Ziguinchor youth complete training to combat food waste

In Ziguinchor, a cohort of 30 young people, 80% of whom are women, has completed an intensive 30-day training program designed to combat food waste and enhance food sovereignty in the Casamance region. The initiative, part of the ‘Salouma’ project, was led by the World Food Programme (WFP) and its partners.

The training aims to prepare for the establishment of a specialized Post-Harvest Loss Management Unit (Ugpp). This unit is intended to support agricultural actors by converting post-harvest losses into employment opportunities. The program addressed the regional challenge where a lack of adequate conservation and transformation infrastructure leads to significant production loss before goods reach consumers.

William Diatta, head of the WFP office for the southern zone, stated that the goal is to move beyond food assistance toward strengthening community capacities for autonomy and local development. The training, facilitated by the ITD, combined technical skills with personal development, including leadership and responsibility.