Role of Time Use Data in Policymaking in Senegal

In “Role of Time Use Data in Policymaking in Senegal,” Latif Dramani explores best practices and challenges related to the collection of time use data and the use of that data to inform policies to reduce women’s time on unpaid care work, thereby promoting their labor force participation and reducing gender gaps in the labor market.

Latif Dramani is professor of economics at the University of Thiès and coordinator at the Center for Research in Economics and Applied Finance of Thiès (CREFAT). He is also a researcher with the Care Economies in Context project.

This case study is part of a project by Data2X entitled “Role of Time Use Data in Policy Making: Valuing Women’s Time and Care Work.”

Citation

Dramani, L. (2025, March). Role of Time Use Data in Policymaking in Senegal. https://data2x.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Senegal-TUCS-WR-250225.pdf

Abstract

Historically, the promotion of employment has been a primary objective of the Government of Senegal, but it was insufficiently addressed. Today the government is firmly committed to finding effective and sustainable policies for multiple development challenges by addressing gender inequalities in the labor market. To promote gender equality, it has ratified international and regional conventions, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Optional Protocol on Violence Against Women, the 2003 Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on Women’s Rights in Africa (Maputo Protocol), and the 2005 Solemn Declaration of Heads of State and Government on Gender Equality in Africa.

Experts agree that the burden of unpaid work constrains women’s participation and options in labor markets. There is a lack of reliable data on how much time people spend on paid and unpaid care, disaggregated by sex and age. To address this data gap, Senegal conducted the first National Survey on Time Use in Senegal (ENETS) in 2021. The survey results revealed significant differences in women’s and men’s participation in unpaid work.

This report explores best practices and challenges related to the collection of time use data and the use of that data to inform policies to reduce women’s time on unpaid care work, thereby promoting their labor force participation and reducing gender gaps in the labor market. The report includes information collected through a series of stakeholder interviews. Interviewees included representatives from the National Agency of Statistics and Demography (ANSD), and provided valuable information on how the survey was conducted and challenges and facilitators in using this data for policymaking.