Community Engagement in Saint Louis, Senegal

Since entering Senegal in 2014, Kosmos has engaged with a range of stakeholders in Saint-Louis, including fishing communities, government representatives and members of civil society. The relationships we have formed through our environmental and social impact assessments and our daily activities remain strong. These relationships, enhanced by regular feedback from the local communities, inform our thinking on social investment programs in the region.

Over the years Kosmos has supported a range of local projects designed to:

• Improve safety within the fishing community through equipment donations to fishing co-operatives.
• Improve fishing livelihoods, including the provision of biogas as an alternative source of energy to women working in fish processing.
• Support training and capacity building through local universities and partner organizations.
• Restore the environment and combat coastal erosion along the Langue de Barbarie.
• Protect the environment and biodiversity in Djoudj National Bird Park.
• Install a large number of small artificial reefs offshore Saint-Louis.

Mangrove Restoration

Mangroves are a keystone species in coastal environments because of the many ecosystem
benefits they provide, including trapping carbon and preventing soil erosion. In 2023, Kosmos
entered into an agreement to reforest 20 hectares of mangroves at Guembeul Park, about 10
kilometers south of Saint-Louis. We expect this reforestation project will help protect against
flooding and support local biodiversity by creating additional habitats for plants and animals. Ninety percent of those who plan to participate in the reforestation efforts are women.

GTA Partnership Social Investment

In the waters offshore Saint-Louis, Kosmos is working with partners BP (the project operator) and Senegal’s national oil company PETROSEN to develop the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) natural gas project offshore Senegal and neighboring Mauritania. This GTA partnership makes further social investments, such as the creation of a microfinance credit fund for the local fishing community, which supports activities ranging from the rehabilitation of small-scale fishing boats to actions intended to diversify livelihoods and incomes. The GTA partnership has also invested in improving community health outcomes through mobile health clinics, COVID-19 prevention campaigns and healthcare facility construction.

New Kosmos Innovation Center Programs in Saint Louis

After engaging with local stakeholders to understand how Kosmos could best support the community going forward, the Kosmos Innovation Center is planning to launch two new programs in Saint Louis.

Door Entrepreneuriat targets young people aged 18-35, with special emphasis on women, who are interested in starting their own businesses, regardless of previous experience or educational background. The 60-person program covers the essentials of entrepreneurship and offers expert
guidance, practical workshops, and supportive mentorship to help young people refine their ideas and develop a business plan.

Sama Xalaat Sama Projet helps 15 Saint Louis entrepreneurs to transform business ideas into realized concepts. Participants engage in four weeks of group training and two weeks of one-on-one coaching, focusing on market research, financial management, and pitch preparation, culminating in a Demo Day that offers funding opportunities for five businesses of up to $10,000 in total.

Through these and other efforts, Kosmos strives to be a trusted partner, good corporate citizen and catalyst for positive change in Senegal.