Ecotourism in Senegal, a driver of just transition and creator of green jobs
Faced with the challenges of climate change, Senegal relies on ecotourism as a strategic lever to preserve the environment, promote green jobs, and support inclusive development. A training workshop organized in Casamance illustrates this ambition by consolidating the skills of local actors to ensure a just transition.
9 May 2025
Climate change represents one of the most pressing challenges of our time, requiring an urgent and global response. Senegal, aware of its vulnerability to climate impacts, particularly in the tourism sector, is developing innovative initiatives for an ecological and social transition. Ecotourism, considered a sustainable alternative to traditional tourism, is emerging as a strategic pillar to combine economic development and ecosystem preservation.
In 2015, the Paris Agreement highlighted the intrinsic link between climate action, sustainable development, and just transition. It emphasizes the importance of adopting policies that consider the implications for employment, migration, and livelihoods. In Senegal, the tourism sector, mainly coastal, is particularly vulnerable to coastal erosion and sea level rise. Ecotourism thus appears as a sustainable solution to these issues, although it is also subject to climatic changes.
In this context, the International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts through the Directorate of Investments and Tourist Developments (DIAT), is leading ambitious projects such as the Social Dimension of the Ecological Transition in Senegal, aiming to promote decent work and green jobs, with a focus on ecotourism and community tourism.
A training workshop is organized in Casamance, a region rich in biodiversity and conducive to the development of environmentally friendly tourism. The general objective of this workshop was to promote decent work and the creation of green jobs in the tourism sector, while strengthening the capacities of local actors, particularly young people and women from rural areas. This will help combat rural exodus and irregular migration, while promoting endogenous development.
The workshop, aimed at training 30 tripartite representatives and 25 young people, including migrant workers, took place in several phases. The first phase was dedicated to raising awareness and upgrading participants on the importance of decent work and green jobs for the sustainable development of ecotourism. Discussions focused on the creation of sustainable rural businesses and the socio-economic issues related to community tourism.
The second phase consisted of practical training in the form of a school construction site, where participants built ecotourism habitat modules using local materials and regional know-how. This approach aims to promote the sustainability of infrastructures while stimulating the local economy.
The third phase of the workshop focused on the sustainable management of community camps. Management agreements were signed between local authorities and the selected Economic Interest Groups (GIE) for operation, which will benefit from in-depth training on various aspects such as accounting, hotel management, hospitality, and hygiene.
Finally, the workshop addressed operational planning and project monitoring methodologies to ensure their sustainability.
By betting on ecotourism and a just transition, Senegal positions itself as a key player in the fight against climate change. This innovative model can inspire other countries to adopt similar approaches to combine sustainable development, social inclusion, and economic prosperity.