Accelerating Urban Energy Transition in Kaolack: Investing in a Sustainable Future

Kaolack, a major commercial city in central Senegal, is modernizing its neighborhoods through the Urban Modernization Program (Promovilles): over 13 billion FCFA invested in the municipality for 12.87 km of sanitized and lit roads, serving more than 12 neighborhoods (Koundam, Touba Ndorong Ocass, Tabangoye, HLM Sara, Dialègne, Ndangane).A 4.2 km road project, costing 2.8 billion FCFA, includes 160 solar streetlights, with gutters, drains, and a permeable road surface.The municipality was part of the PRODERE pilot phase for solar lighting. Nationally, however, ANER's solar public lighting program is behind schedule: only 6,334 streetlights were installed in the first quarter of 2026 against a target of 45,000.The city has adopted a "Kaolack 2050" vision, with estimated investments of 967.9 billion FCFA, prioritizing public lighting, sanitation, and living environment. Funding still needs to be mobilized.In the face of electricity outages reported nationwide in 2026, solar and energy-efficient lighting are levers to reduce the municipality's bill and gain resilience.This mission mobilizes the Kaolack diaspora to invest in solar and lighting for uncovered neighborhoods and public buildings (city hall, schools, markets, health centers), provide technical expertise, transfer skills, and connect the city with funders.