Women from the village of Soucouta, in the Siné Saloum region (southern Senegal), travel by pirogue to the mangrove, a typical vegetation of this region. Every morning, at low tide, they come to detach the oysters which develop naturally on the roots of the mangrove trees which constitute this tropical forest.

View from the river in Soucouta, Sine Saloum, Senegal.

Every morning from May to September, in groups of at least two and with makeshift protection to avoid being hurt by branches or bees, the women come at low tide to fill whole buckets with oysters. The gathering of oysters and mussels is very common in the area and traditionally devolved to women. Previously, it was only for personal consumption, but thanks to the GIEF, the products are now marketed to fish shops in Dakar, hotels in this very touristy region, or even at regional markets. The women thus benefit from a source of income, which reinforces their autonomy and improves the daily life of their households. But with COVID and tourism at a standstill, orders have become rarer and income has dropped sharply over the past two years.

"The life of a human being depends on the environment and I understood very early that it was sacred," explains Yandé Ndao, a native of Soucouta. Over the years, she has noticed the damage caused by the abusive use of natural resources on the environment and the repercussions on the jobs of the villagers, all linked to the ocean. Outraged, "Mother Yandé" created in 1998 a women's economic interest group (GIEF). Its objective is to protect the mangrove via a rational exploitation but also thanks to awareness activities and an annual reforestation campaign. "Unity is strength! The GIEF also helps empower women by providing them with a source of income," says this 63-year-old grandmother who, because of her diabetes, has given up field activities but remains very active in the GIEF. From 44 women when it was created, the group now has 94 members, 32% of whom are young women.

View of a pirogue from the river in Soucouta, Sine Saloum, Senegal.

In Soucouta and more widely in the region, men and women live mainly from the natural resources offered by the environment, and in particular from the fish and oysters that they consume, transform and sell.If the exploitation of fish products is traditionally for personal use, the GIE has allowed women to become professional in order to make it an economic activity while ensuring the preservation of the environment. Every morning from May to September, the women pick oysters at low tide in the mangrove. Outside of this period, picking is now forbidden in order to respect the biological resting phase.

Oysters. Every morning from May to September, in groups of at least two and with makeshift protection to avoid being hurt by branches or bees, the women come at low tide to fill whole buckets with oysters. The gathering of oysters and mussels is very common in the area and traditionally devolved to women. Previously, it was only for personal consumption, but thanks to the GIEF, the products are now marketed to fish shops in Dakar, hotels in this very touristy region, or even at regional markets. The women thus benefit from a source of income, which reinforces their autonomy and improves the daily life of their households. But with COVID and tourism at a standstill, orders have become rarer and income has dropped sharply over the past two years.

The village of Soucouta is located in the heart of the Saloum Delta Biosphere Reserve (southern Senegal), whose mangrove forest covers an area of approximately 58,000 ha. Composed of a forest of mangrove trees, it serves as a habitat and nursery for many species of fish - more than 115 - as well as crustaceans. It provides the inhabitants of the region with jobs in fishing, oyster farming but also in tourism, and ensures the basis of their diet. By acting as a barrier to the ocean and by fixing the sand, its role is crucial in reducing coastal erosion. The roots of the mangroves absorb CO2, the mangrove also prevents global warming and mitigates pollution of marine waters. But because of human activities - overfishing and unregulated logging - as well as climate change, all its essential functions are now threatened, putting the future of local populations at risk.

Mamadou, a fisherman and son of Yandé Ndao, helps the women of the GIEF in their oyster farming activity. Since 2003, in order to avoid the depletion of resources, they have started oyster farming thanks to a support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Old shells are used for spat (oyster larvae) to develop into new mollusks. This alternative makes it possible to harvest them all year round, without the need to respect a biological rest period during which all harvesting is prohibited.

Mamadou, a fisherman and son of Yandé Ndao, helps the women of the GIEF in their oyster farming activity. Since 2003, in order to avoid the depletion of resources, they have started oyster farming thanks to a support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Old shells are used for spat (oyster larvae) to develop into new mollusks. This alternative makes it possible to harvest them all year round, without the need to respect a biological rest period during which all harvesting is prohibited.

The mangroves leafs are seen in Soucouta, Sine Saloum, Senegal.

The first mangrove reforestation campaign took place in 1999, at the initiative of GIEF. Since then, the initiative is repeated every year during the winter season (rainy season), between August and September. The reforested area varies according to the year and the means available: in 2020, mangrove propagules were planted on 2 ha. Trained by experts, the women have gradually been able to raise awareness among the local population, who are joining in the reforestation, aware of the urgency. Climate change directly threatens the mangrove: leaves burned by the sun, lack of water that leaves water tables almost dried up, stronger marine currents that erode the coasts, etc., but for Yandé Ndao, it is "human exploitation that is the greatest danger."

The first mangrove reforestation campaign took place in 1999, at the initiative of GIEF. Since then, the initiative is repeated every year during the winter season (rainy season), between August and September. The reforested area varies according to the year and the means available: in 2020, mangrove propagules were planted on 2 ha. Trained by experts, the women have gradually been able to raise awareness among the local population, who are joining in the reforestation, aware of the urgency. Climate change directly threatens the mangrove: leaves burned by the sun, lack of water that leaves water tables almost dried up, stronger marine currents that erode the coasts, etc., but for Yandé Ndao, it is "human exploitation that is the greatest danger."

Moussa Mané is the manager of Radio Niombato, the first radio in the region, created in 2004 with the support of UNESCO. Owned by the "And Ligguey Niombato" federation, this community radio station, which broadcasts in 7 languages, allows him to be its relay and to raise awareness among the population on health, the environment, youth, employment, etc. By mixing expertise, testimonies, and calls for contributions, the programs encourage broad public support. Among the themes addressed, migration is one of the key topics.

Women wait for the fishermen to come back from their daily fishing.

The activity of the fishermen of the region depends closely on the mangrove. It is in this ecosystem that many species of fish live and reproduce. But because of overfishing as well as unregulated cutting of vegetation, fish are becoming scarcer in the bolongs (inlets) that dot the mangrove. While they used to fish in these areas nearby, fishermen are forced to go further and further out to sea and for longer periods. "My two sons used to tell me all the time that there were no more fish. They would sometimes leave for 3-5 days, spend a lot of money on gasoline and come back empty-handed," says Yandé Ndao.

Women come to the port to buy fishes to eat each day.

"The fishing methods of the old generation and our generation are very different. They fished without worrying about the consequences," says El Hadj Arfang, a fisherman since 1986. Since the 2000s, fish have become scarcer in the mangrove. The vegetation itself is also directly threatened: one of the species of mangrove once present in the region has disappeared. In addition to his collaboration with the women of the GIEF for the collection of oysters since the 1990s, El Hadj also participates in reforestation. President of the Soucouta fishermen's monitoring committee, he notes a slight but real change: "The fish are coming back and reproducing again in the mangrove," he rejoices.

Every day, the women prepare dinner with their oyster harvest and he fishes brought by their husbands in the morning.

Fish products are the basic food of the inhabitants of the Toubacouta region. Women usually buy their fish from the fishermen and sell them on the market. Due to the lack of refrigerators, the products are often dried to be preserved longer.

Every day, the women prepare dinner with their oyster harvest and he fishes brought by their husbands in the morning.

The seafood collected by the women is taken directly to the processing site located right on the edge of the mangrove. On a piece of land granted by the village chief in 2004, the GIEF was able to build various infrastructures thanks to funds granted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): spaces for boiling the mollusks, drying and smoking tables, a room for placing the products in jars, a storage area and even a store to display the finished products. But for several years, the site has been at a standstill for several months yearly because of the scarcity of fish. An important loss of earnings for the women.

Despite all the efforts made by the women, the population and the partner organizations, the lack of fish is well and truly felt in Soucouta. Here, women walks on old seafood in the processing site where women work to boil, dry and smoke fish in order to sell them in the dedicated store or on the markets is quite empty. The women can now spend months without being able to process the products due to lack of resources.

With the GIEF, which has now become the federation "And ligguey Niombato" ("The Niombato region united to work" in Wolof), the model has expanded. It now includes women from 40 surrounding villages. Investment savings schemes (IPS) and solidarity loans have been created to support the development of collective and individual economic activities. Since 2019, "Debbo Galle" ("Woman in her home", in Pulaar) groups have been meeting every Saturday. Each session begins with a talk that raises awareness on various topics such as breastfeeding, malaria, etc. Then, each member writes down in her booklet the amount of the contribution paid into the common fund. Every 9 or 12 months, the savings are then distributed among the members on a pro rata basis. With this system, women no longer hesitate to borrow to create their own activities and thus increase their income.

Adji Kor is among the first women of Soucouta to have joined the GIEF. At 59 years old, this mother of 4 children supports 6 people thanks to her various activities and is very proud to supplement the income of her sailor husband. In addition to harvesting oysters and mussels, thanks to the GIEF, she also buys fish and mollusks that she dries to sell them on the markets. She also raises many animals (chickens, ducks, rabbits, sheep) both for family use and for resale. "It is an asset to be together in the GIEF: we meet other women, we support each other. Each one finds her own benefit", says Adji, now recognized in the region. If at the beginning husbands are often reluctant, they quickly change their minds in front of the results.

One hundred percent natural, Adji's garden is an example for many women in the GIEF. "They ask me for advice. I'm always happy to share my experience and accompany them," says Adji, who learned to garden with her parents and is now in charge of the federation's market gardening section. The first wife of a polygamous husband, she decided 10 years ago to leave her husband's family plot due to lack of space to develop her own activities. "I wanted to be autonomous and independent. With the agreement of my husband, I bought a piece of land, I built my house and I was able to make my garden" she recalls. Encouraged by her mother's experience, her daughter Awa, 26, recently joined the federation. This is an important membership for Adji, for whom "it is important to pass on the message between the generations. "We need to include young people now," she says.

Aminata Thior is part of this new generation full of projects and involved in local life. After having studied English for two years in Dakar, she returned to Medina Sangako, a village near Soucouta, and opened a store (local grocery store), a traditionally male job, at the age of 23. She has been a facilitator for the "And Ligguey Niombata" federation since 2008, and travels around the region to educate women about behavioral change, particularly malnutrition. At 26 years old, noticing that a lot of vegetable and fruit production is lost because it is not consumed in time, she created a product processing activity (juice, cereals and recently a catering activity for parties) thanks to the solidarity savings system. A pioneer in her village, she is happy that her experience is inspiring other young people. "Many young people tend to want to go elsewhere, but there are plenty of things to develop in our villages," says the young woman, who thus has "the feeling of being useful.

Fatou Sarr, 47 years old, in the middle of her land between the first bricks she bought to build her future house. Thanks to the federation "And ligguey Niombato" which helps women and young people to access land ownership, she was able to buy this land located in the village. More than a hundred requests, the majority of which were made by women, were sent to the mayor to regularize or acquire property titles. After the death of her grandmother, Fatou took her place in the federation. Working alone in her household, she became independent and divorced after realizing she could do it on her own. "Without this support, I probably wouldn't have had the freedom to leave, but thanks to GIEF's activities, I can be self-sufficient and earn a living," she says, grateful.

Fatou Sarr, 47 years old, in the middle of her land between the first bricks she bought to build her future house. Thanks to the federation "And ligguey Niombato" which helps women and young people to access land ownership, she was able to buy this land located in the village. More than a hundred requests, the majority of which were made by women, were sent to the mayor to regularize or acquire property titles. After the death of her grandmother, Fatou took her place in the federation. Working alone in her household, she became independent and divorced after realizing she could do it on her own. "Without this support, I probably wouldn't have had the freedom to leave, but thanks to GIEF's activities, I can be self-sufficient and earn a living," she says, grateful.

This year, Moustapha Senghor launched his ice cream business during the month of Ramadan. One of the first animators to be recruited by the federation, he was able to buy a freezer and develop his business thanks to solidarity savings. Assistant to the treasurer of the Toubacouta health post in the morning, Moustapha rides his little "Jakarta" motorcycle every afternoon to criss-cross the villages and deliver ice cream. Very often, households do not have refrigerators and are forced to buy them daily. "I used to think there were no opportunities for me here, but I changed my mind and I have a duty: "togg fii, tekki fii (stay here, succeed here)! With the earnings, the thirty-year-old newlywed will be able to continue the work on the house he is building in the family concession. A victory that also allows him to regain a status within his family, after having felt a sense of shame following his failed attempt to settle in Russia.

Like many young people in the village, Moustapha Senghor, then 29, tried to migrate in late 2018. "I wanted to be able to help my family. When I looked at everything that had been done with the money sent by migrants, it reinforced my decision" he justifies. As a member of a Senegalese soccer team supporters' association, he paid a substantial amount of money to attend the team's match at the World Cup in Russia that year. Confident that it would be easy to find a job there, he relied on the help of fellow countrymen who had already settled there. But as soon as he arrived in Russia, he was immediately repatriated because the date of birth written on his passport and his visa were different. "I was completely discouraged, my brother had helped me to pay for the trip... Sometimes I still think about the 1 million 500 Fcfa (2285 euros) I lost... But now I am trying to make up for the lost time. I often talk about this experience with the young people to sensitize them" he reports.

A woman in one of the sandy alleys of Soucouta, a small village of 385 inhabitants, located in the Siné Saloum natural region in southern Senegal. Before Covid, this village attracted many tourists every year for the beauty of its landscapes, which are among the most beautiful in the country. Many women from the village have joined the GIEF created by Ms. Ndao: they are fishmongers, fish product processors, oyster farmers, livestock farmers, market gardeners, and have started a small business.) By professionalizing the activity of oyster and mussel harvesting, the women have acquired skills, gained financial resources and also gained self-confidence. Since the creation, the activities have also been extended to other fields.

El Hadj, municipal councillor, participated in the creation of the Bamboung marine protected area in 2003/2004.

While progress on mangrove preservation is visible, it is still too early to see significant changes in the fishery in this marine area.are visible, it is still too early to see significant changes in the fishery in this maritime area. Nevertheless, the villagers remain convinced that they have no choice but to intensify their efforts to safeguard the environment, as their survival and that of new generations is at stake. A marine protected area of 7,200 ha was thus created in 2003 nearby. The first of its kind in West Africa, it has served as an example for the creation of similar areas in the region. On the scale of Senegal, the country now has 10 such areas. In this area, progress is already notable: endangered species are beginning to return while new ones are appearing. Beyond the environmental aspect, the success of the women's federation's actions has encouraged some of the region's youth to return to their native village. They have become aware of the opportunities available to them in the village, particularly in traditional work (fishing and agriculture), areas of activity that were often neglected before. A return to their roots which allows to revitalize this region subjected to a strong rural exodus.