Despite progress, Senegal remains a poor country, with an average yearly income of about US$850 per person. Poverty (defined as living on less than $.63 per day) has dropped from 68 percent in 1994 to about 50 percent today. But such poverty remains widespread, limiting opportunities for many Senegalese. Especially hard hit are the extremely young: One out of every four children under age five is malnourished.
The Nutrition Enhancement Project for Senegal aimed at enhancing nutritional conditions of vulnerable populations. The project collaborated with local NGOs to extend nutrition and growth promotion into rural areas in three regions: Fatick, Kaolack, and Kolda. It also contracted 12 NGOs to implement 34 district-level subprojects, while collaborating closely with local government. It mobilized health and nutrition workers in each community who provided growth-monitoring services, counseling to pregnant women and mothers of young children, and the delivery of essential services such as vaccination, de-worming and micronutrient supplementation.
The project resulted in a 17 percent reduction in the risk of malnutrition for children in the project area.
Of the total project cost of US$20.2 million, IDA’s contribution amounted to US$15 million. It was approved in March 2002 and closed in July 2006.
Ministries, donors, and NGOs have proved active partners in the design, implementation, and monitoring of the program. Financing came from the following development partners:
- African Development Bank: US$4.5 million,
- UN Children's Fund: US$3.3 million,
- World Food Program: US$2.7 million, and
- Other multilateral institutions: US$0.6 million.
The first project showed such promising results that the World Bank and the Government of Senegal have moved forward with Senegal Nutrition Enhancement Project II, approved in November 2006. With a total project cost of US$42.4 million, it aims to extend outreach to enhance nutritional conditions of vulnerable populations.
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