Bilateral Program

The aid program in Guinea Bissau currently involves small projects financed by the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) (C$200,000 for the 2001-2002 fiscal year), as well as regional, PanAfrican and Francophonie projects, such as the following:

CIDA AND GAMBIA

Canada has provided aid to Gambia since 1961.

Bilateral Program

The aid program in Gambia involves small projects financed by the Canadian Fund for Local initiatives (CFLI) (C$200,000 for the 2001-2002 fiscal year).

Regional Program

PanAfrican Program

Institutional Cooperation Program

Some Canadian universities and colleges (Saint Mary's University, Dalhousie University, Okanagan College, Carleton University) are active in Gambia in various sectors: technical and vocational training, advanced training, agriculture, and so on.

Here are some examples:

Project: Capacity Building for Higher Education:

In cooperation with Saint Mary's University

Gambia has established the objective of using its tertiary-level educational institutions as a basis for building the country's first university. The project is designed to establish a system of higher education, to develop a national intellectual elite, and to focus efforts on national development. The initiative stems from the many ties that institutions in Nova Scotia have forged in Gambia over the past 20 years, especially with the continuing education program at Saint Mary's University. Activities focus on strengthening the administrative structure of higher education in Gambia, policy development and planning mechanisms, and management and administration systems.

West African Centre for Rural Development

The Gambia Technical Training Institute and Okanagan University College will create a centre that will train community development workers and community leaders throughout West Africa, and will work with regional NGOs and government agencies. This centre will form part of the new University of Gambia.

Having played a key role in creating in Gambia's first university, Saint Mary's University will cooperate in this project as well.

CIDA AND CAPE VERDE

Canada's aid program in Cape Verde involves small projects financed by the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) (C$250,000 for the 2001-2002 fiscal year), as well as regional, PanAfrican and Francophonie projects, such as the following:

CIDA AND MAURITANIA

Bilateral Program

CIDA has been active in Mauritania since 1966.

In January 1996, the Government of Mauritania and the Government of Canada signed a development cooperation agreement to establish an economic partnership and to promote development cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

Today, to promote economic cooperation with Mauritania, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has established a line of credit for the procurement of Canadian goods and services. Importers must reimburse the cost of the goods and services they procure. The funds collected will be deposited in a development fund, and the revenues will be used to implement poverty reduction projects. CIDA is committed to providing infrastructure for the poorest, while creating business and job opportunities in implementing this infrastructure, through parallel financing with the World Bank and in accordance with its terms and conditions.

Main Achievements

The bilateral aid program in Mauritania currently involves the following projects:
1) Poverty Reduction: project started up in 1996. The executing agency for this project is the Agence mauritanienne d'exécution de travaux d'intérêt public pour l'emploi (AMEXTIPE);
2)Emerge of Savings Banks and Credit Unions. This project started up in 1998. The executing agency for this project is Développement international Desjardins (DID). Small projects financed by the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) are also under way (C$225,000 for 2001-2002).

Integration of Women in Development - a priority in CIDA programs - Special attention will be focused on gender issues in implementing all projects, and on environmental problems. These two terms are central to Canada's concerns in all of its projects in Mauritania.

PANAFRICAN AND FRANCOPHONIE PROGRAM

Institutional Cooperation Program

Several Canadian partners, colleges and organizations specializing in international cooperation are active in Mauritania in a wide range of training activities for example: technical and vocational activities.

Sample projects

Women and Entrepreneurship Project

To contribute to the economic and social development process, CÉGEP de Jonquière and CEGEP de St-Jérôme have developed a project allowing women in Mauritania to acquire skills that will help them to make their work more valuable and promote their integration in women's non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The project will establish an organizational unit attached to the state secretariat for the development of women entrepreneurs. The unit has a mandate to train resources that can effectively interact with women entrepreneurs.