Ziguinchor, 2 October 2026 (ECA) – The African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP), in partnership with the Directorate General of Planning and Economic Policies (DGPPE) of Senegal’s Ministry of Economy, Planning and Cooperation, concluded a four-day collaborative workshop in Ziguinchor to refine the regional assessment and establish a territorial development strategy for the Pôle-Sud.
Held from 29 September to 2 October 2026, the workshop convened key regional stakeholders to deepen understanding of local dynamics, consolidate baseline data, and outline strategic directions for the area's development. The initiative is part of IDEP’s broader programme, “Driving Public Policy and SDGs Impact Through Integrated, Agile and Localized Development Planning,” which supports African nations in strengthening national planning systems and execution capacities.
In Senegal, this effort directly supports the country’s Vision 2050, the National Development Strategy 2025–2029, and the Diomaye Plan for the Transformation of Casamance - frameworks that place structural transformation, regional equity, and decentralized public action at the heart of national development.
Covering over 28,430 km² (roughly 14.5% of Senegal’s land area) and home to more than two million people, the Pôle-Sud is a vital economic zone. However, its economic potential remains largely untapped: regional accounts from the ANSD indicate that the area contributed just 9% of national GDP in 2023.
Closing the gap between the Pôle-Sud’s geographic scale and its economic output is central to the upcoming strategy. Key priorities include expanding productive capacity, developing high-potential sectors, strengthening connectivity, boosting investment and employment, and harnessing cross-regional synergies across Ziguinchor, Kolda, and Sédhiou.
Under Senegal Vision 2050, the Government aims to raise annual GDP per capita in the Pôle-Sud to 1.8 million CFA francs (CFAF) and push the employment rate to 40% by 2050—primarily by unlocking the region's agricultural, agro-industrial, logistical, and tourism assets.
The workshop brought together a broad coalition, including regional administration, local governments, development agencies, private sector leaders, civil society groups, UN agencies, central government officials, and academia.
Each group offered distinct contributions: local authorities brought ground-level operational knowledge; administrative services provided sector-specific expertise; business leaders highlighted production constraints and commercial opportunities; research institutions contributed analytical capacity; and civil society ensured focus on social inclusion and community needs.
Souleymane Diallo, Director General of Planning and Economic Policies, highlighted that localizing policy is essential for regional fairness: “Decentralizing public policy is no longer just a technical option—it is a strategic imperative at the core of Vision Senegal 2050,” he noted, adding that the Government is actively designing development plans tailored to each targeted territorial pole.
Bakary Dosso, Head of IDEP’s Training and Research Division, emphasized turning regional insights into practical growth: “The Pôle-Sud’s demographic and spatial importance makes it critical to Senegal’s overall transformation. But potential only becomes progress if we build on local realities, identify true growth drivers, and unite stakeholders around a common goal. Our work in Ziguinchor is about converting local insight into strategic choice, and strategic choice into action.”
This workshop builds on a foundational session held in Dakar in December 2025, which focused on capacity-building and policy localization under the Senegal 2050 National Transformation Agenda.
Establishing territorial development poles represents a major structural shift in Senegal’s planning model—moving away from rigid sectoral approaches to integrate the economic, social, spatial, and environmental interdependencies that drive lasting development.
The Ziguinchor sessions enabled participants to map local constraints, highlight core economic strengths, and clarify how the three constituent regions can complement one another. The workshop concluded with the adoption of a joint roadmap to finalize the strategy and lay the groundwork for implementation.
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