Tackling salinity in Senegal: A critical land degradation challenge
Soil salinisation is one of Senegal’s most serious land-degradation issues, affecting agricultural productivity, water resources, and rural livelihoods across multiple agroecological zones. More than 34 percent of the country’s agricultural land is impacted, and salinity continues to expand in several regions, posing increasing risks to national food security and the sustainability of high-value production systems.
Scope and methodology of the scoping study
The scoping study is structured around four key objectives.
- Characterise salinity – map spatial distribution, identify drivers, and define typologies of salinity across affected regions.
- Assess impacts – analyse effects on production systems and water quality.
- Review existing measures – evaluate current interventions, institutional arrangements, and gaps.
- Identify priorities – highlight key geographies and practical entry points for coordinated action.
A draft report was presented by AfricaRice and discussed with 25 participants, including representatives from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Senegal, during a validation workshop on 28 January 2026.
Recommendations and priority actions
The final study proposes actionable recommendations that emphasise implementation and long-term sustainability.
- Restore salt removal capacity through functional drainage systems and improved operation and maintenance.
- Transform monitoring and diagnostic data into operational decision-making tools.
- Deploy integrated agroecological salinity management packages tailored to Senegal’s diverse salinity conditions.
- Strengthen multi-stakeholder coordination mechanisms to ensure continuity beyond individual projects.
The study also identifies a policy opportunity to integrate salinity management more firmly into broader environmental and resilience agendas, including biodiversity frameworks that recognise salinisation as a driver of ecosystem loss. This opens pathways for cross-sector alignment and potential co-financing.
Towards a multi-annual implementation programme
These findings act as the foundation for a multi-annual salinity implementation programme. The next phase of the Saline Water & Food Systems Partnership will roll out this programme in close collaboration with stakeholders in both Senegal and the Netherlands, ensuring that strategies are practical, locally relevant, and sustainable over the long term.
