UNCDF in Senegal
West and Central Africa and the Caribbean Region
Investment grants
Our work
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), in close collaboration with the Government of Senegal and development partners, supports inclusive and climate-resilient growth. Through innovative financing mechanisms, UNCDF channels resources to local governments, communities, and small enterprises to strengthen resilience, foster sustainable livelihoods, and promote economic opportunity.
By combining catalytic finance with technical assistance and partnerships with national institutions, UNCDF helps local authorities implement climate solutions, strengthen public financial management, and promote inclusive economic development.
Strengthening climate resilience through local climate finance
UNCDF, in partnership with the Government of Senegal, is piloting the Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL) to channel climate finance directly to municipalities. Through Performance-Based Climate Resilience Grants (PBCRGs), LoCAL supports local governments in integrating climate adaptation into planning and budgeting while strengthening public financial management and accountability.
With UNCDF support and in collaboration with ADL (Agency of Local Development) and DCCTEFV ( Directorate of Climate Change, Ecological Transition, and Green Financing), three pilot communes—Tambacounda, Thiomby, and Balingore—are receiving $210,000 PBCRGs grants .
These funds finance climate-resilient infrastructure, water management, and sustainable agriculture based on locally identified priorities. By combining financing with capacity building, LoCAL provides Senegal with a transparent and effective mechanism for accessing and managing climate finance.
Exchange and attentive listening with producers. Photo: ID Territoires.
Coordination meeting with the Mayor of Thiomby and the Sub-Prefet. Photo: ID Territoires.
Building national ownership and scalable climate solutions
LoCAL strengthens fiduciary standards, participatory governance, and accountability mechanisms to ensure climate finance is managed efficiently and equitably.
In Tambacounda, Thiomby, and Balingore, pilot projects support improvements to water infrastructure, rehabilitation of flood-prone roads, and the adoption of climate-smart agriculture. While modest in scale, these investments deliver tangible benefits for livelihoods and resilience.
Beyond financing, UNCDF promotes inclusive, gender-responsive decision-making to ensure that community priorities shape local adaptation strategies and solutions. The pilot phase will generate evidence and lessons to inform national scale-up and l establish a sustainable, country-owned system for channeling climate finance.
Through partnerships with national institutions, UNCDF helps Senegal mobilize domestic and international resources to strengthen climate resilience and advance decentralized climate finance.
Driving sustainable development through water and regional cooperation
UNCDF supports sustainable development and regional cooperation in Senegal through the Blue Peace Financing Initiative.
The programme uses water as a catalyst for peace and economic growth. In partnership with the Organisation for the Development of the Gambia River Basin(OMVG) and the Organisation for the Development of the Senegal River (OMVS), and with funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), UNCDF mobilises blended finance to support strategic water, energy, and infrastructure investments.
The initiative strengthens institutional and legal frameworks, enables transboundary cooperation, and structures of investment-ready project pipelines, including public–private partnerships (PPPs). By crowding in capital, the programme unlocks financing for water supply, energy, and irrigation systems serving millions, while supporting regional stability and positioning Senegal as a leader in finance-driven, integrated water resources management.
Latest news and stories
Our partners
UNCDF’s work in Senegal is made possible thanks to collaboration with funding from the European Union and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and through close collaboration with the Government of Senegal, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Organisation pour la Mise en Valeur du Fleuve Gambie (OMVG), and the Organisation pour la Mise en Valeur du Fleuve Sénégal (OMVS).
Documents
This section brings together key documents related to UNCDF’s work in the country. It includes a curated selection of publications, papers, and reports that reflect the scope of engagement at country level, from programme design to implementation and outcomes.
These documents offer additional context on how initiatives are developed and delivered, and how partnerships contribute to advancing national priorities. They are intended to support transparency, facilitate knowledge sharing and serve as a practical resource for partners, stakeholders and others seeking a deeper understanding of UNCDF’s work.
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Contact us
For inquiries about UNCDF’s work in Senegal, including partnerships, investment opportunities, or ongoing initiatives, please contact our team on: wcac.region@uncdf.org.
