Senegal is one of the most politically stable countries in Africa. However, the country is vulnerable to environmental shocks, particularly floods and droughts, which are expected to increase in scale and duration due to increased climate variability. These challenges are placing additional burdens on small farms, which already face land overuse, shorter rainfall and soil degradation challenges. 

Smallholder farmers in Senegal struggle to make profits. Women and youth of farming households have limited knowledge of climate-smart agriculture and irrigation practices and limited access to improved inputs, technology, and land. Unequal family decision-making and unequal access to finances, land and other natural resources at the household and community levels in addition to time constraints due to household obligations also limit the ability of women and youth to respond to climate change. This is made worse by ineffective coordination across market actors and limited knowledge of farming as a business.