FLOODS IN SENEGAL: MOVING FROM EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO A SUSTAINABLE STRATEGY FOR PREVENTION AND RAINWATER RESILIENCE (By Mr. Djibril Ba)

The recurring floods in Senegal pose a major challenge to our people, our local communities, and our economy. Beyond the material damage and human suffering, they raise questions about how we manage space, plan urbanization, and manage natural resources in the face of climate change.

For us, the answer to this problem requires a comprehensive, proactive and sustainable approach, based on risk prevention, better control of urbanization, strengthening of infrastructure and the reuse of rainwater.

Urbanizing differently to sustainably prevent flooding

We commend the efforts undertaken by the Minister of Urban Planning, Local Authorities and Territorial Development, Mr. Moussa Balla FOFANA, to improve urbanization and land-use planning policies. Flood control is inextricably linked to rigorous territorial planning capable of anticipating risks rather than simply reacting to their consequences.

The occupation of floodplains, the obstruction of natural drainage channels, the sealing of soils, the degradation of vegetation cover and the inadequacy or lack of maintenance of drainage structures all contribute to worsening the consequences of heavy rainfall.

It is therefore essential to strengthen the mapping of at-risk areas, ensure compliance with urban planning regulations, control housing developments, and systematically integrate hydrological and environmental studies into development projects. Retention basins, drainage canals, and other sanitation infrastructure must be designed according to the specific characteristics of each area and be subject to regular maintenance.

This policy must be based on strengthened coordination between the State, local authorities, technical services, private stakeholders, and communities. It must also preserve natural drainage channels and, where possible, promote the restoration of ecosystems that help regulate water flow.

Anticipating risks and strengthening the resilience of populations

Flood control can no longer rely primarily on emergency interventions. It must be based on proactive measures that utilize weather forecasts, early warning systems, and mechanisms to protect the most vulnerable populations.

Local monitoring committees, effective early warning systems, and improved community preparedness would help reduce human and material losses. In at-risk areas, preventative measures could include securing property, protecting livestock, and providing early support to threatened households and farmers.

Furthermore, pre-arranged financing mechanisms and tailored climate insurance schemes could help to rapidly mobilize resources when certain risk thresholds are reached. Their implementation should be based on transparent rules, reliable data, and particular attention to the needs of vulnerable populations.

Climate resilience is therefore a shared responsibility that requires the mobilization of public authorities, technical and financial partners, communities and citizens.

Transforming rainwater into resources for our food sovereignty

We should also advocate a complementary approach: no longer considering rainwater solely as a threat to be evacuated, but also as a resource to be collected, stored and utilized when conditions allow.

An integrated stormwater management policy could simultaneously contribute to flood prevention, securing agricultural activities and strengthening our food sovereignty.

In northern Senegal, particularly in the river valley, rainwater harvesting could, under controlled conditions, supplement the resources needed for rice cultivation. In the central part of the country, retention basins, micro-reservoirs, and soil moisture conservation techniques could help secure certain agricultural productions.

In the south, the rehabilitation of lowland rice paddies, the restoration of small hydraulic structures, and rainwater harvesting could support rice and tree farming, particularly cashew cultivation. Improved water management could thus promote the establishment of seedlings, mitigate the effects of dry periods, and enhance farm resilience.

These solutions must naturally be preceded by hydrological, agronomic, and environmental studies to determine the available water volumes, crop needs, and potential downstream impacts. Water quality, infrastructure safety, and ecosystem preservation must remain essential requirements.

The objective is to develop, according to territorial specificities, facilities capable of fulfilling a dual function: protecting populations against flooding and supporting more productive and resilient agriculture.

Making prevention a national and territorial priority

This contribution is a continuation of the online conference organised by the PROGRÈS Movement on the theme: “Floods in Dakar: causes and sustainable solutions”, co-hosted by Dr Mahécor DIOUF, from the National Higher School of Agriculture (ENSA), and myself.

This initiative reflects our conviction that sustainable solutions must be based on scientific analysis, technical expertise, citizen dialogue and the search for solutions adapted to our territories.

In this context, we propose the implementation of a pilot program for rainwater harvesting involving sites in the north, center, and south of the country. This program could combine technical studies, appropriate hydraulic engineering, protection of sensitive areas, support for producers, and monitoring of results.

It would also be relevant to strengthen coordination between urban planning, sanitation, agriculture and climate change adaptation policies, so that each public investment can contribute more to the security of populations and economic development.

Making water a lever for development

Senegal must continue its transition from a primarily reactive flood management approach to a policy of prevention, anticipation and sustainable use of water resources.

Therefore, we strongly encourage the continuation of efforts aimed at better-controlled urbanization and more coherent land-use planning. We believe this momentum would benefit from increased investment in prevention, early warning systems, sustainable infrastructure, and rainwater harvesting for productive purposes.

Protecting populations, developing our territories intelligently and making the most of every available resource: this must be our collective ambition.

It is by reconciling human security, climate resilience, food sovereignty and territorial development that we will truly be able to build a more resilient Senegal, better prepared for climate challenges and resolutely turned towards the future.

By Mr. Djibril Ba

Agricultural Economist Engineer

Financial Engineer

MBA in Financial Management

President of the Progress Movement