Project profile — Natur'ELLES

• Senegal (100.00%)

• Government And Civil Society, General: Women's rights organisations and movements, and government institutions (15170) (12.00%)
• Business And Other Services: Business Development Services (25030) (19.00%)
• Fishing: Fishery development (31320) (16.00%)
• Environmental policy and administrative management:
Environmental policy and administrative management (41010) (21.00%)
Bio-diversity (41030) (32.00%)

• Gender equality (significant objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (principal objective)
• Biodiversity (principal objective)
• Climate Change Adaptation (principal objective)

The Natur'ELLES project aims to increase the adaptation to climate change of women and their vulnerable communities in the mangrove ecosystems of marine protected areas of the Saloum and Casamance deltas in Senegal. The activities of this project include: (1) supporting women's collective entrepreneurship projects maintaining mangrove biodiversity; (2) developing a feminist environmental leadership program for women; (3) supporting functional and financial literacy programs for vulnerable women; and (4) supporting community implementation of Ecological Restoration and Management Plans based on nature-based Solutions. The project will contribute to the climate change adaptation of 8,000 people, including 6,000 women and their vulnerable communities living off of the mangrove ecosystems benefitting from the activities. It will reach more than 85,000 indirect beneficiaries in 113 villages.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) increased adoption of nature-based solutions to mangrove ecosystem conservation supporting biodiversity and climate change adaptation of women and vulnerable communities in marine protected areas; (2) improved inclusive and equitable governance of natural resources in mangrove ecosystems in support of climate change adaptation of women and their vulnerable communities; and (3) increased benefits of mangrove ecosystem conservation in marine protected areas for women and their communities vulnerable to climate change.

Results achieved as of March 2025 include: (1) raised awareness among 41,635 people through a school-based environmental education program and community outreach sessions on climate change and nature-based solutions; (2) ecological restoration of 93.3 hectares of mangroves and 4 hectares of inland forest through community-led reforestation campaigns; (3) installed 427 improved cookstoves in vulnerable households to help curb deforestation and preserve local forest resources; (4) provided technical and financial support to 31 innovative and sustainable economic diversification sub-projects, aimed at reducing pressure on mangrove ecosystems; (5) raised awareness among 28,176 people on gender equality, early marriage, and the prevention of gender-based violence; and (6) trained 59 elected officials and members of 23 economic interest groups and women’s empowerment groups on inclusive governance, and administrative, financial, and environmental management.

• Proactive disclosure