Today marks two years since Senegal's first case of Covid-19

Dakar, 2^nd March 2022

Dear colleagues, partners and friends of UNICEF Senegal,

Today marks two years since the first case of Covid-19 hit Senegal. Two years ago, we were cautiously optimistic... and two years later, we remain so. COVID-19 still dominates our lives. Despite how uncertain the world is, we remain certain about our objectives, principles and values in a rapidly changing world.

In a country like Senegal, the COVID-19 pandemic has created additional pressure on social service delivery systems and exacerbating vulnerabilities in affected populations. Hard-won progress in advancing children's rights has been threatened.

This digital report showcases the results that UNICEF, in support of national efforts and together with its partners, were able to achieve for children and youth over the past two years, and the many ways in which we supported the national COVID-19 response while safeguarding the continuity of key social services in Senegal.

Ensuring safe, fair, and widespread immunization were key to curb the pandemic and advance recovery: we supported country’s access to COVID-19 vaccines, through the COVAX facility. We focused our efforts on a number of issues that have emerged such as learning continuity during Covid-19 and action to end violence against children.

The precious lesson learned is that creativity tends to thrive in highly constrained environments: this is when magic happens and new ways of partnering and engaging flourish. 

The youth of Senegal have demonstrated that when young people are empowered, they can use their energy, creativity, and talent to turn an uncertain landscape into a world of opportunity – for themselves and us all. Alongside youth and adolescents, we now have a crucial window of opportunity to reimagine the future for every child in Senegal.

We could not have achieved these results without the solid partnership we have with the Government of Senegal, the United Nations System, development partners, private sector, civil society, community- and faith-based organisations, media and children and youth themselves. Their commitment and willingness to make Senegal a better place for children is exemplary. Donors who have placed their trust in us enabled these remarkable results.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to you for the collaboration and strong partnership without which we could not have contributed to the positive impact on the lives of children.

We look to the future with optimism and with the willingness to work harder and more effectively for Senegal’s children.

Explore our results at: https://senegalreport2021.org/

Nio Far !

Silvia Danailov
UNICEF Representative in Senegal