Senegal family grants reach 469,497 households
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Senego
In Senegal, 469,497 households benefit from family security grants in 2026, up from 355,013 in 2024, with an annual allowance of 140,000 CFA francs per household. Aboubakr Ka defends the scheme, which is to reach one million households in 2027, citing an assessment by the World Bank and DGPSN.
In 2026, 469,497 Senegalese households will receive an annual family allowance of 140,000 CFA francs, compared with 355,013 households in 2024. Senego cited these figures in an opinion piece defending the social transfer programme against criticism of its cost and possible electoral use.
An assessment by the World Bank and the General Delegation for Social Protection and National Solidarity (DGPSN) attributes to the allowances an 8% increase in the share of protein-rich foods in beneficiaries’ spending and an 11% rise in ownership of durable goods. The opinion piece also says that women beneficiaries have easier access to microcredit and that adolescents are more likely to stay in school when their mother receives the payment.
The allowances are expected to cost 70 billion CFA francs in 2026, compared with 790 billion for energy subsidies, according to figures cited by Senego. The government aims to bring the latter below 1% of gross domestic product by 2029. The finance minister described strengthening social protection as a condition for reforming these subsidies.
The programme is part of a debate about its funding and expansion. The cost of the allowances has been estimated at 490 billion CFA francs on credit, while the stated aim is to increase the number of beneficiary households to one million in 2027, as indicated by the cost estimates and the beneficiary target.
