A study conducted under the African Urban Sanitation Investment Initiative (AUSII) has revealed that Senegal’s annual sanitation investment needs could more than double by 2050, reaching an estimated $1.3 billion.
Presented in Dakar during the launch workshop of a new programmatic approach for the sector, the study shows that the sanitation market — including connected networks and autonomous systems — is expected to grow significantly due to rapid urbanisation and increasing infrastructure demands.
Off-grid sanitation services, sludge management, decentralized infrastructure and circular economy solutions were identified as some of the most promising areas for investment.
The report notes that nearly two-thirds of urban households in Senegal still depend on autonomous sanitation systems such as septic tanks and latrines, making the off-grid segment the main growth driver in the sector.
Senegalese authorities say they intend to use this momentum to attract more private investment through public-private partnerships, guarantee funds, climate finance and blended financing models. Officials also acknowledged existing challenges, including a fragmented legal framework, institutional overlaps and limited public funding, with the sanitation sector currently receiving less than one percent of the national budget.
Reforms are underway, including revisions to the Sanitation and Water Codes, alongside major projects such as the Tivaouane Peulh wastewater treatment plant, which will integrate wastewater reuse, irrigation and groundwater recharge. Authorities also highlighted the Project to Support the Renewal of Vacuum Trucks (PARC), expected to create or sustain nearly 900 direct jobs.
Through AUSII, Senegal aims to develop bankable sanitation projects capable of attracting large-scale investment while transforming urban sanitation into a strategic sector linked to public service delivery, environmental sustainability and economic growth.
