Background:

The Dakar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project is part of a comprehensive plan to restructure the capital city’s public transport network by 2025. It comprises two components:

• A civil infrastructure component, procured by the authorities, mainly comprising the construction of lanes, stations, and garages for the exclusive use of the future BRT buses for which the construction is ongoing since 2019 and scheduled to be completed in August 2023.
• An operational infrastructure component, tendered as a PPP, encompassing the procurement and maintenance of a 120+ buses fleet together with associated systems and equipment as well as the operation of the network for a duration of 15 years post commercial operations date targeted for December 2023.

In December 2019, Meridiam together with its partner Keolis (subsidiary of French national rail company SNCF) bid for the operational infrastructure PPP contract based on a fully battery powered electric bus fleet solution. After a long period of concession contract negotiations the Meridiam- led consortium was awarded the concession February 2022 and the Project Company, Dakar Mobilité SA, set-up by Meridiam and Fonsis reached commercial close with Ministry of Transport represented by CETUD (Dakar public transport regulator) in March 2022.

CETUD and the Project Company have developed a phased commissioning strategy throughout 2024 considering the gradual availability of the stations: partial commissioning, with 60 buses and 14 stations, occurred on 15 May 2024. 7 stations have been made available by the Public Authority early October 2024 and the last two stations are expected in Q2 2025. The full start of operations as per the Concession Agreement (Commercial Operation Date – COD) is expected in January 2026. In 2024, 11 million passengers used the BRT.

Stage:

In operation

ESG/SDG Key Facts

The project is expected to have major positive social impact, such as improving traffic conditions and eventually air quality, improving accessibility, fostering the development of side businesses, creating jobs. The environmental risk is low due to the technology selected, and social risk is considered as medium due to the following key mitigation measures:

• An Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) and an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) is
implemented by the Project Company. As part of the ESMS, an E&S action monitoring joint-committee has been set up
with the Project Company, lenders and CETUD to guarantee the E&S viability of the concession and compliance with
the commitments made by the stakeholders.
• Local recruitments are being implemented and supported by the Project Company marketing/communication.
• Training programs are carried out to prevent incidents/accidents on the BRT line.
• Batteries will be recycled by the bus supplier.
• Gender and equality plan financed by the European Union.

As of December 2024, the Project Company has 743 employees, including 303 women (41% of the employees). Drivers are practicing on a simulator designed to replicate the actual conditions of the Dakar corridor.

An E&S audit was conducted in April 2024 by Proparco consultant, Ibis. The results were positive, highlighting robust
gender attention across SPV’s operations, a positive social climate and high level of morale among the direct workforce,
and adequate occupational health and safety (OHS) and emergency response measures in place throughout the project.
Dakar Mobilité has started analysing its carbon emissions to assess its carbon footprint and measure avoided emissions.

Source: (1) World Bank