On 11 June 2024, a significant milestone was reached with the kick-off meeting for the “Information, Education, and Communication Campaign on Electricity for Demand Incentive” project, spearheaded by MCA Senegal in collaboration with GOPA Partners in Action for Change and Engagement (GOPA PACE), member of the GOPA Consulting Group. The event was held in Dakar, Senegal, bringing together key stakeholders and partners committed to fostering positive and lasting change through strategic partnerships.

The meeting saw the participation of 40 attendees, representing a diverse array of organizations and expertise. Key participants included Oumar Diop, Director MCA Sénégal, Pape Momar Lo (Deputy Director), Dr. Martin Güldner, CEO of the GOPA Consulting Group, Rafael Comenge, CEO of GOPA PACE, Al Hassane Niang (Director GCG), and the team of experts, joined by representatives from Consortium partners Deloitte Senegal and Intec, as well as MOSES, Senelec, and local staff from various departments including DGAO, DGAP, and OCEO.

The primary objective of the kick-off was to officially launch the project and outline its activities. The session commenced with opening remarks from Oumar DIOP, Director of MCA Sénégal, followed by insights from a representative of MCC. Mr. Abdou Diop, Project Director of MCA for the ACCESS programme, highlighted the overarching goals of the project, which is a critical component of MCA’s broader electricity program, COMPACT. Al Hassane Niang from GOPA Group then detailed the implementation strategy, focusing on how the project aims to transform electricity demand behaviors in rural areas. MCA’s representative underscored the interrelated nature of all projects within the COMPACT program, emphasizing the significance of this campaign for the success of future initiatives. 

 The event highlighted the transformative potential of the project for rural communities in Senegal. 

For GOPA PACE, this project represents a strategic win, enhancing their collaboration with MCA and opening doors for future opportunities. The consortium, led by GOPA PACE and including GOPA Intec and Deloitte Senegal, is dedicated to leveraging their expertise to drive the project’s success.

This project, set to run for 27 months until September 2026, will cover 350 localities across five regions of Senegal. It aims to conduct an extensive information campaign to educate and influence people’s behavior towards electricity use, ultimately boosting demand in rural areas. For the beneficiaries, this project promises significant social and economic benefits by promoting productive use of electricity.

The kick-off meeting marked a successful start to what promises to be a transformative project for Sénégal’s rural communities. With a strong foundation of partnerships and a clear vision, the “Information, Education, and Communication Campaign on Electricity for Demand Incentive” is set to pave the way for sustainable development and enhanced electricity access across the nation.