Senegal is taking significant steps to digitalize its justice system, moving from vision to practical implementation. On July 16, the UN Country Team’s Digital Transformation Group visited the new mini data center and microwave antenna connecting the Pikine–Guédiawaye courthouse to Dakar. These installations form the backbone of the country’s first e-justice platform, which aims to streamline judicial services and improve public access to legal processes.
Funded by the Joint SDG Fund and implemented by ITU, UNDP, UNOPS, and UN Women under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator in Senegal, the pilot project is expected to launch in Guédiawaye as early as September. By October, coinciding with the reopening of courts after the judicial break, the system could be deployed across all Dakar jurisdictions. The platform will allow citizens to request judicial documents, track case progress, and eventually pay fees electronically, eliminating the need to wait in crowded courthouse lines.
The pilot court at Pikine–Guédiawaye has already begun using the platform internally, with technicians digitizing case files and training staff during August. Ousseynou Gueye, Director of Dematerialization and Automation at the Ministry of Justice, emphasized that the goal is to reduce court processing times and achieve fully operational digital procedures by September.
The SDG Fund grant provided critical Tier III data center equipment, a backup site, antennas linking the two courthouses, and essential hardware such as scanners, computers, and printers to support near paperless operations. The funding also covers software development, training, and public outreach to ensure citizens, particularly women and youth, can access and use the service effectively.
Each UN agency brings specific expertise to the initiative: UNDP supplied data center hardware, ITU guided network design and application development, UNOPS strengthened connectivity and IT infrastructure, and UN Women focused on equipping justice centers and training personnel to ensure gender-sensitive access. Ali Drissa Badiel, ITU Area Representative for West Africa, highlighted that digital transformation is pivotal for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and that the pilot could mobilize further resources to expand e-justice across Senegal.
With the pilot nearing completion, the government and partners see the model as scalable to all 13 regions of Senegal. The anticipated benefits include faster processing times, reduced courthouse congestion, and improved access to justice. As Mr. Gueye noted, successful expansion now depends on securing the necessary resources to implement the system nationwide.
