Senegal

The Senegal 2050 National Agenda for Transformation, the Plan Sénégal Émergent Phase III (2024–2028) and the National Green Growth Strategy (2022) now provide an integrated framework for transitioning toward a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy. The Plan Sénégal Émergent Phase III reinforces the integration of green and circular economy principles across major investment programmes. The National Green Growth Strategy sets out sectoral roadmaps in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, waste management and ecosystem restoration, while also emphasizing social inclusion. It is aligned with the country’s Second Nationally Determined Contribution (2023), which targets a 29.5% emissions reduction by 2030 (unconditional) and 47.5% (conditional), alongside adaptation goals in agriculture, coastal protection and water resource management. Senegal’s Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS), submitted in 2023, commits to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Implementation remains a challenge, however, as institutional capacity, coordination among ministrie, domestic financing mechanisms and the economic context lag behind the policy ambition.

Measures are voluntary standards rather than mandatory regulation with clear incentives for the private sector. The country has a commitment to gender equality in the public sphere according to the 2010 Parity Law, that has increased women's representation in elected bodies, but the law does not currently extend to a gender quota for corporate boards. The 2025 Investment Code introduces a Socially Responsible Investments regime. This is a national strategy to promote private sector alignment with sustainability and inclusiveness. National development strategies such as the Plan Sénégal Emergent II and Vision 2050 integrate SDG targets and call for increased private sector contribution. This commitment, together with the OHADA Uniform Act on Commercial Companies and Economic Interest Groups, which provides a corporate governance framework, offers voluntary guidance. However, the OHADA framework is shareholder-centric and does not mandate employee representation on boards or specific ESG disclosures aligned with the SDGs.

The Access to Information Law (2025) and the Whistleblower Protection Law (2025), alongside the launch of a National Dialogue (2025), establish strong consultation mechanisms at the national level. There are mandatory consultation processes for specific new legislation, such as the 2025 Investment Code. However, the requirement for mandatory impact assessments for all national policies and legislation remains ad-hoc. The system of High Councils serve as formal venues for stakeholder engagement in environmental, economic and social policymaking and national dialogues.

The Plan Sénégal Émergent Phase III (2024–2028) explicitly commits to developing indicators of inclusive and sustainable growth beyond GDP, including social inclusion, human capital and environmental sustainability indicators. The Senegal 2050 National Agenda for Transformation includes non-monetary development dimensions, focusing on health, education and sustainability. Senegal's National Agency for Statistics and Demography is generating social and environmental indicators. However, these metrics are not yet integrated into a national wealth framework or mandatory policy cycle dashboard.

Senegal has adopted clear credible green finance proposals that explicitly address both investment and regulatory frameworks. The 2025 Investment Code introduces a regime for Socially Responsible Investments and facilitates Strategic Investments aligned with national development, representing a concrete framework for green investment incentives. The 2025 Finance Bill formalizes the integration of the environmental dimension in public policies and includes the quantification of environmental budgetary risks. On the banking and stress-testing side, the BCEAO (Central Bank of West African States, of which Senegal is a member) continues to undertake a regular financial stress-testing framework. While global and regional peers are moving to integrate climate-related risks, the BCEAO has not yet publicly mandated the inclusion of environmental or social factors into its regular stress tests.

"Senegal’s 2025 Finance Bill and the World Bank–supported SEN‑FINTRAC program modernize public finance by introducing digital procurement, e‑invoicing, performance‑based customs, and enhanced debt transparency. These reforms aim to mobilize domestic resources and strengthen fiscal management. The Central Bank maintains a focus on inflation and macroeconomic stability, with no mandatory climate stress‑testing framework in place for the financial sector. There is also no scaled integration of environmental risk assessments into fiscal or monetary policy.

The country faces structural challenges as a developing economy, with a strong emphasis on attracting foreign direct investment for its new oil and gas sector. This makes it challenging to adopt and enforce higher environmental standards.

Senegal's trade policy is influenced by its membership in regional bodies and its bilateral relationships, like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union. While the AfCFTA and the EPA contain general language on sustainable development, they lack specific, legally binding, and high-standard green provisions. The main focus of these agreements is on tariff liberalization and market access. Environmental considerations are often treated as secondary.

Senegal remains in an exploratory phase for carbon pricing and carbon budgeting. The country has commissioned consultations and studies on a carbon tax (like a UNFCCC consultation) to assess the risks and opportunities of introducing carbon pricing. No carbon budget in place beyond NDC's political commitment to reduce emissions.

The National Adaptation Plan for Agriculture (NAP‑Agri 2025) introduces climate‑resilient land, water, seed, and renewable energy strategies for rural areas. Integrated into the broader “Senegal 2050” vision, it is supported by intersectoral coordination bodies. The WFP 2025–2029 Country Strategic Plan complements this with climate‑smart agriculture and ecosystem restoration measures. Monitoring is carried out through national and regional governance structures to ensure cross‑sector alignment.

Senegal has some policies and pilot programmes related to circular economy, especially waste management, reuse/recycling and public awareness. But not yet an economy-wide roadmap or action plan with binding targets nor strong implementation/enforcement across sectors.

Senegal's Zero Waste Programme & Law on Plastic Waste (Law 2020-04) addresses plastic waste and extends producer responsibility, and restricts single-use plastic products. Senegal’s Public Procurement Code requires contracting authorities to make environmental criteria part of procurement.

Senegal has conducted sector reports and policy studies via EU cooperation under “Circular Economy in Africa-EU Cooperation”.

Senegal's green transport and mobility policy is primarily focused on Dakar, where the government has made substantial investments, like the new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, that features an all-electric fleet and is part of a broader plan to restructure the city's public transport network. The country's Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan focuses on a multimodal transport system that favors public transport. This includes not only the electric BRT but also the Regional Express Train.

Besides that, there is no national policy with specific targets for private vehicle emissions or a robust system of incentives. Tax incentives and reduced import duties are in place, but they lack a well-funded, continuous program, and a national EV charging network is still in its early development.

"Senegal targets 30% renewables in its electricity mix by 2025, primarily through solar, wind, and biomass deployment. Notable projects include the Taïba N’Diaye Wind Farm and several Scaling Solar initiatives. The Renewable Energy Law offers tax incentives and partial government guarantees to support investment. While grid-based clean power is growing fast, there are no formal 90% final-energy renewables targets, and fossil fuels remain prevalent in transport and industry.

"Senegal’s National Employment Policy (NEP 2025)—crafted with ILO support—prioritizes green job creation in agriculture, energy, and waste management. It features a roadmap for implementation and a multisectoral participatory framework. While the strategy is fully defined, a comprehensive just-transition plan with sector-wide coordination is still being finalized.

Senegal signed a Just Energy Transition Partnership with the EU in 2023, receiving a €2.5 billion financing pledge to accelerate its green transition. The new government, which took office in 2024, has made a priority citizen benefit sharing in the oil and gas sector. The Minister of Energy and Mines announced that the hydrocarbon codes are being revised to improve revenue distribution and ensure local citizens benefit from the new resource wealth. The Programme d'Urgence de Développement Communautaire continues its work to reduce inequalities between urban and rural areas by providing basic infrastructure and supporting rural productivity, now within the framework of the new Vision Senegal 2050. Senegal is actively using national dialogues that involve parliamentarians, civil society and the private sector.

Senegal adopted a Law on the Social and Solidarity Economy in 2020 that provides legal recognition and a structured framework for the sector. The new 2025 Investment Code introduces a Socially Responsible Investments (SRI) regime, while the World Bank's Program for Accelerating Competitiveness and Employment includes support for MSMEs adopting innovative and climate-smart technologies. Additionally, the government has adopted a Green Budget and a Green Taxonomy to channel sustainable finance.

"Senegal’s 2025–2029 Country Strategic Plan integrates adaptive social protection targeting climate‑vulnerable groups. The WFP supports climate‑smart nutrition-sensitive safety nets and rural resilience initiatives. The government is digitizing social registries and expanding social coverage to include informal workers. These multi-partner efforts are embedded within national development planning, positioning Senegal as a regional leader in climate‑sensitive social protection.

Senegal has not yet adopted an updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The government is preparing a draft with technical support from BIOFIN and the Global Environment Facility. The removal of the Niokolo-Koba National Park from UNESCO's "in danger" list in 2024 and the ongoing work on an MPA roadmap (2025) show effective implementation. Senegal remains engaged in the Great Green Wall Initiative and REDD+ readiness activities, focusing on land restoration, desertification control and reforestation. The Plan Sénégal Émergent Phase III (2024–2028) and Vision 2050 reaffirm the government’s commitment to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem-based adaptation. Monitoring and reporting capacity has somewhat improved thanks to data collection by the Centre de Suivi Écologique.

Senegal has engaged in technical cooperation regarding natural capital accounts. In 2021, the Senegalese Agency for Statistics and Demography and other national environmental agencies participated in training to implement the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) Ecosystem Accounting framework, specifically using the ARIES for SEEA Explorer tool. While an independent Natural Capital Committee is not yet in place, a formal advisory body on climate and environment has been established.

Senegal's agricultural policy is currently dominated by the national push for food sovereignty, which has been a top priority for the government. The WFP Country Strategic Plan (2025-2029) for Senegal includes priorities around resilient food systems, and the country initiated the Food Sovereignty and Resilience Programme, running until 2031, focusing on modernising farming, expanding irrigation and improving food security.

Senegal launched a National Agricultural Adaptation Plan in April 2025, which seeks to make agriculture more resilient and address climate change.

The government has signaled its support for agroecological practices through partnerships and pilot projects. There is a growing understanding that transitioning to more regenerative models of food production can enhance food security and reduce the ecological footprint. However, these efforts are not yet scaled up into a national framework.

Policy on food waste and diets is still in its early stages.

The government’s Biodiversity Finance Plan (BIOFIN, 2024 update), developed with UNDP, identifies over 20 potential finance solutions, including green taxes, biodiversity offsets, and payments for ecosystem services, and provides a roadmap to reduce the estimated biodiversity financing gap by 2030. However, implementation is at an early stage. Senegal has introduced several pilot financial instruments. These include the Blue Bond Initiative (2024) to fund coastal ecosystem protection and sustainable fisheries, and the Fonds de Développement Durable et de la Transition Écologique. Fiscal policies continue to include environmentally harmful subsidies, notably for fossil fuels and industrial fishing. There is also limited direct financial channeling to local communities for biodiversity stewardship, and environmental taxation remains underdeveloped.

The Plan Sénégal Émergent Phase III (2024–2028) prioritize a “green and resilient economy”. Infrastructure investments under the Programme d’Urgence de Modernisation des Villes et Communes and Projet de Développement Inclusif et Durable de l’Agribusiness incorporate climate resilience and resource efficiency criteria. However, green conditionality remains weak in industrial recovery programs, particularly those supporting fossil fuel development and industrial modernization.