In a bid to support Senegal’s expanding digital economy and address the digital divide, the Senegalese government has entered a public-private partnership aimed at enhancing internet access, particularly in underserved rural areas. The initiative aligns with the national goals set out under the Digital Senegal 2025 strategy, an effort to transform Senegal into a competitive digital hub within the region. This partnership is a significant milestone in Senegal’s broader Emerging Senegal Strategic Plan (PSE), which seeks to promote economic growth, improve infrastructure, and modernize public services.

The partnership is jointly led by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Telecommunications, headed by Minister Yankhoba Diatara, alongside private sector stakeholders, including telecom providers and technology firms. These private entities will invest in infrastructure development while benefiting from government incentives designed to foster innovation and improve connectivity across remote parts of the country.

The collaboration will focus on building new infrastructure and strengthening existing frameworks to support internet connectivity and digital services in regions where access has been limited. These improvements are expected to facilitate opportunities in e-commerce, telemedicine, and digital education, supporting local economic growth and providing new employment opportunities. Additionally, improved digital infrastructure is projected to reduce service disparities between urban and rural areas, ensuring more equitable access to essential digital resources.

This partnership is part of ongoing efforts to implement the modernized Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework, reformed in 2021 to improve project selection and execution within Senegal’s PPP agenda. These improvements were necessary to overcome prior obstacles, such as overlapping institutional mandates and limited resources for project development. The Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF), working with Senegal’s Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Cooperation, has played a crucial role in guiding these reforms, providing technical assistance and capacity-building support to the government for structuring viable PPP projects.

Through this partnership, Senegal is poised to boost its digital ecosystem by expanding internet accessibility to remote regions, creating an enabling environment for digital innovation and economic development. It further aligns with Senegal’s broader 2025 vision, which seeks to utilize digital infrastructure to stimulate productivity, foster inclusive growth, and position the nation as a regional leader in digital economy initiatives.

This project represents a strategic move to close the digital gap and foster sustainable development through enhanced digital infrastructure. By focusing on areas historically underserved by digital services, Senegal hopes to drive innovation and economic growth across all regions, bringing the nation closer to its goal of becoming a leader in West Africa’s digital economy landscape.