Senegal is a partner country of German bilateral development cooperation. In close consultation with the embassy, the implementing organisations implement German development cooperation in Senegal. These are primarily the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and KfW Entwicklungsbank (KfW).

In September 2019, Senegal and Germany concluded a reform partnership as part of the G20 Compact-with-Africa Initiative. Development cooperation between the two countries has intensified significantly since then. The aim is to improve the framework conditions for socially ecological development with a special focus on creating jobs for Senegal's youth.

In line with Senegal's national development plan (Plan Sénégal Emergent), German bilateral development cooperation focuses on the following core themes:

1. Peace and social cohesion: promotion of a modern public administration, incl. the administration of land rights and labour rights, and digitalisation
2. Sustainable management, Training and Employment: Promoting vocational training and improving the financing of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
3. Climate and Energy, Just Transition: promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency as well as sustainable urban development including the modernisation of public transport
4. Health and One Health: promotion of vaccine production and the pharmaceutical sector.

The political foundations Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation and Heinrich Böll Foundation are also active in Senegal. Several regional projects in the West African region are managed from Dakar. In addition, the German Foreign Office provides funding for so-called micro-projects through the Dakar Embassy every year.