Dakar, 9 October 2023 – A delegation of 18 members of the Executive Boards of UNICEF, UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS, WFP and UN-Women completed a five-day joint field visit to Senegal last Friday.

The joint visit was a significant opportunity for the delegation to witness firsthand the commendable support being provided by the UN in supporting the country’s implementation of the strategic pillars of the Plan for an Emerging Senegal. The visionary plan is a roadmap designed to provide structural transformation of Senegal's economy, nurture human capital, and promote good governance and the rule of law, ensuring the country meets its development ambitions by 2035.

During the visit, the delegation engaged in rich discussions with high-level government officials, municipal authorities, civil society representatives, the private sector, local communities and youth. An introductory meeting with Aminata Maiga, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Senegal, alongside the UN Country Team, highlighted the six UN entities' intricate workings and joint efforts in fostering sustainable development in Senegal. The delegation also had an opportunity to engage with the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), the Office of the Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel (OSCDS), the Development Cooperation Office (DCO) and other regional teams with a presence in Senegal on emerging opportunities and challenges in the region.

A notable highlight of the visit was the delegation's meeting with Amadou Ba, Prime Minister of Senegal, who commended the efforts of the UN system and reaffirmed the country's continued commitment to multilateralism and cooperation with the UN.

The delegation also met with Aïssata Tall Sall, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Senegalese Diaspora; Oulimata Sarr, Minister of Econony, Planning and Cooperation; Dr Marie Khémesse Ngom Ndiaye, Minister of Health and Social Welfare and other high-level officials.

On Tuesday morning, the delegation headed to Diamniadio, where its members toured the new United Nations House. The state-of-the-art building, graciously funded by the Government of Senegal, will house all United Nations organizations in Senegal and about 2,000 staff and is set to be inaugurated later this year.

From Tuesday afternoon to Thursday, the delegation split into two groups and headed to the field to gain a first-hand view of the impact of UN-supported interventions across the Dakar and Thiès regions and Southern Senegal, as well as understand how different agencies fulfil their respective mandates in Senegal. 

In the Dakar and Thiès regions, the delegation visited several projects and programmes led by UN entities. From empowering women, building community resilience, ensuring access to justice, strengthening the use of data, and empowering young people, the initiatives showcased the dynamism of the UN's engagement in the country.

In Casamance, Southern Senegal, the delegation in this group visited innovative community initiatives supported by the UN aimed at ending female genital mutilation, improving adolescent, maternal and child health, youth empowerment, improving access to and quality of water, hygiene and sanitation and promoting school feeding to support the country’s efforts towards inclusive and quality education.

As the visit concluded, the delegation expressed profound appreciation for the cohesive inter-agency coordination of the UN in Senegal, lauding its instrumental role in the country's developmental journey.

This is the executive board visit in photos: Flickr