Sénégal PPP: Secteur Privé Demande Réformes Exigences

• Senegalese employers demanded a revision of PPP rules, including mandatory subcontracting and capital participation quotas, during a debate on September 16, 2026.
• Economic experts criticized the current system, noting only three PPP contracts signed in three years since the 2021 law, hindering local business participation.
• Senegal requires 18,000 billion CFA francs in strategic financing, making PPPs essential for large infrastructure projects to achieve over 7% growth.
• The UNAPPP detailed the legal framework of Law n° 2021-23 and its rigorous project evaluation process, coordinating with finance and spatial planning ministries.
• The UNAPPP announced a new commitment to directly support the local private sector, moving beyond its previous role of only assisting public contracting authorities.

The UNAPPP declared its intention to expand its mandate beyond merely assisting public contracting authorities, committing to become a direct support mechanism for the local private sector.

A significant dialogue unfolded on September 16, 2026, at the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture of Dakar (CCIAD), bringing together leaders from the `patronat sénégalais partenariats public-privé`, economic experts, and high-ranking government officials. The central theme of this "Grand Débat" was the urgent need for a `révision règles PPP Sénégal` to ensure local enterprises can effectively participate in public-private partnerships. Industry captains voiced strong demands for mandatory `quotas sous-traitance PPP Sénégal` and capital participation, aiming to shield domestic businesses from being overshadowed by larger international competitors.

Key figures within the national employer's association, including Baïdy Agne, who presides over the National Council of Employers (CNP), articulated the frustrations of a private sector struggling under what they perceive as disproportionate competitive criteria. Local economic players contend that stringent requirements for financial guarantees, equity, and critical size frequently relegate them to the role of mere spectators in major state projects, rather than active participants. This sentiment underscores the broader call for `Sénégal PPP secteur privé réformes exigences` that would create a more equitable playing field.

Abdel Kader Ndiaye, President of the Confédération Nationale des Employeurs du Sénégal (CNES), presented a critical assessment of institutional reforms, highlighting a significant disconnect between policy and practical outcomes. He revealed that since the promulgation of the `loi n° 2021-23 Sénégal PPP`, only three PPP contracts have been finalized over a three-year period, a figure he cited as evidence of systemic inefficiencies. Ndiaye challenged attendees to consider whether current investments in sectors like oil, gas, and subcontracting are genuinely fostering a sustainable value chain and cultivating industrial champions capable of enhancing national competitiveness.

Further emphasizing the critical role of `financement projets Sénégal PPP`, Abdoulaye Ly, Executive Director of the Club of Senegalese Investors (CIS), underscored the immense financial requirements for the nation's development agenda. He pointed out that an estimated 18,000 billion CFA francs in strategic financing are needed to propel economic growth beyond 7%. Ly asserted that public-private partnerships are indispensable for funding large-scale infrastructure initiatives, identifying strategic sectors such as food sovereignty and the ambitious "Gas-to-Power" project, which aims to reduce the cost of electricity from 110 to 60 CFA francs per kilowatt-hour, as prime candidates for public delegation.

In response to the private sector's concerns, Papa Mamadou Gueye, Secretary of the National Unit for Support to Public-Private Partnerships (UNAPPP), provided details on the legal framework established by `loi n° 2021-23 Sénégal PPP`. He outlined the `UNAPPP Sénégal rôle` as a body responsible for guidance and technical arbitration, emphasizing that each project undergoes a rigorous preliminary evaluation. This crucial step ensures the legal, financial, commercial, and environmental viability of proposals before any public commitment is made.

To guarantee budgetary sustainability and the coherence of investments, the UNAPPP collaborates closely with both the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Spatial Planning. This institutional oversight ensures that every infrastructure project aligns seamlessly with the national investment map. Regarding procurement, the UNAPPP Secretary confirmed that the Central Directorate of Public Markets (DCMP) maintains control over compliance, upholding the principle of open tenders while strictly regulating direct agreements as an exception. Significantly, the UNAPPP declared its intention to expand its mandate beyond merely assisting public contracting authorities, committing to become a direct support mechanism for the local private sector.

The convergence of the `patronat sénégalais partenariats public-privé`'s demands for concrete `Sénégal PPP secteur privé réformes exigences` and the UNAPPP's newly articulated commitment to directly support local businesses signals a potentially transformative period for public-private partnerships in Senegal. The call for mandatory subcontracting and capital participation quotas, coupled with the acknowledgment of past inefficiencies in contract signing, highlights a critical juncture for the nation's economic strategy.

Should these reforms be effectively implemented, particularly with the UNAPPP actively championing local private sector involvement, it could significantly alter the landscape of large-scale infrastructure `financement projets Sénégal PPP`. This shift is vital for achieving the ambitious national development goals, fostering local industrial growth, and ensuring that the benefits of major projects are more equitably distributed within the Senegalese economy, moving beyond the current challenges of limited local participation.

Lawyers advising private sector clients on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Senegal should closely monitor the ongoing demands for reforms, particularly regarding local content, subcontracting quotas, and capital participation. The UNAPPP's stated commitment to directly support local private actors indicates a potential shift in project structuring and compliance requirements under the 2021 law, which could create new opportunities or necessitate revised advisory strategies.

Source: Original reporting via SenePlus