Training Bike Dealers in Senegal

Posted: 01 Apr 2006

Related to: California Bike Project, Strengthening Bicycle and Rickshaw Industries, Senegal
Contributed by: Colonel Mbareck Diop, Senegal Country Director ITDP and Djibril Seck, Program Officer

ITDP Senegal organizes training sessions to build the capacity of Senegalese independent bicycle dealers that belong to the California Bike Coalition. The training sessions cover the assembly, maintenance and repair of the California Bike.

The first training workshop, held from November 14th to 16th 2005 in Dakar, had 8 participants. An ITDP expert on bicycle training, John Burg, conducted the three-day training with the assistance of ITDP Vice President Matteo Martignoni, Africa Program Director Aimée Gauthier and ITDP India Technical Director Shreya Gadepelli.

A second training program, on April 13th and 14th 2006, also in Dakar, had 10 participants. Two Senegalese technicians who had been trained during the first workshop, Mr. Diop and Mr. Sene, conducted the April workshop under the supervision of John Burg. The CBC Director, Bradley Schroeder, was also present at this session.

A third training workshop was conducted from April 24th to 26th in Kaolack with 7 participants from the ISENCY, the sole bike manufacturer in Senegal.

The goals of these training workshops were to teach the mechanics about the different parts of a bicycle, the appropriate tools for repair, and assembly, adjustment and maintenance.

After completing the training, each participant received a diploma certificate from the Senegal Ministry of Arts and Crafts awarded by Director Mr. Moctar Diakhaté. The ITDP Senegal Country Director, Colonel Mbareck Diop, and the Director of Arts and Crafts signed each diploma.

Since the training, the recipients have shown great appreciation for the opportunity afforded them, both through the actual training and the certification from the Ministry of Artisanat. The training taught them useful job skills that will improve their future work.

One of the training participants, Mr. Mbaye Fall, a bicycle dealer from Colobane, had this to say: “I learned a lot of things during this training and now I understand more the use of some tools and also the importance of the grease before assembling a new bicycle. Before this training I never used the grease, nor the appropriate tools for assembling or adjusting the bikes.”

After handing the diplomas to each recipient, Mr. Moctar said he was honoured to be working in partnership with the CBC and keen to see more training throughout the country. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Artisanat and ITDP in February 2007.