Senegal Gender and Development

SeneGAD began in the early 1980's as a secondary project of Peace Corps volunteers, under the name WID (Women in Development). The original mission and philosophy have changed slightly. The current GAD approach focuses on the social, economic, political and culturalforces that determine how men and women participate in, benefit from and control project resources and activities differently.

Our Mission

To empower Senegalese women, men and youth to effectively integrate gender equality into their daily lives, with the support of Peace Corps Volunteers.

Our three main goals are to:

• Educate and provide resources to volunteers on how to incorporate gender and development into their work.
• Implement programs that motivate, educate, and inspire Senegalese women and girls to reach their full potential.
• Encourage sustainable change in gender perspectives through collaboration with local communities.

Important Statistics

• Adult literacy rate: men 51%, females 29%
• 77% of Senegalese women are illiterate
• 55% of school age girls attend school (national)