Senegal News

27 -29 November 2017, Dakar, Senegal - PAGE organized a SIYB (ILO Training Tool on Business Creation and Management) Training of Trainers workshop on the ILO Green Business Booklet from 27 to 29 November 2017 at the Fleur de Lys Hotel in Dakar.

26 participants (8 women and 18 men) took part in this training including 17 SIYB trainers of Senegal and 5 SIYB trainers of Burkina Faso, 3 officials from  Senegal and one official from Burkina as beneficiaries of the future training activities.

Through this training, PAGE supports Senegal in the framework of the project on  the creation of green job opportunities (PACEV) and in Burkina as part of the “Maison de l’entreprise”. Thus the trainers were selected on the basis of the PACEV intervention zones for Senegal and as trainers of the “Maison de l’entreprise” for Burkina Faso.

At the end of the training, participants are able to train entrepreneurs to identify environmental challenges and ways to overcome them, define the green enterprise and understand the benefits of green business.

They are also able to train entrepreneurs to find a green business idea, develop a green business plan and green the production and consumption processes.

The next steps after this training will be to train the entrepreneurs who are beneficiaries of PACEV (Senegal) and the “Maison de l’entreprise” (Burkina Faso) on the green enterprise with the aim of encouraging the creation and development of green enterprises in the sectors such as solid waste management, renewable energies, agroforestry and agriculture.  

Senegal, 26 April 2016 - The Economic, Social and Environmental Council of Senegal (CESE) invited PAGE agencies to a consultative meeting on green economy strategies and objectives in Senegal. PAGE was represented by the resident agencies -  International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations  Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

The CESE is a constitutional consultative assembly which represents key economic, social and environmental stakeholders, promoting cooperation between different socio-professional interest groups and ensuring they are part of the process of shaping and reviewing public policy. The consultative meeting with one of the most important political institutions in Senegal, which gathered counsellors from the economic, social and environmental fields, represented an important milestone in the political and policy uptake of green economy strategies in Senegal. The meeting follows the production of a Strategic Guidance Document on Green Economy for Senegal, which members of the CESE contributed to, together with members of the national Parliament. The document was elaborated and validated during the Green Economy Week held in Senegal in November 2015.  

The Strategic Guidance document demonstrates the benefits of inclusive green economy for Senegal, and outlines actions undertaken by the CESE and the National Assembly to support a green economy transition. Furthermore, the document recommends additional actions to better integrate green economy issues into the national development planning processes and achieve ownership by stakeholders and institutions.

PAGE representatives provided members of the CESE a briefing on the partnership and discussed strategies and policies to achieve inclusive and green growth in the context of Senegal’s national sustainable development priorities. The information provided by PAGE partners will enable CESE to better advocate for IGE in future consultations with the President of the Republic, the National Assembly or the Government of Senegal on policies and programmes that have bearings from the promotion of a greener economy in Senegal.

Dakar, Senegal, 17 - 18 November 2015 – Over a hundred participants from the Government, the National Assembly, the Economic, Social and Environmental council, local authorities, civil society and the private sector, gathered to discuss policy frameworks and strategies to stimulate action for a green economy in Senegal.

The main goal of the two-day event was to provide a platform for exchange and sharing experiences on the transition to a green economy in Senegal.

The 1st edition of PAGE Week Senegal "The Transition to a Green Economy in Senegal: political and strategic framework to stimulate action” was hosted by the Government of Senegal under the auspices of the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development and in collaboration with the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE).

In his introductory speech, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder, on behalf of the five UN agencies behind PAGE, emphasised the importance of issues related to the transition to a green economy for inclusive and sustainable growth, green industry and the creation of green jobs in Senegal.

The representative of the Ministry of Labor, Social Dialogue, Professional Organizations and Relations with institutions stressed the relevance of green economy  for the Plan Senegal Emergent (PSE) in relation to growth and the structural transformation of the economy, as well as to human capital, social protection and sustainable development.

The representative of Senegal’s Economic, Social and Environmental Council (EESC) welcomed the involvement of the EESC in the production of a strategy paper on green economy in the country, remarking that a green economy approach can create many job opportunities. She also highlighted the need to further stimulate trade and engagement with the EESC members.

The representative of the National Assembly and Chairman of the Parliamentary Network for the Environment in Senegal (REPES), emphasised the association between elected representatives and practices and activities related to PAGE in Senegal, while underlining the substantial contribution that elected representatives can provide in terms of analysis and policy formulation on green economy in Senegal.

Senegal’s  Minister of the Environment and Sustainable Development pointed out that green economy is operating in the country, by referring to the statement of the President of the Republic of Senegal, according to which "green economy must be part of a growth momentum, social justice and poverty eradication, since the aim is to break a vicious circle in which environmental degradation is both a cause and consequence of poverty". He also pointed out that green economy is not limited to the environmental agenda as it covers all segments of the economic, social and environmental arenas in Senegal. He concluded by emphasizing the role of PAGE in creating synergies between all initiatives that contribute to the promotion of a green economy in Senegal.

Specifically, the 1st edition of PAGE Week Senegal aimed at:

1. Validating a National Strategy for Promotion of Green Jobs;

2. Sharing a programme to support the creation of green jobs, green job opportunities;

3. Validating and sharing the results of various studies commissioned by PAGE;

4. Presenting and disseminating of national experiences in promoting the green economy and related best practices;

5. Identification of areas of collaboration among stakeholders;

6. Adopting recommendations for developing a roadmap for future actions of PAGE.

The event was divided into the following sessions:

•  Session 1: Opening and launch of the Days of the Green Economy;
•  Session 2: Policy and Operational Framework of green jobs / SNEV / PACEV
• Session 3: Evaluation of the green industry;
• Session 4: initiatives aimed at supporting the transition to a green economy;
• Session 5: Role of local institutions and officials and strategic directions;
• Session 6: PAGE Outlook and actors

Donors Provide over US $11 Million in Support of Country-level Action Front Runners Showcase Economic and Social Benefits of Transformation

Dubai, 4 March, 2014 - Countries such as Burkina Faso, Peru, Mauritius, Mongolia, and Senegal are set to boost their economies through a shift of investment and policies towards a new generation of assets that include clean technologies and resource efficient infrastructure, green skilled labour, well-functioning ecosystems, and good governance. Such a transformation, supported by the UN-led Partnership for Action on a Green Economy (PAGE), will pay significant dividends in social, environmental and economic terms. PAGE aims to extend its support to a total of 30 countries by 2020.

Well over US $11 million were announced in support of PAGE activities by donors including Finland, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Sweden and Switzerland. The announcement was made at the first Global PAGE Conference, hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The event attracted more than 30 ministers of finance, environment, labour and trade from around the world in addition to high-level UN officials, international experts, representatives from the business community and civil society.

In his welcome address, the UAE Minister of Environment and Water, Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, speaking on behalf of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, referred to the UAE's Vision 2021 and Green Growth Strategy, which was launched in 2012.

Minister Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad said: "As the United Arab Emirates begins its own journey towards a more sustainable future, it is fitting that we host the inaugural meeting of the UN-led Partnership for Action on Green Economy - PAGE. The next few days are an opportunity to identify innovative ideas and best practices, which can be replicated and scaled-up, as well as areas of common concern that need further study and resolution. Together, country by country, we can contribute to a global transformation one that is thriving for future generations".

Speaking on behalf of UN PAGE partners, Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), said: "On behalf of the UN PAGE partners, I would like to thank the Government of the UAE and especially His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for graciously hosting this pioneering inaugural PAGE conference in Dubai; allowing countries to exchange experiences and create opportunities for a more prosperous and sustainable world. It is becoming increasingly evident that generating growth and prosperity can and must be achieved within the ecological boundaries of a resource-constrained world."

"The Partnership for Action on Green Economy has the potential to help countries improve human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities in line with their own national development priorities. Growth in income and employment would be driven by public and private investment that reduces carbon emissions and pollution, enhances energy and resource efficiency, and prevents the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services."

"The time has now come to ensure that by 2015 - when the UN Millennium Development Goals transcend into the Sustainable Development Goals - the global community has the strategies and the policies in place to fully integrate nature into economic planning and accounting. Lifting the world's 1.2 billion poorest to a life of dignity will require financing, innovation, technology transfer and capacity building, along with effective governance and mutually beneficial partnerships at all levels. Underpinning all that is the sustenance of the natural capital upon which any form of development relies," he added.

In the context of the Partership, UN partner agencies - the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) - will provide a comprehensive suite of green economy services that will enable countries to transform their national economic structures to meet the growing demands and challenges of the 21st century. The UN Development Programme (UNDP) is also set to join PAGE.

Also speaking at the PAGE inaugural session were: Oyun Sanjaasuren, Minister of Environment, Mongolia; Jae-Hyun Lee, Deputy Minister of Environment, Republic of Korea; and Katariina Poskiparta, State Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Finland.

Participating in the event were ministers and high-level representatives from Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China, Denmark, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, Palestine, Peru, Republic of Armenia, Republic of Moldova, Saint. Lucia, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Uruguay.

The conference covers key issues such as: green and decent jobs; fiscal policy and investments; green industrial policies; social inclusion and poverty eradication; trade policies and opportunities; and metrics and indicators for inclusive green economies.

The outcomes of the two-day conference are expected to contribute to the post-2015 development talks, currently under way at the United Nations, as well as other international fora, such as the first United Nations Environment Assembly meeting, due to be held in Nairobi this June.

The event is one of the first opportunities, since the UN Rio+20 conference in 2012, for governments and other stakeholders to take stock of national progress on the Green Economy as a pathway for achieving sustainable development and poverty eradication.

The Rio+20 Declaration - the Future We Want - mandated the United Nations to support countries in their transition to greener and more inclusive economies. The PAGE initiative was created last year by UNEP, ILO, UNIDO and UNITAR, in response to this call for action.

Friends of PAGE, a group of countries committed to supporting the economic transition to sustainability, have collectively contributed and pledged more than USD 11 million to jump start activities under the partnership.