Senegal
Approximately 95 percent of Senegal’s population is Muslim and the other five percent is primarily Christian or animist. Senegalese society is especially religious, and religious and development institutions play diverse, yet often intersecting, roles in Senegal’s social, economic, and political development.
Discover the firsthand experiences of faith leaders, activists, and peacebuilding practitioners working on issues ranging from development and education to conflict resolution and foreign policy.
For over a decade, Berkley Center scholars and students have been conducting interviews with individuals working at the intersection of religion and world affairs. These discussions offer unique insights into the inner workings of a wide spectrum of professions touched by religion with interviewees ranging from the highest levels of leadership of international organizations to on-the-ground practitioners. Explore individual interviews here or follow links to our interview collections below:
Policy Brief May 30, 2026
Mouride Education: A Complement to Senegal’s National Education System
This brief, presented as a case study, explores the transformation of the Mouride education system from a parallel entity toward partial integration within national educational frameworks through formal reforms, accreditation, and policy dialogue.
Other Publications
Policy Brief May 26, 2026
The Mourides of Senegal: How a Sufi Order Built a Global Commerce Network
October 14, 2025
10 years with WFDD- Reflections and Lessons
Wilma Mui reflects on her 10 years working with WFDD at the intersection of Religion and Development.
Katherine Marshall shares her reflections on the tenth anniversary of Cadre des Religieux pour la Santé et le Développement (CRSD), a coalition of leaders in Senegal focused on religious approaches and institutions, brought together by the theme of family welfare.
A strategically designed effort in Senegal and Guinea offers important lessons about both opportunities and challenges in addressing high maternal and infant mortality, many linked to the specific country situations involved but with implications that extend well beyond.
Jan
23
23
2018
Religious Beliefs and Practices: Roles in Decision-Making about Family Welfare in the Sahel
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. EST Berkley Center
January 23, 2018
Religious Beliefs and Practices: Roles in Decision-Making about Family Welfare in the Sahel (Video)
Duration: 1 hours 29 minutes