On a supervision tour, the World Bank welcomes the impact of the Senegal River Valley Community Resilience and Development Project (PRDC-VFS) in the department of Bakel, where several infrastructure and economic initiatives are already contributing to improving the living conditions of local populations.

 

  As part of project monitoring, World Bank officials expressed their satisfaction on Monday in Bakel with the results of the Senegal River Valley Resilience and Community Development Project (PRDC-VFS) in the department.

During a supervisory visit, project manager Benjamin Burckhart highlighted the positive effects of the completed infrastructure. "We have seen the results on the ground. According to the prefect and the local population, their impact is real. We must continue our efforts to further improve the living conditions of the residents," he stated.

Accompanied by several colleagues, he visited infrastructure projects financed by the World Bank in the municipalities of Bakel, Moudéry, and Diawara. The delegation was led by the coordinator of the PRDC-VFS, Mamadou Diédhiou, and also included the coordinator of the PRDC in Mauritania, as well as representatives from the Emergency Program for the Modernization of Border Areas and Territories (PUMA) and the Tambacounda Regional Development Agency.

According to Mr. Burckhart, this supervisory mission is organized every six months by the financial institution. It notably included a visit to the construction site of the Bakel multi-sports complex, as well as to local economic initiatives, including soap-making units run by women's groups.

The delegation also visited the Diawara community orchard, funded by the project. According to Mamadou Diédhiou, national coordinator of the PRDC-VFS, nearly 7 billion CFA francs have been invested in the Bakel department.

The Diawara orchard alone received 106 million CFA francs in funding, according to the mayor of the commune, Killé Sakho. This site hosts market gardening activities, mainly carried out by women.

"The orchard has a very positive impact on the population. It has helped to reduce conflicts between farmers and herders thanks to its fence and its water supply system," explained the mayor.

In total, the municipality of Diawara has received 518 million CFA francs in funding from the PRDC-VFS, which also supports the construction of the municipal stadium, he added.