Senegal
With an electricity access rate of 68% and a clean cooking access rate of 32%, Senegal still has about 5.5 million people without access to electricity and about 11 million people without access to clean cooking. Rural areas still predominantly rely on wood and charcoal. There are several obstacles to countryside electrification such as a lack of regulatory framework and weak financial structures. However, the potential for renewable electricity generation is large. EnDev supports the country by helping to establish a commercial supply chain for improved cookstoves and facilitating access to electricity in rural areas. It thereby also enhances the electrification of social institutions as well as productive use of clean energy.
Technologies used in this project
- Grid
- Improved cookstoves
- Solar mini-grids
- Stand-alone systems
Country data
- People with access to modern cooking energy: 2,595,289*
- People with access to electricity: 81,604*
- SIs with access to modern energy services: 1,454*
- MSMEs with access to modern energy services: 1,092*
- *Achievements until December 2024
Approach
EnDev supports Senegal’s government in achieving its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement and its national strategy for universal electricity access. Since 2006, the project has played a key role in establishing and growing the market for improved cookstoves (ICS), and continues to drive inclusive innovation in off-grid electrification.
The ICS component focuses on building a dynamic and sustainable market by developing commercial supply chains. EnDev provides training for stove producers to improve techniques and transition from artisanal to semi-industrial production, while also ensuring quality control. Additional support measures include:
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Developing sales structures and marketing channels
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Cooperating with microfinance institutions
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Reinvigorating the union of whitesmiths
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Supporting energy access in social infrastructure (e.g. schools, clinics)
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Improving the charcoal value chain
Building on this foundation, current activities focus on:
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Sustainable fuel production
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Business support for women’s groups in cookstove production
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Piloting higher-tier cooking solutions
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Promoting efficient biomass energy use in fish processing and traditional bakeries
The electrification component facilitates access to electricity in rural areas to reduce reliance on the overstretched national grid. EnDev implements hybrid PV-diesel mini-grids or individual solar home systems depending on local needs and economic viability. Households pay for electricity on a fee-for-service basis, with private enterprises responsible for installation and maintenance. EnDev subsidises 70% of hardware costs; the remainder is covered by operators and municipalities.
Activities include:
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Designing technical packages for mini-grids
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Selecting and mobilising target communities
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Managing tenders and supervising installations
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Supporting private operators with technical and business training
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Rehabilitating non-functional systems
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Training local staff for operation, maintenance, and administration
EnDev also implements the EU-co-financed Pro-Accès action for off-grid electrification and contributes to the Energising Health initiative by equipping rural health facilities with solar-powered equipment.
Since 2023, all activities are aligned with Senegal’s universal access goals and the “Leave No One Behind” principle—ensuring that energy access strategies are inclusive and reach the most vulnerable populations.
Learn more about EnDev´s approach
Impact
The ICSs supported by EnDev prove to save 47 percent of firewood compared to a traditional three-stone fire. Therefore, firewood savings are substantial: almost 27 kg are saved in every household per week after the introduction of the ICS – even taken into account that traditional stoves like three-stones are still used as an additional way of food preparation. Impact assessments showed that firewood savings are equally highly appreciated as time savings concerning firewood collection and – if firewood is bought – also monetary savings. Another highly appreciated aspect was the reduction in smoke emissions that lead to a significantly lower rate of respiratory diseases among ICS owners.
Promotion of Climate-Friendly Cooking: Kenya and Senegal
The project “Promotion of Climate-Friendly Cooking: Kenya and Senegal” is commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and co-financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Kenya’s Ministry of Energy, and Senegal’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy and Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development. The project is associated to the EnDev partnership and builds on the huge success of the EnDev programme. The aim is to accelerate the growth of a sustainable market for affordable, high quality improved cookstoves by supporting the demand as well as the supply side. The project will lead to GHG emission reductions of 6.47 megatons (Mt) of CO₂ equivalent during the implementation period and to an additional reduction of about 25 Mt of CO₂ equivalent until 2030, directly benefitting 11.23 million people. The project supports the Governments of Kenya and Senegal in reaching their sector specific NDC targets until 2030.
