In a landmark move to modernize infrastructure governance, Senegal has officially launched the “SOURCE PPP Senegal” platform—a comprehensive digital tool designed to manage the entire lifecycle of public-private partnership (PPP) contracts.
Unveiled on Monday by the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Cooperation, the platform aims to tackle mounting public debt and improve the sustainability of national investments. By streamlining procedures and ensuring transparency, officials believe SOURCE will transform how Senegal engages with private sector partners.
“This initiative is part of the vision of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, who place digitalization at the heart of the transformation of public administration,” said Economy Minister Abdourahmane Sarr, who presided over the launch ceremony.
He emphasized the platform’s end-to-end digital process, covering everything from project preparation to final contract signing. “SOURCE PPP Senegal brings major advances. It allows for an end-to-end digitalized process, from preparation to signature, while reducing administrative delays and costs,” Sarr said.
Compliant with Senegalese Law No. 2021-23 on PPPs, SOURCE is aligned with international standards and is designed for national accessibility—streamlining calls for projects and contract announcements across the country.
However, Sarr also highlighted the urgency of fiscal reform. “If we had given more priority to public-private partnerships, we would not have had to accumulate so many checks and balances from the State,” he warned, citing public debt levels nearing 119% of GDP.
To navigate these challenges, he advocated a tripartite strategy—Prepare, Derisk, Finance (PDRF)—to attract off-balance sheet investments while minimizing risks.
Christophe Dossarps, Executive Director of the Sustainable Infrastructure Foundation (SIF), emphasized the platform’s data capabilities. “You can’t improve if you can’t measure. And to measure, you need data,” he said. He applauded Senegal’s digital leap, noting it has surpassed several G20 nations in infrastructure digitalization.
“SOURCE enables data collection systematically, transparently, and in real time. This is what governments and investors need,” Dossarps added.
The initiative has received strong backing from international partners. Casjen Ohnesorge, Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy in Dakar, commended Senegal’s forward-thinking strategy. “The lack of bankable projects is a major obstacle to sustainable development. SOURCE is an essential tool for strengthening transparency, efficiency and cooperation between public and private actors,” he said.
The project aligns with Germany’s support under the European Global Gateway initiative and the G7’s global infrastructure partnership, which aims to mobilize $600 billion in sustainable investment by 2027.
In his closing remarks, Minister Sarr called for a unified approach: “Your collective commitment will ensure the success of this digital transformation and will help realize the Head of State’s vision for sustainable and inclusive infrastructure.”
About The Author
