[06] Electrification as the start of development

Sénégal has virtually no experience with slum electrification projects. Benoît Dôme: 'The only exception is a project of the German Development Bank GTZ for the complete redevelopment of one part of the slum. This project included street paving, water supply, construction of schools and hospitals and electrification. It was certainly a valuable project, but it is not realistic to execute such an extensively integrated development project for the whole area at one time — that would simply be too expensive. A more realistic approach is a step-by-step development. In such a case, electrification should be the initial effort, since nearly all other applications — street lighting, water supply, schools, hospitals, etc. — all require electricity. Electrification is the necessary base for further development.'