The verdict in three sentences
Web accessibility (the WCAG 2.1 level AA standard) makes a site usable by everyone: sufficient contrast, keyboard navigation, screen-reader compatibility. About 15 to 20 % of the population is affected by a disability, and compliance is increasingly required by NGOs, donors and public institutions. An audit at 200,000 to 600,000 FCFA fixes the blockers and adds a meaningful SEO and reputational bonus.
Priority WCAG AA criteria
| Criterion | WCAG 2.1 AA requirement | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Text contrast | Ratio >= 4.5:1 | Light gray on white |
| Alternative text | Alt on every meaningful image | Images with no alt |
| Keyboard navigation | Everything reachable by Tab | Mouse-only menus |
| Visible focus | Clear focus indicator | Outline removed in CSS |
| Target size | >= 24 px (buttons, links) | Links too small on mobile |
| Heading structure | Hierarchical H1-H6 | Skipped headings or bold only |
| Forms | Labels tied to fields | Placeholder instead of label |
| Page language | lang attribute set | lang missing or wrong |
These eight points cover the majority of real blockers found during an AA audit.
Why aim for WCAG AA in 2026
- Contractual requirement: many NGO tenders, international donors and public institutions mandate accessibility.
- Wider audience: 15 to 20 % of the population, plus people in temporary situations (bright sunlight, slow connection, cracked screen).
- SEO: clean markup (headings, alt, structure) also improves search ranking.
- Image: showing a commitment to inclusion builds trust, especially in the institutional sector.
Cost and accessibility levels
| Service | Scope | Cost FCFA |
|---|---|---|
| Quick audit | Top 10 pages, prioritized report | 200,000 - 300,000 |
| Full AA audit | Whole site + recommendations | 350,000 - 600,000 |
| AA fixes | Development compliance work | 400,000 - 1,200,000 |
| Annual follow-up | Re-audit + monitoring | 150,000 - 300,000/year |
The ranges are 2026 orders of magnitude; a multilingual institutional site sits at the higher end.
Mini case study
An NGO based in Dakar responds to a tender from a European donor that requires WCAG 2.1 AA compliance. Its current site fails on contrast (gray 3.1:1), missing alt on 80 images and keyboard-inaccessible menus. Full audit at 450,000 FCFA, fixes at 700,000 FCFA, totaling 1,150,000 FCFA. The site becomes compliant, the NGO wins funding worth several million FCFA, and gains 6 Lighthouse SEO points along the way thanks to clean markup. Accessibility is not a cost, it is an eligibility condition that pays back immediately.
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FAQ
What exactly is level AA?
WCAG defines three levels: A (minimal), AA (recommended and required standard), AAA (advanced). AA is the normal target, notably a text contrast of at least 4.5:1.
Is accessibility mandatory in Senegal?
There is no general law as strict as in Europe, but many donors, NGOs and institutions require it by contract. For the institutional sector it is effectively unavoidable.
How much does an accessibility audit cost?
From 200,000 FCFA for a quick audit on key pages to 600,000 FCFA for a full documented AA audit with recommendations.
Does accessibility help SEO?
Yes: alt text, heading structure and clean language tags are also SEO best practices. An accessible site is generally better indexed.
How long to make a site compliant?
Budget 1 to 3 weeks of fixes after the audit depending on site size, with the audit itself taking 3 to 7 days.
Let's talk about your project. We audit your site and bring it into WCAG 2.1 AA compliance. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
