Senegal highlights a decade of progress in sustainable development at un forum

The rural electrification rate in Senegal has skyrocketed from one in three households a decade ago to seven in ten today. This remarkable transformation was among the key achievements highlighted by Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation, during Senegal’s third Voluntary National Review (VNR) presented at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on July 13, 2026.

The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, held from July 7 to 15 under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, serves as a critical platform for countries to assess progress toward the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year, 36 countries—including ten from West and Central Africa—shared their VNRs, with Senegal joining Cabo Verde and Italy in a joint presentation.

Collaborative approach drives progress

« Following our first VNR in 2018 and our second in 2022, this third review reflects our ongoing commitment to tracking the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, » Dièye stated before delegates. He emphasized the collaborative effort behind the report, involving government ministries, local authorities, civil society, the private sector, and the United Nations system. Innovations such as alternative civil society reports, consultations with disability associations, and Senegal’s first-ever Voluntary Local Review—conducted by the city of Pikine—were key components of this process.

A Voluntary National Review is a self-assessment conducted by a country to evaluate progress toward the SDGs. Governments present their accomplishments, identify lagging areas, and exchange lessons learned with peers. These reviews are presented at the High-Level Political Forum, the UN’s primary platform for monitoring the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

The SDGs are embedded in Senegal’s national transformation agenda, Sénégal 2050, and the 2025-2029 National Development Strategy (NDS). Nearly 93% of SDG indicators are tracked through the national monitoring and evaluation system, including the annual Joint Review, which serves as a dialogue and accountability tool.

Tangible improvements for citizens

For a minister overseeing water and sanitation, SDG 6 was a natural starting point. Access to clean drinking water has reached 97.8% in urban areas and over 96% in rural zones—a ten-year improvement of nearly nine percentage points. Sanitation has seen even faster progress in rural areas, climbing from 37.5% in 2015 to 64.5%, while urban coverage rose from 62.5% to 73.65%.

The energy sector has also transformed dramatically. National electricity access increased from 62% in 2015 to 86% in 2024, with renewable energy now accounting for 29.1% of installed capacity—up from just 3% in 2016. The country aims to raise this to 40% by 2030. Urban commuters in Dakar have witnessed two major milestones: the Regional Express Train (TER), which carried 23.1 million passengers in 2025 compared to 2.7 million a decade earlier, and the fully electric Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, reducing CO₂ emissions by over 53,000 tons annually.

Despite these gains, challenges remain. With over half of Senegal’s population now living in urban areas, the country faces a housing deficit of nearly 500,000 units. The minister also addressed public debt, which stands at 116.1% of GDP. On a positive note, domestic revenue now funds 69.7% of the national budget, up from 54.8% in 2015, and air quality in Dakar has improved, with fine particle levels dropping from 35 to 21.8 micrograms per cubic meter.

Roadmap to 2030: Four key accelerators

Looking ahead, Senegal outlined four priority areas to accelerate progress:

• Systemic economic transformation: Focusing on eight strategic sectors, territorial hubs, and special economic zones.
• Water and sanitation security: Through the National Water Security Compact.
• Climate action and renewable energy: Aligning with the updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) and accelerating renewable energy adoption.
• Sustainable financing: Strengthening partnerships, including continued cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and implementing a National Transition Strategy to graduate from the least developed country category.

Global dialogue: Praise, questions, and partnerships

The interactive dialogue that followed allowed delegates and civil society to engage directly with Senegal’s delegation. The Gambia praised the strong historical and familial ties between the two nations, inquiring about efforts to enhance transparency and combat corruption. Dièye responded by highlighting key institutions such as the National Anti-Fraud and Corruption Office (OFNAC), the National Financial Intelligence Unit (CENTIF), and the new Financial Judicial Pool. He noted Senegal’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in October 2024 and its confirmation on June 29, 2026, as « tangible progress. »

The Spanish delegation raised the role of the diaspora in development. « Migration creates shared benefits, » Dièye explained. « Host countries gain from migrants’ skills and economic contributions, while countries of origin benefit from remittances, skills transfers, and strengthened economic ties. » He stressed that well-governed migration fosters sustainable development when based on balanced cooperation among origin, transit, and destination countries—a partnership Senegal seeks to deepen with Spain.

Even football took center stage when the Irish delegation congratulated Senegal on the Lions of Teranga’s impressive World Cup campaign.

Concluding the session, Dièye reaffirmed Senegal’s unwavering commitment to the 2030 Agenda: « We remain fully dedicated to its implementation and will continue this journey with the international community. »