| Project Detail |
Project Summary
Approval Date 08 Dec 2022
Planned Completion Date 31 Dec 2023
Last Disbursement Planned Date 31 Dec 2023
Sovereign / Non-Sovereign Sovereign
Sector Communications
DAC Sector Code 22013
Commitment U.A 3,998,691.05
Status Approved
Project General Description
The proposed operation is an AfDB loan of a EUR 5.01 million for the additional financing of the Digital Technologies Park (DTP) project in Diamniadio, on the outskirts of Dakar, Senegal. The DTP is a flagship operation of the Emerging Senegal Plan (ESP) that will provide the country with a world-class platform for the development of the digital economy. The additional funding is justified by the COVID-19 crisis that hit the country between 2020 and 2022, causing a delay in the construction of infrastructure (towers for digital businesses, digital services buildings and the data centre) and a price surge driven by a global inflation that raised the cost of construction materials and a disruption in the country’s supply chain. Public investments in the Park will include: a data centre; business-process outsourcing facilities; an information and communications technologies (ICT) business incubator; and training, research and audiovisual & content production centres.
Project Objectives
The development objective of the project is to contribute to economic diversification and modernization, private sector development and the promotion of inclusive growth in Senegal through ICT sector development. Its specific objectives are to: (i) establish a world class infrastructure (digital technology park) that will transform Senegal into a hub for ICT sector investments and business process outsourcing; (ii) facilitate the creation of ICT sector jobs; and (iii) promote innovation in ICTs and applications that contribute to social and economic development in Senegal and West Africa.
Beneficiaries
The project site is in Diamniadio, a commune undergoing rapid urbanization and located approximately 35 km from Dakar. Since 2000, the Commune’s population has grown to approximately 1,414,711 inhabitants; of which 52% are male and 48% female. The project will therefore provide job opportunities to the rapidly growing population of the Commune. The immediate target populations are (i) communication services operators, (ii) Internet services providers, (iii) multinationals, and (iv) the 30,000 men and women currently operating in various ICT domains, including sales, networking, systems design as well as software and content development. Other expected beneficiaries are the youth, women and entrepreneurs in search of employment and better skills; as well as government agencies that will benefit from innovative solutions to improve public service delivery. |
