Partnership between Dynamo International and the Collective of Organizations and Support Structures for Children and Young People in Difficulty (COSAED) in Senegal

The Collective of Organizations and Support Structures for Children and Young People in Difficulty (COSAED) is a structured network of Senegalese associations working for child protection. Each member association maintains its autonomy while participating in a collective dynamic. COSAED’s mission is to strengthen synergistic work among its members and to promote and protect children’s rights, in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

Today, COSAED and Dynamo International continue their joint commitment through two major projects that strengthen the protection, care, and integration of children in street situations (CISS) in Senegal.

Internationally committed to children’s rights, Senegal seeks to strengthen its systems to better protect, in a sustainable manner, particularly children in street situations, by developing appropriate structures and supporting social actors.

In the regions of Dakar and Tambacounda, this program aims to improve the resilience, protection, and support for children in street situations, girls and boys aged 6 to 25 years. It supports their educational, socio-professional, family, and community (re)integration.

Conducted with the support of Belgian cooperation (DGD), this program is based on awareness-raising and advocacy actions, direct support for children, and capacity building for social workers. It runs from 2022 to 2026 and contributes to evolving child protection practices in Senegal.

This project aims to transform how Senegalese society perceives children in street situations. It seeks to ensure recognition of their rights and guarantee that they have real access to the services and protection they are entitled to.

In several regions of the country — Dakar, Kaolack, Kolda, Saint Louis, Thiès and Ziguinchor — the project mobilizes the general public, public and private actors alike. It proposes awareness-raising and advocacy actions in favor of a more inclusive protection system that respects children’s rights. One of the major axes consists of working toward official recognition of the status of social street worker, essential for better care of children in street situations.

In parallel, COSAED’s social street workers continue their mission of supporting children, guiding them toward appropriate structures and helping them reintegrate into their families, schools, or active life. This project is conducted within the framework of the 2021-2025 Joint Parity Commission between the Republic of Senegal and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.

PROMES 2 Partners:

Belgium:

• La Pommeraie
• The Haute École de Condorcet

Senegal:

• CFJ (Judicial Training Center)
• ENTSS (National School of Specialized Social Workers)