Environment and development
in coastal regions and in small islands
Versions: English / Français

Quality of life under study in Yeumbeul, Senegal: cross-sectoral co-operation with the coastal community

A cross-sectoral project entitled .'CITIES: Management of Social Transformation and the Environment', with a component on coastal cities and settlements, has been launched by UNESCO. In Africa, for instance, in serving the coastal community of Yeumbeul (Dakar, Senegal), the project addresses the multiple and complex problems related to the deteriorating quality of life. Socio-cultural aspects of the community have been taken into account. As well, a survey was initiated in 1996 by the University of Dakar (UCAD) on groundwater quality, with a view to improving the hygiene and environment of this heavily polluted and over-populated coastal area. For domestic uses, the local population takes water from the upper layer, which is sandy and extremely porous and which, according to preliminary studies, is heavily polluted with both organic and inorganic matter. This situation leads to serious health problems.

Domestic water supplies;
a well in Yeumbeul

The project aims to provide direct assistance to the local population in:

  1. the construction of adequate draw-wells and waste-water receptacles some forty have already been constructed),
  2. waste collection in the village,
  3. increasing awareness among the local population concerning sanitary problems, and
  4. developing recommendations for the improvement of the general sanitary conditions of the Yeumbeul coastal community. UNESCO works closely along the above lines with ENDA, a Senegalese NGO. Particular attention is given to women and youth associations, which constitute an active force in the campaign for sustainable community development. The project will be further developed to epidemiological, sanitary and other health-related issues. Research results helps, for example, by providing information on where to construct draw-wells so as to collect freshwater which is relatively cleaner. An emergency action plan will be developed leading to the improvement of the quality of life for the local coastal population.

For more information, contact prof. S. Diop, c/o UNESCO-Dakar Office, 12 Avenue Roume, BP 3311, Dakar, Senegal
Tel.: 00221235082 / 00221238441, Fax.: 221238393, Telex: 5141OUNESCO SG+21735 UNESCO SG
e-mail: mailto:diopsa@geo.univ-dakar.snemail

and/or

G. Domenach-Chich, UNESCO Sector of Social and Human Sciences,
1, rue Miollis, 75352 Paris 07 SP France, fax +33 1 45685731

and/or

UNESCO-CSI, e-mail: csi@unesco.orgemail

Local/regional contact:

Director of UNESCO-Dakar Office
12 Avenue Roume B.P. 3311
DAKAR, SENEGAL
Tel. 00221235082, 00221238441 Fax: 221238393, Telex:5141OUNESCO SG+21735 UNESCO SG

The Dakar Office represents UNESCO in: Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone.

  Introduction    Activities   Publications     word
search
Wise Practices   Regions   Themes