The Observatory

"Annie, use your telescope"*

In the sections below, you will find out:

The data of the public perception tool "La Vie et le Temps" and Reasons for Concern in Mboro
What is inside the Observatory

*Jack's Mannequin, The Glass Passenger, 2008

Data from the study "La Vie et le Temps" and Reasons for Concern in Mboro

There are a lot of Reasons for Concern in Mboro. This is despite its mineral wealth, abundant agricultural production, and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. But the Reasons for Concern are not there to set up "pity parties": they are there to illuminate tremendous avenues of opportunity and organic and conscious creativity.

Mboro bears the full brunt of what is known in development economics as the curse of natural resources. Mboro is a fractal of Africa and its rural and secondary cities: full of paradoxes and suffocating, in every sense of the word.

The problems are well known. The list goes on for miles. It includes poverty, urban decay, information asymmetry that blurs any possibility of alternatives, environmental degradation and pollution caused by extractive industries, unemployment, absence of public health establishments and hospitals, power cuts, and access to sustainable, clean electricity. Also, water supply failures, poor integrated management of water resources, and contamination of the groundwater by agriculture and the activities of Industries Chimiques du Sénégal.

The impact of these structural issues on the most vulnerable, women, schoolchildren and the sick, is notorious (dealt with in the sectoral analyses).

The data speaks and creams for itself

Lack of infrastructure and basic services

The study La Vie et le Temps in Mboro and surrounding areas revealed that more than half the population, 58%, do not have sustainable access to basic infrastructure and services, such as water, electricity and health. This has to stop. These infrastructure are vital for well-being, social protection, and the running of daily life. They also support small shops and family businesses.

Worries about health and well-being, for oneself and loved ones

La Vie et le Temps in Mboro and surroundings outlined another terrifying figure. The people really fear for their health and that of their loved ones due to air pollution from nearby extractive and chemical companies. In fact, 94% (Figure 1.5) of the population say they are afraid for their health. Air pollution causes illness and premature death. We could also include air pollution caused by urban transport and vehicles. It is just as real and calls for measures in terms of regulation, the age of cars, fuels, etc. This will be the case in the future.

Wanna leave ?

Both blessed and cursed by the sea, Mboro and its neighbours are, sadly, a departure point for illegal migrants wanting to reach Europe by canoe.

The survey found that only just over half the population, 56%, want to stay in Mboro.

This finding was widely discussed with the population and the mayor at the Mboro High School event. How can policies be put in place so that the population and young people have Reasons to Stay? We'll be discussing this in the co-creation capsule.

Urban suffocation, population growth and lack of support

The population of Mboro has risen from around 8,500 inhabitants in 1988 to 50,000 in 2023. This population increase must go hand in hand with urban development, the construction of new neighbourhoods, the expansion of the electricity and water networks, and the development of transportation. To cope with this growth, it is essential to considerably develop infrastructures and basic services. This requires massive investment, beyond the municipal budget.

The study La Vie et le Temps à Mboro et environs highlights the general feeling of the population towards the level of support of their town council and the actions taken on their behalf. Indeed, 86% feel that their municipality does not do enough.

Decentralisation: a double-edged knife

Decentralisation can be a double-edged knife. The general question is: how can one work well and look after their city when they don't have the financial resources to do so ? Local authorities mainly depend on local taxes and budget transfers from the state. These funds are often insufficient and are used to fund day-to-day administrative activities. In addition, unequal urban and administrative redrawing took place as part of Act 3 of decentralisation. This has confined Mboro to a small piece of land since 2013. This redrawing has transferred zones and neighbourhoods to the Darou Khoudoss commune. This has deprived it of significant tax revenue. Let us hope that a next administrative redrawing in the Niayes area will correct this distortion.

To conclude

Serious budgetary constraints, navigation by sight, administrative and border confusion (particularly with Darou Khoudoss), a lack of clarity around basic needs and infrastructures, information asymetry and lack of data, are all serious Reasons for Concern.

We will regularly update the embedded Reasons for Concern (RfC) section - below 👇🏾 - with scientific studies and recommendations, projects, stories on reasons for concern in all aspects of life and sectors of the economy.

Explore the articles 👇🏾. Keep an eye on the calendar 🗓.