On 25 March 2021, the French Development Agency signed a financing agreement with the NGO Solthis for the SANSAS project (Sexual and Reproductive Health of Adolescents and Youth in Senegal). Coordinated by the NGO Solthis, in consortium with ENDA Santé, Equipop, LARTES and RAES, this project was made possible by a financial contribution from the European Union.8 million from AFD. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of His Excellency Mr Philippe Lalliot, French Ambassador to Senegal, Ms Diane Jegam, Deputy Director of AFD, and representatives of the consortium.
The aim of the project is to improve access to sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) for young people and adolescents in Senegal by building on an active civil society. The project will work to expand and better adapt sexual and reproductive health care and services, strengthen the skills of health professionals, teachers and educational staff, parents and community leaders, reduce gender-based discrimination and violence, and provide communities and decision-makers with in-depth knowledge to influence the adoption of more SRHR-friendly policies.
The project will actively involve the 25,000 young people and adolescents targeted, in order to foster their ownership andempowerment. It will also reach 260 health professionals, 200 community health workers from 30 health facilities, 125 local and national policy makers, 920 school staff, 12,240 parents and 200 community, religious and traditional leaders.
LARTES will carry out several studies as part of a research approach conducted with the operational actors. A study will be carried out on the 20 intervention municipalities in order to deepen the analysis of the intervention context.
"AFD intends to complement current interventions in Senegal in the area of maternal and child health. The focus is on gender equality and capacity building for civil society organizations in order to develop sexual and reproductive health rights and family planning," explains Alexandre Pointier, AFD's Director in Dakar.
"Bringing quality health services closer to communities and specifically meeting the needs of adolescents and young people, whether in rural or urban areas, is a major challenge for Senegal. To achieve this, it is important to rely on a strong mobilisation of communities and their resources - community leaders, women's and civil society organisations, youth associations, etc." Daouda Diouf, Executive Director of ENDA Santé.
Photo, from left to right: Ms. Diane Jegam, Deputy Director AFD; Ms. Mbathio Diaw, Executive Director RAES; Dr. Sanata Diallo, Head of Mission Senegal Solthis; Mr. Philippe Lalliot, Ambassador of France to Senegal; Ms. Ndeye Marième Ly Diagne, Equipop Programme Officer; Ms. Rokhaya Cissé, Researcher LARTES; Ms. Nguissali Turpin, Deputy Director ENDA Santé.
