Fort pour le Futur (Phase 2)

Senegal has a long history of urbanisation, with its first cities dating back to the 17th century. Fort pour le Futur is implemented in Thiès, Pikine and Tivaouane, whose development is closely tied to Senegal’s urban history.

Pikine is Senegal’s third-largest city, Thiès is the fourth-largest, and Tivaouane is an old religious centre. Adolescents make up over 30% of the population, with 42% living in urban areas. The secondary school enrolment rate is 50.6% (ages 13–16), while only 30.3% of older adolescents (ages 17–19) attend high school. Many adolescents have limited access to preventive health services, and those out of school face unmet health and nutritional needs.

Despite these challenges, Pikine, Thiès and Tivaouane were prioritised for the HCA programme due to rapid urbanisation, large youth populations and the specific vulnerabilities adolescents face. The three cities offer strong opportunities to promote adolescent health and wellbeing due to engaged city authorities, relevant government services and potential for youth collaboration.

Quick facts

Country: senegal

Cities: Pikine, Thiès, Tivaouane

Project Timeline

June 2022

–

August 2026

Project Consortium

Nutrition International (Lead Partner)

RESOPOPDEV
The Institute for Health and Development (ISED) of the University of Dakar
City of Pikine, City of Thiès, City of Tivaouane
Ministry of Youth (MoY), Ministry of Education (MoE), Ministry of Health (MoH), Health and Development Institute

About the project

In May 2019, Fort pour le Futur was launched in Thiès under HCA-I. In June 2022, the project secured HCA-II funding to build on its successful model in Thiès and expand to Tivaouane and Pikine. The project aims to enhance adolescent nutrition and sexual and reproductive health while empowering young people to play an active role in city decision-making. In addition, the project promotes adolescents’ health and well-being through empowering adolescent leaders to conduct healthy behaviour change activities and implement an advocacy strategy based on dialogue and engagement with city authorities.

Key interventions

Training and capacity building

Equipping adolescents with the knowledge, skills and confidence to engage in local governance and advocates for their rights.

Enhancing services and facilities

Improving  school/community infrastructure, city systems and health services to better serve young people and ensure accountability.

Behaviour change communication

Educating adolescents on healthy lifestyles and increasing uptake of adolescents’ corners and counselling centers.

City governance

Influencing city-level decision-making on adolescent and young people health and well-being, through youth-led advocacy.

Project consortium and partnerships

The project consortium is led by Nutrition International (a leading international non-governmental organisation in nutrition) and includes RESOPODEV (a Senegalese youth network focused on population and development), ISED (a Senegalese public health training and research institution) and the local governments of Pikine, Thiès and Tivaouane. The consortium also collaborates with the Ministries of Youth, Education and Health to develop coordinated, mutually reinforcing interventions.