Senegal confirms its position as a central country for climate finance and economic cooperation in Africa. In recent years, Dakar has strengthened its climate policy framework with the aim of transforming environmental commitments into concrete opportunities for development and investment for the private sector. This path fits within the framework of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the action plans established under the Paris Agreement through which each country defines how it intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen its capacity to adapt to climate change. In its NDC, Senegal has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 7% unconditionally and up to 29% with international support by 2030. Mitigation measures focus in particular on energy, agriculture and land use, waste, and industrial processes. On the adaptation side, identified priorities include coastal erosion, agriculture and food security, water resources, fisheries, and health. Overall, the estimated cost of implementing Senegal’s NDC over the 2020–2030 period amounts to approximately 13 billion dollars. Translating these objectives into concrete results requires more than strategies and planning documents. It requires targeted investments in infrastructure, technologies, and sustainable business models capable of attracting both public and private capital. It is precisely at this transition, from climate plan to bankable project, that the work of the UNDP Rome Centre for Climate Action and Energy Transition is positioned. With the support of the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, the Centre has established PISTA (Platform for Investment Support and Technical Assistance), designed to help partner countries move from climate plans to financeable projects. 

UNDP in Senegal 

In Senegal, PISTA operates along three main directions, all directly linked to the country’s climate and economic priorities: large value-chain infrastructure, climate-relevant small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and a pipeline of future climate investments. One of the most advanced initiatives concerns the development of a strategic cold chain infrastructure for the agri-food sector, promoted by the Ifria Cold Chain Development Company. The project involves the construction of a greenfield logistics hub with a capacity of 10,000 pallet positions, located in the Diamniadio industrial zone, about 35 kilometers from Dakar, a key area for the country’s production and export flows. With an estimated financial requirement of between 19 and 20 million dollars, the project was launched in 2025. In this context, PISTA provides the technical assistance needed to raise the project’s standards to the levels required by international markets, facilitating dialogue with institutions such as the Italian Climate Fund managed by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti. The initiative is consistent both with Senegal’s NDC priorities, particularly regarding the strengthening of agricultural value chains and the reduction of waste, and with the Mattei Plan, the strategic program through which Italy aims to strengthen economic relations and cooperation with the African continent. 

Digital foundations for climate action and investment channels 

Senegal is also one of the priority countries of the Italy–Africa Digital Flagship initiative. In this context, UNDP supported the design process and stakeholder engagement, in coordination with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Italian Embassy in Dakar, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, and Italian partners. Particular attention was devoted to the development of bankable concept notes, aligned with the national priorities defined in Senegal’s Vision 2050. In the agricultural sector, for example, a concept on smart agriculture and digital innovation was developed together with the Senegalese Ministry of Agriculture, focusing on digital services for farmers, technological solutions, and improved coordination with existing agricultural programs and value-chain initiatives. At the same time, concept notes were developed with key public institutions, such as the national tax authority and the national electricity company, highlighting the role of digital public infrastructure and service modernization as cross-cutting drivers for economic efficiency, inclusion, and institutional strengthening. 

The role of SMEs 

In the Senegalese context, a significant share of climate-related innovation and services in the economy passes through small and medium-sized enterprises active in sectors such as solar energy, agricultural processing, water resource management, and digital solutions for agriculture. These companies often find themselves in a “missing middle”: too large to access small grants, yet too small, or perceived as too risky, for traditional bank credit, despite their central role in achieving NDC objectives and national development goals. To address this challenge, the Rome Centre and UNDP’s Africa Sustainable Finance Hub launched a new application round dedicated to SMEs under the PISTA initiative, titled “SDG Pipeline Builder x PISTA – Scaling African SMEs in Climate Resilience.” The initiative aims to support a selected group of local enterprises in strengthening governance and business planning, enabling them to become reliable partners for future economic and commercial collaborations with Italian and European actors. This focus on SMEs aligns with the objectives of the Mattei Plan, which seeks to develop instruments capable of supporting private sector investments (including foreign investments beyond Italian ones) in African economies, while mobilizing risk capital and climate-related guarantees. By strengthening the pipeline of investable SMEs in Senegal, PISTA contributes to creating potential partners, suppliers, and investors for future economic cooperation between Italy and Africa. 

The global call 

To further expand the investment portfolio, PISTA launched its second global call on 15 January 2026. The call offers technical assistance tickets of up to 450,000 dollars per project, covering essential activities such as feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments, and financial structuring. Senegal is among the eight African countries eligible for this initiative, which supports projects already at an advanced stage of development in sectors such as clean energy, green manufacturing, and the blue economy. For Senegal, the call represents a structured channel for preparing new projects capable of contributing to mitigation or adaptation objectives, while helping to bridge the NDC financing gap. Rather than seeking ad hoc support, public entities, public–private partnerships, and private developers can collaborate with the UNDP national office to submit proposals that meet clear eligibility and evaluation criteria, moving beyond a logic of fragmented interventions or initiatives tied to isolated circumstances.

This article was originally published in Italian in the magazine Africa e Affari.