Human resource in the genral strategy for economic and social development

Abstract

Since independence the Senegalese economy has had a number of structural constraints that have made it particularly vulnerable to climatic changes and changes in commodity prices on the world market. In spite of the efforts made since independence to promote development, the situation has persistently deteriorated. During the last 25 years, an exceptional drought coupled with a sudden increase in population and weak economic growth has caused stagnation in real incomes, particularly those of the rural population which is estimated to be 70 per cent of the total population. Development activities based on external financing and earnings from groundnuts and minerals failed to promote any structural changes in the economy and lay the foundations for sustained and sound economic growth.