On Tuesday, October 23, Senior Deputy Administrator of the Bureau for Food Security of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Mr. Sean Jones, and Senegal's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Equipment, Dr. Papa Abdoulaye Seck, signed the Declaration of Partnership of the Feed the Future Initiative  on behalf of their respective governments, to publicly celebrate the countries’ continued partnership and  renewed commitment to accountability and transparency.

This Declaration of Partnership reiterates the commitment of the U.S. and Senegalese governments to tackle the root cause of food insecurity and build the resilience of the people of Senegal. The signed partnership strengthens the commitment of both parties to implement the Feed the Future Senegal National Plan (2018-2022) which is aligned with national strategies in the agricultural sector.

The Declaration holds both parties accountable with respect to a set of mutual expectations and actions including their commitment to report regularly and publicly on progress made in the implementation of the National Plan, while striving for transparency and accountability and following through on their shared goals for the benefit of the Senegalese people.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, USAID Senior Deputy Administrator of the Bureau for Food Security Mr. Sean Jones highlighted that “our work together is transforming Senegal’s economy to move the country forward on its path to development and self-reliance. Agriculture is front and center in this process and Feed the Future has affirmed that.”

Appreciating the Government of Senegal’s commitment and continued effort towards helping its people become more resilient and self-reliant, Mr. Jones pointed out that “ultimately, the Government and people of Senegal are responsible for the continued development progress that we celebrate today”. 

In response, Dr. Seck hailed the continued partnership between the United States and Senegal in the agriculture sector, and more specifically in the rice sector which has boomed in the past with USAID support in each of the strategic segments of the crop’s value chain.

He added that it is necessary to consolidate and broaden the achievements of the Feed the Future 2012-2017 and further develop some components in order to fast-track the establishment of a sustainable food and nutritional security.

“Food self-sufficiency alone cannot be considered as an overall objective of our agricultural policy as there are many other aspects to consider. Senegal's agricultural policy is not solely focused on self-sufficiency. It is rather focused on food and nutritional security,” Dr. Seck emphasized.

Mr. Jones noted that structural transformation cannot happen without getting the agricultural sector right - from farm to fork. Dr Seck added, “Senegal is in the process of implementing fundamental reforms that integrate the farmer as a main economic driver.”

Agriculture is built with capital, but it is also built on the creative genius of people through research, the minister said, stressing the need for further appropriation and incorporation of technological innovations.

The Feed the Future Senegal National Plan has been developed in close collaboration with the Government of Senegal, civil society, the private sector and technical and financial partners to ensure that the U.S. Government's approach complements ongoing efforts in the agriculture and nutrition sector.

The goal of the Feed the Future 2018-2022 National Plan is to reduce hunger, malnutrition, and poverty in Senegal through three objectives: 1) harnessing agriculture for economic growth, 2) increasing resilience, and 3) improving nutrition.

This phase of the Feed the Future Initiative builds on the successes of previous projects that have helped increase production, incomes, and nutrition across Senegal.

For instance, Feed the Future Yaajeende reached more than 1 million people in 800 communities, improving nutrition and health, and strengthening community-based networks in seven years. 

In 2017, Feed the Future Naatal Mbay helped 130,000 farmers access 18 billion francs CFA (over US$ 31 million) of credit in order to produce more than 250,000 tons of rice, maize, and millet. This created more than 15,000 jobs and increased food security.

Feed the Futrue Areas of Intervention in Senegal 2018-2022

O. Diouf, USAID/Senegal/EGO

The second phase of Feed the Future is comprised of a number of projects and programs of the National Plan and will be implemented in 8 regions: Ziguinchor, Sedhiou, Kolda, St Louis, Fatick, Kaolack, Matam and Kaffrine.

Senegal is among the 12 countries in the world selected by the U.S. Government for the second phase of the Feed the Future Initiative covering the period 2018-2022. USAID coordinates the implementation of the Feed the Future Initiative across these countries.

The U.S. agencies and departments that make up the Feed the Future Initiative are USAID as coordinator, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the United States Department of Agriculture(USDA), the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the State Department, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) , the United States Department of Commerce (USDC), the Executive Office of the President of the United States, the Peace Corps, the Treasury Department, and the United States Foundation for Development in Africa (USADF).