Senegal
In Senegal, HI carries out mine clearance operations and works towards an inclusive, sustainable, and equitable society that offers equal opportunities to everyone.
Manual demining team: Maïbata Sané, Idrissa Manga, Pierre Marie Badji and Moussa Traoré. | © A. Faye / HI
Our actions
In Senegal, HI supports training and the professional and socio-economic integration of people with disabilities. Our teams carry out initiatives within the framework of inclusive education, working with schools and civil society organizations to improve the inclusivity of teaching practices and ensure that disability is taken into account in teacher training. HI also promotes economic inclusion to increase opportunities for learning and skills development, thereby encouraging the integration and success of people with disabilities, particularly young people and women. HI also raises awareness among various stakeholders in the professional world to sustainably improve the accessibility of services and facilities and make the workplace more inclusive.
The organization carries out demining and risk education operations to promote the building of lasting peace in Casamance. To this end, HI conducts manual and mechanical demining operations, with the aim of returning land free of explosive ordnance to the population. Our teams also help revitalize local economic development by supporting individual and community projects, assisting mine victims, and promoting social cohesion initiatives to support the building of lasting peace. On a day-to-day basis, HI works alongside numerous partners – regional and national authorities, communities, and civil society organizations.
In the field of health, HI works to ensure access to rights and services relating to sexual and reproductive health, with a particular focus on women and adolescent girls. Inclusive awareness and training activities are therefore carried out alongside civil society organizations to improve access to these rights.
Finally, HI works to strengthen the protection and promotion of the rights of people with disabilities, with a particular focus on combating violence against women and girls with disabilities. HI supports associations and women with disabilities in leadership roles, to sustainably strengthen their capacity to take action and influence public policy in favor of gender equality.
- Number of HI staff: 58 people
- Number of people directly supported by HI in 2025: 39,539 people
- Number of people indirectly supported by HI in 2025: 83,497 people
- Program launch date: 1995
Areas of intervention
Latest stories
Education for all: Rogette’s journey towards inclusion
At twelve years old, Rogette is a shy and endearing young girl. She now lives in Ziguinchor so that she can study at a special school for children who are deaf.
Senegal: With Dieynaba, students who are deaf find their place at school
In Ziguinchor, Dieynaba Coly, a teaching assistant, supports students who are deaf. Thanks to her support, they are able to follow lessons, make progress, and thrive both at school and at home.
Hassane Ndiaye dreams that all children who are deaf will have the chance to go to school like him
Hassane is a twelve-year-old boy who is deaf and attends school in Ziguinchor. Thanks to the support of his teaching assistant, Dieynaba, he is able to follow lessons and make progress.
a life
Background
Senegal, a West African country with a population of over 18 million, is experiencing socio-economic development characterized by both significant progress and persistent challenges. Following strong economic growth in recent years, the country is experiencing sustained growth but must simultaneously contend with high public debt and persistent territorial and social inequalities, particularly between urban and rural areas, and between the northern and southern regions.
The situation in Senegal is characterized by needs linked in particular to natural and climate-related risks. Floods, coastal erosion, and desertification affect thousands of people every year, destroying crops, homes, and infrastructure.
Furthermore, the peace process in Casamance, although showing clear progress since the signing of historic peace agreements in February 2025 and marked by the gradual return of displaced persons, still requires sustained reconstruction efforts. Demining remains a priority in the country: more than 1.2 million square meters of land remain contaminated today, hindering the safe return of populations and the economic development of this region, considered ‘the breadbasket of Senegal’.
Furthermore, legislative progress has been made over the last fifteen years to improve the living conditions of people with disabilities. However, many of them still face major challenges regarding inclusion and access to basic services such as healthcare, education, and employment. For example, over 60% of children with disabilities are not in school, due to a lack of adapted infrastructure and teacher training.
- Population: 18.5 million
- HDI: 0.530 (2023)
- GDP: USD 32.8 billion (2024)
- GDP per capita: ~USD 1,773 (2024)
Reports
The latest publications
> Beyond Access Ensuring the continuity of education for adolescent girls with disabilities (pdf, 1.93 MB)More > News
