Senegal, April 2026: Launch of COFAD's technical assistance project: aquaculture training and management of aquaculture hubs
The COFAD-FAC Services consortium team recently completed a technical assistance mission across seven regions of Senegal: Saint-Louis, Louga, Thiès, Fatick, Kolda, Sédhiou, and Kédougou, as part of the launch phase of a three-year technical assistance project under the broader SENRM initiative. The project aims to support the development of integrated aquaculture hubs through infrastructure planning, capacity building, entrepreneurship support, and continuous technical guidance tailored to local realities.
The mission represented a key first step in the implementation of the project and contributed to an initial sector diagnostic aimed at assessing the potential, constraints, and priority needs for aquaculture development across the targeted regions. Through meetings with local authorities, beneficiary groups, women’s associations, young producers, and community leaders, the team conducted an initial assessment of future aquaculture cluster sites while gaining a deeper understanding of local expectations, challenges, and development opportunities.
These field exchanges allowed our team to identify several priorities that will shape the next phases of the project, including access to water resources, the supply of quality fingerlings and feed, infrastructure adaptation, and the need for practical, field-oriented technical support. Communities consistently highlighted the importance of developing training activities capable of generating sustainable economic opportunities and strengthening local practical skills.
Beyond the technical assessments, the mission laid the foundations for a tailored capacity-building strategy that will be deployed throughout the project. Particular attention was given to identifying future local trainers and technical profiles who will benefit from a “training of trainers” approach. Through continuous coaching and technical support over the coming years, these trainers will play a central role in transferring practical knowledge, promoting good aquaculture practices, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the aquaculture cluster initiative within their communities.