Water Governance in Rural Senegal Area: The Challenges of Coordination and Adaptability

In this article, the effects of the public service delegation reform for water in Senegal are analysed, especially in rural areas. Far from providing a definitive solution to governance challenges, this reform has shifted and, at times, intensified inevitable structural tensions, revealing persistent fragmentation among institutional actors and a mismatch between resources and services. The study highlights the gaps between centralised decisions, local implementation, and the users' daily practices on the Gorom Lampsar route. Based on a mixed-methods approach and empirical data from doctoral research, the analysis reveals that addressing socio-spatial inequalities in access to drinking water is hindered by the central state's limitations, the weaknesses of regional agencies, and the standardisation of proposed solutions, which often fail to align with local needs. The implementation of the 2014 reform, embodied by the Office of Rural Boreholes (OFOR), is struggling against community resistance, particularly from the ASUREP (User Associations for Drinking Water Networks), which are still active in certain areas. In this context, residents develop various adaptation strategies, such as resorting to free water sources (wells, rivers). These essential alternatives are not without health risks due to agricultural and domestic pollution. The instability of service provision is increased by this situation, which also illustrates a transition process characterised by fragmentation, institutional indecision, and a lack of coordination among stakeholders.