The facts:
USAID/Senegal and economic growth

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with the Government of Senegal and its other partners, helps to create jobs and fight poverty in the country through increasing economic growth through trade and natural resource management. The 2006-2011, approximately $30 million economic growth program will demonstrate how more effective and accountable governance and sustainable exploitation of agricultural and natural resources can contribute significantly to increasing economic growth and reducing poverty. In particular, USAID supports increased trade in agriculture and natural products, public-private partnerships, biodiversity conservation, business development services to budding enterprises and national policies that encourage economic growth, trade, and the environment.

Increased Trade of Agricultural and Natural Resource Based Products
USAID focuses on export-oriented activities to increase household and enterprise revenues, predominately in the agriculture and natural resource sectors. Competitiveness of Senegal’s enterprises will be increased through access to improved technologies, business development services and better access to market information. USAID assists 692 producers groups and private enterprises to market natural products (such as baobab, madd, and gum mbep) and nontraditional agricultural products (such as cashews and fonio) for national consumption and export markets. For example, 55 tons of baobab fruit, 13 tons of fonio and 140 tons of gum mbep was exported to Europe in 2005, increasing revenues by $385,000 for rural producers.

Improved Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Biodiversity
Recognizing that continued growth depends on the sustainable use of the resource base, USAID will directly address broader environmental issues to ensure sustainability of natural resources. A clear link has been made between the conservation of natural capital, increased economic opportunities and local governance that will be further expanded upon through this program. USAID will concentrate on ecosystem management in the south-eastern forested areas of Senegal and the coastal regions of Casamance and the Sine-Saloum Delta.

Improved Enabling Environment for Sustainable Growth
USAID will assist in developing laws, regulations and institutions that progressively respond to the needs of the Senegalese and foreign investors and allow them to take advantage of competitive trade opportunities. The Program will also address policies that promote improved natural resource management and improved decentralization. Since 2001, USAID has engaged local firms to provide training and technical assistance in marketing, business planning, management, and production techniques to more than 10,000 entrepreneurs in selected sectors on a cost-sharing basis. USAID also strengthens services in selected sectors with high potential for growth to increase competitiveness.

Improved Transparent and Accountable Management of Resources
This component will assist in augmenting the human and financial resources that local governments need to take on the authority given to them to manage local resources. USAID will promote increased accountability and transparency in the use of natural resources through a two-pronged approach: (1) by building the capacity of the private sector and civil society to better advocate for transparent and accountable public management to encourage investment; and (2) by building the capacity of local governments to manage local resources in a transparent and sustainable manner.

Partners
International Resources Group, J.E. Austin, CLUSA, Winrock, LTL Strategies, Environmental Development Action in the Third World (ENDA-Graf), and the National Democratic Institute (NDI).