Securing land tenure rights and strengthening resilience to climate change

Context

Climate change and desertification are putting increasing pressure on Senegal's natural resources, making access to land particularly difficult for vulnerable groups, including women. Nearly every second household in Senegal generates income from agriculture and therefore depends on access to land and other natural resources such as water.

Yet, in rural areas, only 7.5 per cent of the population – just one per cent of women – have secure land rights. Unclear boundaries and a lack of transparency lead to conflict. In addition, local authorities lack the capacity for long-term land-use planning and for securing land tenure rights.

Objective

Local authorities and other responsible bodies have the skills required for participatory, transparent and climate-resilient land-use planning. Land rights are systematically documented.

Approach

The project supports the Government, regional technical services and selected municipalities in the Kaolack and Kaffrine regions. This work involves updating the current legal frameworks to promote sustainable land use and improve land management and planning capacity. In the long term, the integration of climate data into land-use planning will enhance the resilience of municipalities to environmental and social challenges.

The project also advises local authorities on how to access funding sources, particularly environmental and climate funds. This enables municipalities and land users to drive forward projects that promote economic development while also protecting natural resources. Supporting women and young entrepreneurs is one of the project’s top priorities.

Last update: March 2025