PADEF-EJ: MPA supports Senegal's Ministry of Women in building of 5 midwifery houses and market gardening perimeter in Louga
Samuel Travis • September 25, 2020
The Support Project for the Development of Female Entrepreneurship and Youth Employment (PADEF-EJ), under the supervision of the Republic of Senegal's Ministry of Women, Family, Gender and Child Protection and co-financed by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), aims to contribute to the improvement of the economic and social conditions of women and girls. In fact, as part of its “Infrastructures and Services” component, it built midwife housing and developed market gardening areas in the Louga region (Senegal). These are five (05) dwellings which are registered in the health sub-sector and whose construction works have been completed. Each accommodation has two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a toilet and a family space. Thus, before making them available to beneficiaries, the project organized a field mission. This, to proceed with the provisional acceptance of each of them and visit the perimeter of Sague-Sathiel in the municipality of Léona (Louga).
This field mission, which took place from September 9 to 10, 2020 in Louga, was led by the PADEF-EJ monitoring and evaluation manager, Mr. Ismaïla Badji. It is composed of Mr. Fallou Ndiaye, project manager at the National Fund for the Promotion of Female Entrepreneurship (FNPEF), the technical supervision of PADEF-EJ; by Mame Thierno Guèye, administrative and financial manager of PADEF-EJ and Ms. Ndiémé Koba Sonko, monitoring-evaluation assistant of PADEF-EJ. In Louga, the mission was accompanied by Mr. Mahécor Diouf, Millennium Promise Alliance (MPA) project manager; Mamadou Cissé, regional director of community development and promotion of equity in Louga; and Abdoulaye Niang, agent at the regional town planning service of Louga.
On the spot, the head of the mission and his delegation went first to the Louga governance for a courtesy visit. Here, they met the Deputy Governor in charge of development, Modou Thiam. They introduced him to the mission and its purpose. The state authority, in turn, welcomed the visit and committed to supporting the project for the benefit of the populations of the region. Then, the mission headed for the Regional Directorate for Community Development and Equity Promotion (DRDCPE) of Louga, located at the said Governance. Here too, the delegation met the director Mamadou Cissé to present the purpose of the mission. The team went to the headquarters of the NGO Millennium Promise Alliance, where they were welcomed by Mahécor Diouf, Millennium Promise Alliance (MPA) project manager who is in charge of the implementation of the “Infrastructures and Services” component of PADEF- EJ in the area. Here too, there was a presentation session and a short briefing between the project team and MPA.
Many achievements have seen the light of day thanks to PADEF-EJ
In Léona, the mission team, after meeting the mayor Mamadou Ba and the population to present them the objective of the mission, headed for the health post of the locality to visit and provisionally take delivery of the Midwife accommodation that has been built there, in the presence of the beneficiary.
The councilor of Léona, for his part, expressed a feeling of satisfaction. "I am very happy because, if we have created 5 housing units for the benefit of Midwives here in Louga and come to visit them before their reception, we can only be delighted".
According to Mamadou Ba, this infrastructure has been added to a long list of achievements in all sectors that PADEF-EJ has carried out in his commune.
"It will allow you to have autonomy in work and be close to your family"
After the town of Léona, it is the turn of the Potou health post to host the mission. Received on site by the midwife Hélène Diouf, she proceeded, here too, to the provisional acceptance of the accommodation. Very satisfied, the beneficiary, who has been in service in the post since 2016, maintained that this accommodation came at the right time. Because it will not only bring a certain autonomy in the work but also allow the midwife to be close to her family at all times. Thus, Hélène Diouf warmly thanked PADEF-EJ for everything it does for the benefit of health. In Sague-Sathiel, PADEF-EJ did not only provide accommodation for Midwives. He also created a market gardening perimeter for the grouping of women from the locality and surroundings. This is why, before visiting and provisionally receiving said accommodation which was built just behind the health post, the mission first wanted to meet and discuss with these brave women in order to collect their impressions and comments on the said market gardening perimeter. since the start of its operation.
Boosted production and financial autonomy for women ensured
The mission also visited the market gardening perimeter under the leadership of the MP project manager and the president of the Sague-Sathiel women's group, Ms. Aminata Ba. In this one-hectare field, developed by PADEF-EJ with a drip irrigation system that works with solar energy, the women `` And Jappo Liggeye '' horticulture throughout the year. 'year. They produce all kinds of vegetables during the rainy season as well as in the off-season. This allowed them, according to Ms. Ba, to boost their production and have financial autonomy.
“We are very happy today. Because in the past we spent the whole day under the palaver tree. But today, since the project came, we have all found work, ”suggested the president of the said women's group.
According to him, in this field, the women cultivate Onion, Pepper, Carrot, Tomato, Okra, and other vegetables throughout the year. And at the end of each production, they can harvest dozens or even a hundred bags, which are sold in the local market to meet their needs.
Mrs. Aminata Ba reports that her group includes 300 women today, of whom more than a hundred are active in the field. And the others are waiting for the Potou-Médine track to be completed to facilitate their movement around the market gardening perimeter because they live in the surrounding villages. At the end of this visit, the mission also met the Inter-negoce distribution company in charge of the construction of this track to discuss the state of progress of the work. This is a track of several kilometers and which was also financed by PADEF-EJ within the framework of its “Infrastructures and Services” component. The midwife's accommodation built inside the Ndialakhar Samb health post was also visited and provisionally accepted by the mission as well as that of the Syer health post.
"A very frank collaboration that we would like others to follow"
PADEF-EJ, as part of its achievements in the region, collaborates with the Regional Directorate of Community Development and Promotion of Equity in Louga. A collaboration which has been magnified and given due recognition by the director. "It is a very frank collaboration that we welcome and of which we would also like the other interventions of other sectors to follow their model", underlined Mamadou Cissé. For him, of all the programs and projects that intervene in his area, it is PADEF-EJ that he masters best. Because, he adds, “he involves us in all their missions at regional level”. And this allows him, at his level, to inform the Ministry of Community Development.
These accommodations will "improve the working conditions of midwives as well as the quality of their services"
The regional director of community development and the promotion of equity of Louga, moreover, maintained that these midwife housing will improve the working conditions of the beneficiaries as well as the quality of their services at their level. health post.
"Contribute to improving the economic and social living conditions of women and girls"
As a reminder, PADEF / EJ is financed under a loan agreement between the Government of Senegal and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). Its general objective is to "contribute to improving the economic and social living conditions of women and girls by facilitating access to credit, developing infrastructure and support services for production, value and capacity building ”. Thus, in order to strengthen the achievements of Phase I of the “Millennium Villages” Project and complete the achievement of the MDGs, the Government of Senegal, in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) through the National Fund for Promotion of Female Entrepreneurship (FNPEF) has, within the framework of PADEF / EJ, made available to the “Millennium Villages” Project funding intended for the implementation of activities of the “Infrastructures and Services” component in the sectors of Health, Education, Agriculture, Rural Infrastructure-Energy-Water-Hygiene and Fisheries.
The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Local Government , is set to expand the Local Economic Growth Support (LEGS) project from 17 to 55 districts, marking a major milestone in strengthening community resilience and livelihoods. The Ministry of Local Government, together with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF) , led an appraisal mission in July 2025 to review the achievements of LEGS I and hear directly from communities. Supported by the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, the LEGS project strengthens rural livelihoods through coordinated investments in agriculture and natural resource management, including expanded water access for households and production, improved market infrastructure, and greater availability of affordable microfinance. As part of the recent assessment, the delegation engaged with district officials, project beneficiaries, and implementation staff to review progress to date. Findings from these consultations will inform the design of Phase II, with a focus on scaling climate resilience and ensuring durable impact . Community Transformation in Action From safe, piped water in Kyejonjo and Katakwi , to new solar mini-grids powering cooperatives in Magoro , LEGS has already demonstrated how integrated infrastructure and livelihoods support can change lives. Health centers now have reliable water, youth cooperatives are saving and reinvesting in local businesses, and women farmers are using climate-smart tools to increase yields and income. Millennium Promise Alliance: Partnering for Scale As an implementing partner, Millennium Promise Alliance plays a central role in coordinating service delivery, providing technical expertise, strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems, and integrating climate-smart agriculture and sustainable livelihoods into local government plans. In this project, MPA Uganda works closely to support the Ministry of Local Government Uganda. MPA ensures that project investments translate into measurable impact aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). During the appraisal mission to guide the forthcoming scale-up, Mr. Samuel Travis , MPA’s Director of Corporate Affairs , and Dr. Seth Ohemeng Dapaah , Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, and SDGs , joined stakeholders in the field to review progress and meet with community beneficiaries. They were welcomed by Dr. David Siriri , Country Director , Millennium Promise Alliance Uganda, whose leadership on the ground has been instrumental in driving results in Uganda. “Our work is about ensuring investments reach people where they live; turning financing into energy for households and businesses, equipment for farmers, and opportunities for young entrepreneurs,” said Mr. Travis , noting the importance of partnerships in sustaining results. Dr. Dapaah emphasized the learning agenda: “By strengthening monitoring and evaluation, we ensure that communities and policymakers have the data needed to scale what works and adapt where needed. This is how we build resilient systems, not just projects.” Dr. David Siriri also shared, "The expansion of LEGS will reflect what we witness in the field every day: when communities receive the right tools, infrastructure, and support, they accelerate their own development. This success is made possible through strong partnerships between communities, district governments, the Ministry of Local Government, IsDB, LLF, and our team on the ground. As we move into Phase II, our priority is to scale solutions that are already improving lives while ensuring these investments remain sustainable for generations.” The Path Forward With the expansion to 55 districts, LEGS II will prioritize: Climate adaptation through resilient crops, water harvesting, and infrastructure Local governance capacity to manage and sustain investments Financial sustainability via community revenue and cooperative models Impact measurement to capture lessons and scale best practices For the Ministry of Local Government, IsDB, LLF, and implementing partners like MPA and others, this is a blueprint for how integrated, people-centered development can lift rural communities and accelerate Uganda’s progress toward the SDGs. We will provide more news on the impacts and progress of the LEGS project soon.
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW), in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), Ghana hosted the maiden international symposium on SDGs on Wednesday June 19, 2024. The symposium used a participatory approach to engage a wide range of stakeholders to discuss, review and share data on Ghana’s SDGs achievements. Some of the issues discussed included Climate change, eco-sustainability and livelihood through the prism of the SDGs, Achieving sustainability through innovation, technology and empowerment, leveraging technology, innovation and digitalization to initiate new possibilities on the SDGs in Ghana and a panel discussion on empowering communities to own the SDGs through school curricula and social campaign. Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual, Vice-Chancellor (known elsewhere as President) of UEW, in his welcome address emphasized the university's commitment to sustainability through education, research, and community engagement. He highlighted the partnership between UEW and SDSN as a testament to their dedication to sustainable development. Prof. Mitchual expressed UEW's readiness to collaborate with other universities globally to mobilize scientific and technological expertise and resources for implementing the SDGs.
Lives and Livelihoods Fund Engages with Ugandan Officials to Boost Economic Growth and Food Security
The Ministry of Local Government, Uganda, hosted a 13-member senior delegation from the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF) from August 14–18, 2023. The 5-day working visit was organized under the LLF-supported initiative, titled, Local Economic Growth Support (LEGS) Project, co-financed by the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Local Government. The Project is executed through the Ministry of Local Government with The Microfinance Centre (MSC) and Millennium Promise Alliance, Uganda as an Implementing Partner and Technical Backstopping Consultant. The LEGS project is a collaborative initiative of global partners such as the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD), and King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief). The LEGS Project covers 17 Districts of Uganda including Adjumani, Alebtong, Bunyangabu, Buikwe, Buyende, Gomba, Kabarole, Katakwi, Kyenjojo, Kibuuku, Kumi, Luweero, Nakaseke, Ntoroko, Nwoya, Rukungiri and Tororo. The objective of the workshop was to articulate and reinforce the joint efforts of the Fund and the Government of Uganda in prioritizing medium to long-term development goals such as poverty reduction, sustainable development, and climate change management through the LEGS project. The Islamic Development Bank investment in Uganda through the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF) has been a milestone achievement for the country. The Fund started its field activities in 2019 through a US$ 33 million flagship initiative to construct rural infrastructure and $10 million IsDB Rural Finance Scheme loan for the Local Economic Growth Support (LEGS) Project, covering the 17 districts. LLF’s work in Uganda supports a range of direct and indirect sectors, while focusing on three programmatic pillars: agricultural productivity and value chain development sustainable and inclusive economic growth human capital and institutional capacity development The LLF partners witnessed the impacts of LEGS Project during the mission visit. The delegation headed by Dr. Issahaq Umar Iddrisu, Manager Islamic Development Bank Regional Hub Kampala, engaged in senior-level talks with Ministers and Permanent Secretaries of Ministry of Local Government; Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities; Ministry of Water and Environment; Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries; and Ministry of Trade, Industries and Cooperatives. The meetings focused on fostering greater collaboration towards ensuring steady economic growth and sustainable food security in Uganda.
The Support Project for the Development of Female Entrepreneurship and Youth Employment (PADEF-EJ) coordinator, Mame Thierno Gueye and the Governor of Senegal's Louga region, El Hadj Bouya Amar, on Wednesday, August 9th 2023, officially launched an ultra-modern health center in the Keur Serigne Louga district. The health center includes an ambulance, two reception rooms, offices, treatment, observation and hospitalization rooms. The medical post also has a maternity ward, pharmacy, and staff accommodations. Millennium Promise Alliance is supporting PADEF-EJ by providing technical assistance, and implementation of the infrastructures and services components including the establishment of the new health post. The new health infrastructures are a result of a partnership between PADEF-EJ and the Association of Residents of the Keur Serigne Louga district. The center will solve a great obstacle of lack of quality healthcare for the surrounding communities. The center and medical expertise have been well received as up to now, more than 1,700 people have been consulted by practitioners. The health center is also contributing to a reduction in home births, thus far, 27 women haven given birth in the new maternity ward. The project coordinator, Mame Thierno Gueye, declared that PADEF-EJ embraces the State's vision based on the observation that Senegal is faced with a deficit in terms of basic social infrastructure, particularly health. "As part of PADEF-EJ, in partnership with Millennium Promise, the project continued an initiative of emigrants from the Keur Serigne Louga Sud district who had already started to build this building," informed Mr. Gueye. He points out that "the position has made it possible to solve a good part of the problems of home birth in the Keur Seringe Louga district and the surrounding districts".
The Support Project for Women's Development and Entrepreneurship and Youth Employment (PADEF-EJ) will soon provide women in the Louga region with an agricultural shopping center and a cereal processing unit worth an estimated 168 million FCFA, as shared on Monday, August 7th, 2023, by head of its value chain, Ms. Seynabou Dia. “We have just visited two infrastructures, an agricultural shopping center and a cereal processing unit, built by PADEF-EJ, which will be made available to women in the Louga region in the coming months,” she declared. Speaking after a visit to these two infrastructures, Ms. Dia indicated that "the rate of execution of the works of the processing unit is at 75%, while that of the agricultural shopping center is at 78%.” These two infrastructures, she said, will be delivered within two months. The cereal processing unit, which is located in the Medina Salam district, is made up of a warehouse for storing raw materials, a processing room, a packaging room, a product storage room, an office for the producers, a point of sale and housing for the concierge. The agricultural shopping center, which is located in the Montagne extension district, it is made up of 60 stores, stalls, and a hall for women to market and sell products more efficiently. Ms. Seynabou Dia specified that, "the beneficiaries are exclusively women from economic interest groups selected on the basis of criteria validated by the regional committee headed by the governor of the Louga region".
SDG Promise Japan, a Tokyo-based nonprofit organization offering poverty reduction programs and other support measures to vulnerable populations will build a vocational school in Ghana. The world-famous architect Kengo Kuma is designing the school. Known for designing the main stadium of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, a trip to Africa in 1978 was an eye-opening experience that shaped Kengo Kuma's design philosophy. Now, he is ready to reciprocate by designing the vocational school in Ghana, free of charge. SDGs Promise Japan will lead the construction and project. Millennium Promise Alliance is providing technical support to SDGs Promise for the vocational school project. The Ghana Vocational Training Institute will be built in the town of Manso Nkwanta, in Ghana's Ashanti region. The site is close to where Kuma visited as a graduate student. " The most important trip in my life was to West Africa when I was a graduate student, " Kuma told reporters. He recalled traveling south across Algeria to Niger, facing nothing but desert for days. " It was only when we arrived in Ghana that we came across green plants. It felt like I came home to Japan," he said. "Soil, trees and grass. The basic elements of all my designs were inspired by my trip to Ghana. " The facility comprises classrooms and dormitories set amid lush green trees, where students between 18 and 35 years old will take classes in stonemasonry, plumbing, carpentry, and other vocations -- over three years. The first classrooms will be ready late summer, and the rest will be built in accordance to funds raised for the project. The cost will be covered by the Japanese government's aid programs as well as crowdfunding. The idea is to offer local citizens a path to proper employment, as opposed to taking part in illegal gold mining, which is becoming prevalent in the region.
Millennium Promise Alliance attends the IsDB 2023 RRVCP Midterm Review Workshop which took place March 16-18 in Dakar, Senegal
Remarks from the Voluntary National and Local Review Workshop; which was held as a side event of the 9th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) in Niamey, Niger.
The pilot project is active in more than 10 health facilities in two districts selected by the Ghana Health Service in the country’s Eastern Region.
Dr. Eugene Owusu, Special Advisor on the SDGs to the President of Ghana, and Head of the SDGs Advisory Unit in the Office of the President, recently embarked on a courtesy visit to the Millennium Promise Alliance (MPA) offices in Accra, Ghana. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss new areas of collaboration with MPA and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). Dr. Owusu also serves as Chair of the SDSN Ghana Governing Council . The SDGs Advisory Unit was established in August 2017 to provide technical, policy and strategic support to the President of Ghana in his global role as co-Chair of the UN Secretary General’s Eminent Group of Advocates. The SDG Advisory Unit provides support through its three ' P's ', namely Popularization , educational activities on the SDGs, Policy , analytics and outreach, and Partnership building and programming for accelerated implementation of the Goals. Millennium Promise Alliance looks forward to partnering with Ghana's SDG Advisory Unit for further alignment of our synergies to better support all Ghanaians in the journey to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.