Dr Cherif Samsedine Sarr

Dr Cherif Samsedine Sarr is a Senegalese, active in the human development sector. He holds a doctorate in geography from the Gaston Berger University of Saint-Louis in Senegal and a master’s degree in international cooperation: peace and development from the University of the Basque Country (Spain). In his training as a geographer, he studied issues related to the social and environmental vulnerability of the small islands of Lower Casamance (Senegal). He has set up vulnerability indices that allow a classification of islands according to development needs.

At the University of the Basque Country (Spain), he conducted research on the economic empowerment of sub-Saharan rural women by advocating a GLOCAL approach. His study largely returned to the different microcredit systems in Senegal, which he classified into two categories: those intended to support women towards economic empowerment with a broad financial education program and those resulting from the neoliberal capitalist system which have involved many rural women in a vicious circle of micro-indebtedness.

After four years spent at the town hall of Diembéring as head of technical services, project manager, study and environmental issues, Cherif Samsedine Sarr is now at the head of the Xaley Foundation as Managing Director. This Spanish organization has been working in Senegal for more than 10 years on child protection and the fight against obstacles to girls’ education in the regions of Thiès, Louga, Diourbel, Ziguinchor, Sédhiou and Dakar.

He has also worked with various Spanish NGOs operating in Senegal. He is the founder of the Network of Self-Financed Communities of Senegal (RECAFSEN), the first network of Senegalese volunteers for the economic empowerment of women through self-financing. This network has more than 50 young people trained in the CAF self-financing methodology and supports more than 100 women spread over Dakar, Mbour, Diembéring, Diogué, Carabane, Boucotte and Cabrousse. RECAFSEN supports women through the creation of savings and credit systems, financial education and strengthening financial intelligence.

Dr Cherif Samsedine Sarr is also the founder of the Network of the Islands of Lower Casamance for the Integrated Management of Coastal Zones, an association of 21 island villages in Casamance which works on advocacy, community mobilization and local development.