Sen' Eau, the company managing the operation and distribution of drinking water in urban and semi-urban areas in Senegal, and the Diamniadio-Dakar Training Centre for Building and Public Works (CFBTP) will train 250 young people in the maintenance techniques of drinking water installations over the next five years. The two institutions have just signed a partnership agreement for the implementation of this training programme.
The aim is to “extend the lifespan of its drinking water equipment through appropriate maintenance”. This equation could be facilitated in Senegal. Sen’ Eau, the company managing the operation and distribution of drinking water in urban and semi-urban areas in Senegal, and the Diamniadio-Dakar Training Centre for Building and Public Works (CFBTP) are planning to train hundreds of young Senegalese in the maintenance techniques of drinking water installations. On September 10th, 2020, the two institutions signed a 15-year partnership agreement for the implementation of the training programme.
Initially, 250 young people with the 3rd grade level of education will be equipped in the areas of drinking water installation maintenance and plumbing. The training, which will last for 5 years, will be both theoretical and practical. “They will spend one week at the centre and one week in the company under the supervision of two tutors,” explains Jany Arnal, Sen’ Eau’s general manager. Eventually, the programme will enable the learners to obtain certificates of professional competence (CAP) and thus be able to maintain their facilities and those of many Senegalese “on a regular basis and at a lower cost”.
After this first wave, Sen’ Eau and CFBTP, created within the framework of a partnership between the Senegalese Ministry of Technical Education and Vocational Training and two professional unions in the sector, with the support of Agence Française de Développement (AFD), plan to train several other young people from this West African country in drinking water equipment management techniques.
This training project comes at a time when several drinking water facilities are being built in Senegal. All the populations of the Foundiougne division, in the south-west of the country should, for example, benefit from phase 2 of the Drinking Water Supply Project for the populations of the Fatick, Thiès and Kaolack regions (Koïca2). This project, financed by South Korea, will enable the construction of nine boreholes, nine water towers, 170 km of hydraulic network, nine pumps, nine pumping cabins, etc. Ultimately, Koïca2 will benefit 42,000 people.
Inès Magoum
