The project aims to increase food security, or access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food, for the most vulnerable populations in line with the Emergency Social Program of the Government of Senegal. The project also seeks to improve the capacity of decision-makers to anticipate potential food security crises. This project increases the capacity of targeted rural populations to deal with cereal price increases which generally occur during the lean season. Cereal banks allow members to store part of their harvest and sell it when market prices are higher. This mechanism is accompanied by food distribution to members as a mean of subsistence until they are able to sell their harvest.
Results achieved as of the end of the project include : 97 new community cereal banks, with 8,876 members, were created in the Niayes and Casamance regions, providing ongoing access to grains such as millet and rice. The proportion of women on management committees rose from 22% in 2010 to more than 30% in 2011. Women hold strategic positions on these management committees in 59% of cases. The project results have helped reduce the risk of running out of grain stocks, and improved food security at the community level, that is, the availability and accessibility of an adequate quantity of healthy and nutritious food.
