In the town of Rufisque in Dakar's suburb, 9 neighborhoods located in Diokoul's vicinities participate in an Enda project, in partnership with the town : 'Diokoul and Surroundings Sanitation Project' (PADE).
About 52 000 people inhabit these 9 neighborhoods. They produce approximately 35 tons of household waste per day which pile up in illegal waste deposits. Unhealthiness leads to a high morbidity in these surroundings, especially among the youngest ones (dysentery, diarrhea, dermatoses...).
In reaction to this, since 1990, the PADE project focused on various points that are successively put into action :
- struggle against sea recovery : Rufisque is facing coast erosion and salty water infiltration. With the technical help of Enda, as well as French, Swiss and Finish cooperation programs, 9 dams 47 meters long each were built, in order to prevent the waves from breaking on the coast. This first stage proved the inhabitants' potential as they actively participated in the dam's building.
- draining off and processing dirty waters : classical systems were set up on concessions, connections made between houses and two water treatment stations... Purified water and after treatment's compost can be used for agriculture. Population finances 100 % of the investments made. A 'Group of Economical Interest' (GIE) training members to waste recycling was created by a federation of youth associations.
- solid wastes' treatment : a community waste 'pre-collecting' system was set up in partnership with the municipality, Dakar's Urban Community (DUC) and its technical services. This system had such success that similar private experiences have taken place in other neighborhoods.
- redefining municipal policies : inhabitants, supported by Enda, help growing public awareness and organize training periods to improve upon various local management and animation techniques. The neighborhood sanitation project's beneficiaries are organized under a management committee and use their fares to finance the project... New inter-community structures have arisen since the creation of this project.
The durability of this project is about to be guaranteed as a Community Fund for Poor Urban Areas' Sanitation (FOCAP) was created.
