Dakar Flood Drainage Canal
The Dakar Flood Drainage Canal is a major infrastructure project in the metropolitan region of Dakar, Senegal. The canal network was primarily developed to address the severe and recurrent flooding that has plagued the dense suburbs of Pikine, Guédiawaye Dalifort and Yeumbeul, since 2005 .[1][2][3]
History and Context
Following devastating floods in 2009 that affected 44% of Pikine’s population and caused an estimated US $42 million in damages, the Senegalese government prioritized flood management .[4] The 2012 presidential election led to a new administration announcing a 10-year, CFA 720 billion flood management plan. The initial phase allocated CFA 66 billion specifically for the construction of drainage canals.[5][6]
Technical Features
The drainage system emphasizes "gravitary" flow, allowing water to move naturally towards the sea without reliance on pumping stations. This method reduces maintenance costs and energy dependency.
| Project Phase | Key Achievements | Funding Sources |
|---|---|---|
| PROGEP 1 | 23 km of canals, 8 basins (315,000 m³ capacity)[2] | State of Senegal, World Bank, Nordic Development Fund[2] |
| PROGEP 2 | 46 km of linear drainage, 30 km of paved roads[7][8] | World Bank, African Development Bank, Nordic Development Fund[8] |
Socio-Political Impact
The success of the Dakar canals is attributed not only to engineering but also to political activism. Research highlights the role of SAABA (Synergie des Acteurs pour l’Assainissement de la Banlieue), a coalition of youth associations formed in the lead-up to the 2012 elections. These groups used technical knowledge to challenge government policies, shifting the focus from emergency relocation to permanent drainage infrastructure.[3]
References
- ↑ Mitchell, Tara (2015-07-01). "So fresh and so clean: Urban community engagement to keep streets trash-free and improve the functioning and sustainability of drainage infrastructure in peri-urban Dakar". AEA Randomized Controlled Trials. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
- 1 2 3 "Visite de terrain: l'ADM s'engage pour une gestion durable des inondations". www.pressafrik.com. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
- 1 2 "Sage Journals: Discover world-class research". Sage Journals. doi:10.1177/09562478251317976. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
- ↑ "Senegal– 2009– PDNA undertaken after 2009 flooding | GFDRR | GFDRR". www.gfdrr.org. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
- ↑ "Gestion durable des inondations : De la nécessité d'un assainissement à la place de solutions urgentistes". DAKARACTU.COM (in French). Retrieved 2026-05-30.
- ↑ "Programme décennal de lutte contre les inondations (pdli) : la réponse structurante de Son Excellence le Président Macky SALL contre les inondations | OFFICE NATIONAL DE L'ASSAINISSEMENT DU SENEGAL (ONAS)". onas.sn. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
- ↑ SANE, Irama (2025-08-19). "L'ADM EN PREMIÈRE LIGNE CONTRE LES INONDATIONS : LE PROGEP 2 DÉLIVRE DES RÉSULTATS CONCRETS". DakarMedias.com -L'info en temps réel (in French). Retrieved 2026-05-30.
- 1 2 AYOBA (2026-03-11). "Gestion des inondations : Cheikh Tidiane DIEYE satisfait des résultats du PROGEP 2". Walf NET (in French). Retrieved 2026-05-30.