The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, a multilateral development finance institution otherwise known as Banque Africaine de Développement released its country strategy document (CSP 2021-2025) in which it made known its plans to fund the rehabilitation of 500 kilometers and the construction of 100 kilometers of newly paved roads in Senegal, as well as the undertaking of related social-economic amenities.

The Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, headquartered financial provider to African governments and private companies investing in the regional member countries, indicated in the CSP 2021-2025 that its interventions will improve access and quality of transport services for paved roads, from 82% in a “good/average” index in 2019 to 85% in 2025, and for unpaved roads, in “good/average” from 55% to 60% over the same period.

Other ongoing transport infrastructure funded by the bank

The AfDB is already financing the construction of the Rosso Bridge on the border between Senegal and Mauritania to link the Rosso-Senegal municipality to its twin city Rosso-Mauritania, separated by the Senegal River and currently accessible only by ferry.

It is also providing subsidy for the Farim – Tanaff (Senegal-Guinea Bissau) road project which upon completion will improve the logistics performance index from 2.32 in 2019 to 2.60 in 2025.

These various projects, according to the ban, will help strengthen regional integration infrastructures in order to boost exchanges with the main partners, and above all, they will make it possible to ensure a better connection between Senegal and its neighbors, particularly the Gambia, Mauritania, and Mali.

Development of transport activities

“They will also play a crucial part in the development of transport activities along the trans-African corridors Tangier – Lagos and Algiers – Dakar on the one hand, and between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa on the other hand,” says the bank.

Ultimately, the West African country should be better prepared for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in order to fully exploit its potential for intraregional trade.