- Senegal - Intervita

Intervita works in Senegal

Why we workSenegal's economy has experienced a severe crisis as from the late 1970s. Problems that have never been solved and that have worsened since the fall of the international market of phosphate and peanut prices, two of the main productions of this African state. This scarce development has resulted in unsustainable living conditions for much of the population: almost 60% of inhabitants live on less than two dollars a day.
The area of the Peanut Basin, thus called due to the widespread diffusion of this type of crop, has been particularly affected by the price drops of this product on the international market. Other problems of the Basin regions include the progressive impoverishing of the soil and periodical drought.
Most of the population lives with agricultural activities, animal rearing and handicraft. These productions have the potential to develop into an organized market and thereby improve the region’s economy.

Our aimsTo encourage the development of micro entrepreneurialism in the regions of Fatick and Kaolack, thereby improving the population’s economy and living conditions.

How we workThe project involves 45 micro enterprises (associations and individual), of which 25 are in the Kaolack region and 20 in Fatick.
The beneficiaries are therefore groups of small-scale producers, farmers and artisans. Of these, 75% are groups of women, young adults and handicapped, those who have least opportunity to access education and financial resources. In general, all those involved in the project are in difficulty in running their economic activity.

Description of the projectThe project is developed by a local partner, the NGO CESAO, which proposes the objective of developing disadvantaged rural communities in the areas in which it works, both in terms of economics and rights. The first phase of the project consists of an in-depth analysis of the local market of the micro enterprises concerned.
A data bank will be created that the beneficiaries will be able to
consult, and which will serve as a basis for future action. Later, training courses will be developed to give groups of beneficiaries technical knowledge on management and update them with regard to production techniques used in agriculture and farming. The last phase will support the micro enterprises in the promotion of the product on the local market and in preparing loan applications (micro credit) to strengthen and extend their work.