Sinfranova was selected by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) to lead a technical assistance initiative in Senegal aimed at strengthening the integration of sustainability into infrastructure planning and project preparation processes. The initiative is framed under GIZ's contribution to the G7 Global Infrastructure and Investment Partnership (GIIP), which seeks to mobilize private investment for infrastructure projects.

Sinfranova's work centers on supporting the Unité Nationale d'Appui aux Partenariats Public-Privé (UNAPPP), Senegal's PPP Unit, responsible for providing technical support to contracting authorities in the identification, preparation, negotiation, and monitoring of PPP contracts, as well as other project partners, in improving their environmental and social risk management systems through the introduction of international best practices, standards, and labels.

Key activities include:

• Raising awareness and building capacity on sustainability standards and certification schemes among relevant stakeholders in Senegal

• Supporting UNAPPP's partners in implementing sustainability rating systems and tools in projects

• Assessing the impact of piloting these tools on leveraging private and public investment

• Providing high-level recommendations for the future implementation of sustainability certification schemes into project preparation processes

  
  

Capacity building and awareness

The first phase of the initiative focused on building a shared understanding of international sustainability frameworks across Senegalese institutions and project teams. Sinfranova organized virtual and in-person workshops providing participants with a comprehensive overview of sustainability rating systems, including FAST-Infra and Blue Dot Network, and their practical application to infrastructure projects. This groundwork laid the foundation for direct application of these frameworks to specific projects.

Pilot application: the FAST-Infra Label

In the second phase, Sinfranova provided dedicated technical assistance to two infrastructure projects selected as pilots for the application of the FAST-Infra Label:

Autoroute Dakar–Tivaouane–Saint-Louis (ADS/AGEROUTE):  A major highway corridor with significant environmental and social impact, including ecosystem restoration and permanent job creation across the region.

PPP Connectivité | Smart City Diamniadio (DGPU):  A fiber-optic concession awarded to Sonatel (Orange Group), for which Sinfranova developed a Sustainability Contractual Annex establishing an Environmental, Social and Circularity Management System, a replicable model for future PPP concessions in Senegal.

Following an in-person workshop in Dakar in August 2025, the Sinfranova team worked closely with the technical teams of both projects through the evaluation of each category of the FAST-Infra Label. In 2026, both projects successfully completed the Self-Assessed FAST-Infra Label process on the Bloomberg platform, a meaningful milestone for sustainable infrastructure finance in West Africa. Through this process, both projects gained clarity on the environmental, social, resilience and governance aspects they need to address to ensure long-term sustainability.

Strategic dialogue in Paris

In June 2026, Sinfranova participated in a strategic dialogue at the Ministry of Economy and Finance of France in Paris, alongside FAST-Infra and UNAPPP. The session focused on advancing capacity building for Senegal's PPP Unit and on how to integrate the FAST-Infra methodology into future PPP projects and contracts. Sinfranova contributed direct insights from the self-assessment process of both pilot projects, bringing the on-the-ground technical perspective into the policy conversation.

This initiative demonstrates that international sustainability standards like the FAST-Infra Label can be applied successfully across different contexts and sectors, when backed by technical expertise and a committed institutional focal point.