« Sur la piste du Caméléon » is a rural development program led by a consortium of French and Senegalese associations (Aide Médicale et Développement, Association des Minorités Ethniques, Énergies sans Frontières, Hydraulique sans Frontières, and Tétraktys) in the Kédougou region of Senegal.

The region boasts unique cultural and natural wealth and holds a double UNESCO World Heritage status. However, it is threatened by climate change leading to the depletion of water resources, gold mining activities impacting the social fabric, and the disappearance of certain rituals due to the loss of living memory and lack of transmission. Many inhabitants (particularly young people) are forced to leave historic villages that nevertheless hold strong symbolic significance.
Establishing a major cultural route is an obvious solution for all stakeholders. It will help showcase and promote the territories and heritage of these ethnic groups, highlight the area’s richness and uniqueness, and foster exchange and interaction between communities. Heritage is at the heart of this program as a driver for economic development, improvement of living conditions, social cohesion, and territorial governance.
This program, with a total budget of €1,443,000, was submitted to the French Development Agency (AFD) in March 2023. The latter is funding the program with €800,000, with the remaining balance to be mobilized by the various project partners. Consequently, the role of Hydraulique Sans Frontières within this broad three-year multi-thematic program (tourism, local development, health, electrification, etc.) is focused on providing drinking water supply to three “resource hubs” located within three municipalities in the Kédougou region.

A three-year project dedicated to the study, construction, and/or rehabilitation of drinking water access facilities. Within this three-year AFD-funded project, HSF receives a portion of the AFD grant and provides additional co-financing.

𝐇𝐒𝐅’𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞-𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭:

1. Technical Hydraulic Studies: Pump removal, pumping tests, borehole airlifting, and water quality analysis of existing boreholes, as well as geophysical surveys if required.
2. Socio-Economic Study:
•Household surveys: To quantify water needs and analyze water resource usage.
•Hygiene practices: To assess habits and knowledge regarding hygiene.
•Household income: To determine affordability and water pricing.
•Institutional diagnosis: To identify existing management models at the village level and the challenges faced by stakeholders.

This study phase is the subject of an initial funding request to the Rhône Mediterranean Corsica Water Agency, supported by the Isère Departmental Council. The results of this study, conducted throughout 2023, will allow us to refine the actions to be implemented during the construction phase, which is the focus of this funding request.