In the Senegal River Valley, the World Bank welcomes the results of the PRDC-VFS, a community project with already visible impacts. During a field mission, however, its representatives called for accelerated implementation to sustainably strengthen infrastructure and better meet the needs of the population.

On a supervisory mission in the Senegal River Valley, the World Bank expressed overall satisfaction with the progress of the Community Resilience and Development Project (PRDC-VFS), while calling for an acceleration of structural achievements for the benefit of the population.

Led by project manager Benjamin Burckhart, this field monitoring – organized approximately every six months – allowed for visits to several localities, from Bakel to Richard-Toll, including villages and hamlets in the Matam and Saint-Louis regions. The objective: to concretely assess the progress of community sub-projects and measure their impact on the living conditions of the populations.

On the ground, the diversity of achievements illustrates the PRDC-VFS's integrated approach. In Bakel, a multi-sports arena nearing completion symbolizes investments in social infrastructure. Elsewhere, women's groups are active in income-generating activities, including soap making.

The project also enabled the installation of mini-boreholes, the electrification of villages, the rehabilitation of schools and maternity wards, as well as the installation of vaccination parks for livestock.

“The feeling is really positive,” said Benjamin Burckhart, emphasizing the importance of dialogue with communities and local authorities. Governors, prefects, and residents unanimously praised the project’s impact, highlighting its participatory nature. “It’s a project designed for the communities and implemented by them, with strong local ownership,” he stressed.

This involvement of beneficiaries is one of the main drivers of the PRDC-VFS's success. The warm welcome given to the delegation and the feedback deemed "very satisfactory" reflect the support of the populations for this regional initiative, which covers both Senegal and Mauritania, with close coordination between the two countries.

Despite these encouraging advances, the World Bank intends to maintain pressure to move to a new phase. "We are still at the beginning. Implementation needs to be accelerated," argued the project manager.

In this perspective, more structural investments are expected, including the rehabilitation of rural roads to guarantee accessibility to isolated areas in all seasons.

Beyond infrastructure, the social cohesion activities carried out in the valley were also highly appreciated, strengthening community spirit in areas often facing economic and environmental challenges.

The sustainability of the achievements remains a central issue. Project leaders emphasize the need for communities to take ownership of the maintenance of the infrastructure built, an essential condition for ensuring the long-term benefits.

With results already visible on the ground and a stated desire to intensify efforts, the PRDC-VFS is gradually establishing itself as a major lever for local development and resilience in the Senegal River Valley.