Typha for Fuel and Construction in West Africa – Senegal and Mauritania (TYCCAO)

Senegal and Mauritania, like most Sub-Saharan African countries, face two critical challenges: the need for energy to support development, and climate change, to which they are particularly vulnerable. In this region, 70% of the population lacks access to energy—rising to 85% in rural areas. Additionally, 730 million people rely on solid fuels for cooking (firewood and charcoal), generating harmful smoke and placing intense pressure on forest resources.

The Typha Fuel and Construction Project in West Africa (TyCCAO) aims to contribute to the energy transition and the fight against climate change by promoting the use of renewable biomass fuels and improving energy efficiency in the construction sector. This will be achieved by scaling up and disseminating products made from typha, an invasive plant species.