Senegal is ruled under a republic with a strong presidency, weak legislature, reasonably independent judiciary and multiple political parties. The main political party, the Socialist party, promotes " a moderate form of socialism based on traditional African concepts, but increasingly has sought to encourage private enterprise." The economy in Senegal is mainly agricultural. The principal source of income, for about 60% of Senegal's population, is from agricultural products. Senegal's population growth was 2.7% and GDP per capita was $532 in 1999. Also, the country has currently accumulated an external debt of approximately $3.1 billion. For Senegal to maintain its stability and move towards democracy, it must be able to sustain economic growth. "While economic growth has been positive the past three years it is not yet strong enough... to have a substantial impact on per capita incomes." The country must find different and efficient ways of cr

A current problem that Senegal faces is a fuelwood crisis. Fuelwood and charcoal fulfill 57% of Senegal's energy need. They are the main source of heating and cooking in homes. About 40% of their income goes towards purchasing fuelwood. A high demand for these natural resources creates environmental problems such as deforestation and erosion. When sources of fuelwood are low, the people resort to burning dried animal dung and crop residues. These resources, which should be used as fertilizer, are being misused. When this occurs, the land becomes degraded and cropland productivity is reduced. This results in hunger and malnutrition.

The improved stoves must take into account local needs, resources and cultural practices of Senegal. Therefore, the stoves must be easy and cheap to build. The materials must also be easily accessible locally. The Senegal Technology Transfer Project focuses on reducing fuelwood and charcoal consumption. It encourages the use of the Diambar, a fuel-efficient charcoal stove for households. It uses less charcoal and produces a charcoal savings of 47%. This equals about $100 in savings a year, per household. When making the stove, ash from wood or charcoal is sub

Some common words found in the essay are:
West Africa, Senegal Stove, Senegal Senegal, Transfer Project, Desert Shield, Technology Transfer, population growth, senegal senegal, technology transfer, technology senegal, fuelwood charcoal, natural resources, senegal technology, produce stove, economic growth, senegal's population,
Approximate Word count = 806
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)