In a bold move to safeguard consumers and enforce price regulations, the Senegalese government has unveiled an ambitious initiative to recruit 1,000 volunteers nationwide.
Dubbed the “1,000 Consumer Volunteers” program, the effort was announced by Minister of Trade and Industry Serigne Guèye Diop as part of a broader strategy to monitor prices, ensure compliance with mandated reductions, and tackle unfair trade practices across the country’s 14 regions.
The volunteers, aged 25 to 45, will be tasked with keeping a close eye on the prices of essential goods in Senegal’s roughly 60,000 shops. Beyond price checks, they will verify product quality and educate merchants and consumers alike about their rights and obligations. While they lack the authority to impose sanctions—unlike the country’s 200 economic control agents—these volunteers will serve as vital intermediaries, reporting violations to authorities and fostering better market oversight.
ALSO READ: UN URGES MOZAMBIQUE TO INVEST IN GEOSPATIAL TECH
“We have decided to recruit 1,000 young volunteers to ensure compliance with food prices,” Minister Diop stated during the announcement. The initiative comes on the heels of the government’s 2024 decision to slash prices on basic goods by 73 billion FCFA, a measure that some traders have reportedly ignored, sparking public frustration and prompting this innovative response
Consumer and trade groups have praised the move. Dame Ndiaye of UNACOIS Yessal, a prominent merchants’ association, called it a win-win: “This measure will help traders operate within the rules while ensuring fairness for consumers.”
Set to work alongside existing economic agents, the “1,000 Consumer Volunteers” program marks a significant step forward in Senegal’s efforts to blend citizen participation with economic regulation, promising a more equitable marketplace for all.
