The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Statement by UNOPS Deputy Executive Director following her visit to Senegal
Statement attributable to Sonja Leighton-Kone, UNOPS Deputy Executive Director for Management and Policy, following her visit to Senegal. The visit took place from 7 to 9 August 2025.
Senegal's government is championing a transformative agenda focused on economic sovereignty, good governance, social justice and community-driven development.
During my recent visit to Senegal, I spoke with Ahmadou Alhaminou Lo – Minister of State, Minister to the President of the Republic, in charge of monitoring, steering and evaluating the National Transformation Agenda 'Senegal 2050' – on how UNOPS can support the government's development priorities.
Effective collaboration across the UN system is key to achieving real impact for communities.
— UNOPS Africa (@UNOPS_Africa) August 9, 2025
In Dakar 🇸🇳, @UNOPS delegation met with @Onuse Resident Coordinator @AminataMaiga20 to explore how UNOPS can strengthen its support to the UN Country Team. pic.twitter.com/GMURm54HJK
From infrastructure and digital services to procurement reform that strengthens transparency and efficiency, we discussed how UNOPS can help ensure resources are used efficiently and projects are delivered transparently, in partnership with governments, communities and the wider UN system.
With the support of the European Union, we've successfully built 13 judicial infrastructures across Senegal, ensuring that justice is not only accessible but also affordable for communities in even the most remote regions – empowering the Senegalese population and fostering greater equality.
And in partnership with the World Bank, we procured vehicles in support of the Senegal Digital Economy Acceleration Project, which is expanding access to affordable and climate-resilient broadband connectivity as well as improving the adoption of online government services and electronic medical records.
We're also strengthening the Ministry of Justice by equipping the Houses of Justice with state-of-the-art IT equipment and enhancing their connectivity through high-performance network cabling solutions as part of a joint programme funded by the Joint SDG Fund and implemented with the UN Development Programme, the International Telecommunication Union and UN Women.
This type of effective collaboration across the UN system is essential to delivering meaningful results for people. To that end, I also met with the UN Resident Coordinator, Aminata Maiga, to discuss ways UNOPS can further support the UN Country Team in advancing Senegal’s development priorities and strengthen collaboration in key areas.
Working together – the government, the UN family and partners – can turn national development priorities into measurable results for people.
