The Context
Senegal, with an estimated population of 19.1 million, has made education a priority in its national development. Primary school lasts for six years and is followed by lower and higher secondary education. Schooling is free and compulsory for students between the ages of 6 and 16. French remains the primary language of instruction, but there is a growing introduction of national languages alongside French to facilitate easier understanding of lessons and greater engagement in the classroom.
The country has continued to invest in the last few years to make schooling accessible and of better quality. With a total budget of more than 975 billion FCFA in 2025 and increased to 991 billion FCFA in 2026. This reflects the value placed on better teaching, better school infrastructure, and a more equitable distribution of learning opportunities across the country.
But progress remains slow and inconsistent. Many schools, especially in rural and underserved areas, still face shortages of qualified teachers, inadequate equipment, and insufficient learning resources. There is also concern about school dropouts. In this context, it is important to support teachers, provide access to digital tools, and promote basic and digital skills to enable education to offer real opportunities and promote greater inclusion and long-term development.
ST Foundation’s Presence
The ST Foundation has been active in Senegal since 2008, building a long-term presence focused on digital inclusion through education, capacity building, and local partnerships. Early activities, launched in collaboration with the National Agency for Youth Employment, laid the basis for a structured approach, later implemented locally through CONCEPT, the Foundation’s operational partner.
2008 – Launch of activities in Senegal: start of the DU program in the country, developing a local network dedicated to digital skills and inclusion.
2018 – Introduction of T4K: its launch in Africa marked an important step in the program’s development. A Train-the-Trainer course helped strengthen local capacity and supported a structured rollout across the country.
2020 – Integration into broader development programs: digital education activities were included in wider development initiatives, including projects supported by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.
2022 – Launch of ICB4VI: the course was launched in Thiès, expanding access to digital training for people with visual impairments and reinforcing the Foundation’s commitment to inclusive education.
2023 – Digital Transformation Centers Initiative: Senegal joined the ITU, strengthening institutional cooperation and creating new opportunities to expand the program’s impact.
2025 – Expansion of the Digital Unify network: the DU Program operated through an extensive network of DU Labs and Centers, training more than 40,000 beneficiaries with the support of around 80 active trainers.
2026 – Advanced ICB4VI course: following a mission conducted in March by COO Giovanna Bottani and former Board Member Pietro Fox, the Advanced course was officially launched in Senegal. The first pilot course was held during the first week of July, allowing the new content to be tested with visually impaired learners and preparing the way for its progressive rollout.
Since the program’s beginning, more than 266,000 beneficiaries have been reached, confirming Senegal’s status as one of the longest-standing initiatives. Through its sustained presence, the Foundation continues to strengthen digital skills, empower trainers, and expand inclusive access to technology through a locally rooted education network.
