CRS in Senegal

Catholic Relief Services has worked in Senegal for over 63 years. As one of the first international NGOs to begin working in Senegal after it gained independence in 1960, CRS’ long-term presence has allowed it to respond effectively to changing conditions within the country. With two regional offices (in Tambacounda and Ziguinchor) and central headquarters in Dakar, CRS Senegal supports programming throughout the country as well as in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.  Interventions across the country program focus on livelihoods, education and development, peacebuilding and social cohesion, youth leadership and employment, and humanitarian response.

Promoting Local Leadership

CRS places particular emphasis on supporting local institutions in achieving their ambitions to be effective, dynamic, and sustainable catalysts of change for the people and communities they serve. We believe that by investing in people and strengthening local institutions, we support their ability to lead their own development, increasing the impact of programs and services and implementing sustainable solutions.

CRS Senegal has worked with more than 50 partners to achieve its mission and project goals. Partners are primarily governments and ministries, local NGOs, community members, and church organizations, among many others.

Our Vision 2030

Our vision is that all human beings will realize their full God-given human potential in just and peaceful societies that respect the dignity of each person and the integrity of creation. The strategic vision of the Country Program respond to this overall vision of the Agency and to the following areas of action that correspond to the Agency's expected results.

Overall vision guides the Country Program’s areas of action, which are the following:

Goal Area 1 | All people Live in Just and Peaceful Societies. 

Aliwili II – We Rise Together!

Promotes peaceful and cohesive communities, with a focus on environmental conflict resolution, to enhance social and economic development.

Goal Area 2 | All People Survive and Thrive in the Face of Disasters. 

ARC (Africa Risk Capacity) Replica

Improves humanitarian response to food crisis, especially in drought-affected areas, as well as community mitigation strategies.

Goal Area 3 | All People Achieve Dignified and Resilient Livelihoods in Flourishing Landscapes. 

Bey Daare Project

Improves agricultural productivity, food security, and hygiene in the south of Senegal

Goal Area 4 | All Children Reach Their Full Health and Development Potential in Safe and Nurturing Families. 

Community-Based Disease Surveillance

Ensures Senegal is prepared to respond to disease outbreak.

Iron Fish

Addresses food insecurity and anemia in rural Senegal.

NFM3 Senegal

Fights tuberculosis and malaria while supporting the establishment of a resilient and sustainable health system.

Goal Area 5 | All Young People Are Empowered to Thrive.

Global Youth Opportunity Network (GOYN)

Drives change through fostering greater collaboration, data-driven strategies, as well as youth mobilization and advocacy.

CRS' History in Senegal

Catholic Relief Services has worked in Senegal for over 55 years. One of the first international NGOs to begin working in Senegal after it gained independence in 1960, CRS' long-term presence has allowed us to respond effectively to changing conditions within the country. With two regional offices and a central headquarters in Dakar, CRS Senegal also supports programming in The Gambia, Mauritania, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde. CRS supports vulnerable populations from all five countries through its work which responds to natural disasters, separatist violence, economic fluctuations, public health emergencies and malnutrition. With a strong focus on partnership and capacity building, CRS and its partners implement projects that yield immediate results and that are sustainable for years to come.

Our nutrition programming is centered on improving food security, nutrition, improved sanitation and hygiene practices, and resilience for those suffering from food crises and chronic vulnerability. Our projects include conservation agriculture, food-for-work, cash-for-work, unconditional cash transfers, agricultural input and livestock fairs, and community garden activities. We are also focusing on the nutritional and income needs of pregnant and breastfeeding women, and reducing child malnutrition through monitoring and community health care services.

Along with supporting livelihoods through nutrition programming, CRS is working to ensure that communities are protected when emergencies happen or disaster hits. Through community tailored projects, we are helping vulnerable households become more resilient to current and future disasters, such as insect invasions, floods, drought, public health epidemics and extreme price fluctuations of agricultural commodities. 

The health of a country is only as healthy as its people. This is why CRS Senegal has also prioritized supporting the Ministry of Health in strengthening the health system. We increase the quality of community health services by training community based volunteers in basic health care and healthy behaviors such as seeking medical care when necessary, recognizing, addressing and preventing  malnutrition, enrolling in universal health care,  child vaccination, malaria and TB prevention and treatment, and good hygiene and sanitation practices.

Healthcare, nutrition and resilience are linked to microfinance. CRS Senegal understands the critical role of microfinance in interventions. Through savings groups, financial education, value chain development, marketing, microenterprise training and ICT4D, we are committed to developing innovative initiatives to help households become financially secure.

We are also promoting peace by supporting communities in the Casamance area to resolve conflicts around natural resource management. We bring communities together through conflict mitigation and resolution training, gender integration activities, community connector projects, and savings and internal lending community (SILC) activities. 

Through innovation, partnership and humble service, we are dedicated to serving the people of Senegal and neighboring countries until communities are restored and high risk populations are guaranteed a thriving future.