Gambian journalists holds press briefing with IFAD communication consultant

Madam Mpouma Logmo Geraldine

Ahead of the 7th IFAD regional forum to be held in  Banjul, The Gambia, local journalists working in the Gambian capital city Banjul- print, electronic, online and bloggers held press briefing with International Fund for Agricultural Development ( IFAD) communication consultant Madam Mpouma Logmo Geraldine on the preparations for the upcoming 7th Regional Forum for IFAD funded projects to be held in Banjul, The Gambia from 12 to 15 November, 2012.

The media briefing was held at the Rural Finance Project conference hall on the 25th October, 2012. The theme dubbed " Result-Based Management for Sustaining Rural Poverty Reduction: Lessons Learned and Challenges".

Addressing journalists, Ms. Mpouma Logmo Geraldine, IFAD communication consultant told journalists that the upcoming forum will be held from the 12 to 15 October, 2012 in Banjul, The Gambia.

Every year, IFAD organize the event (regional forum) to bring together all project and Programme heads in a hall to discuss IFAD supported projects as well as to share knowledge, experiences, and develop an action plan, said Logmo Geraldine.


The forum is being organized and finance jointly with IFAD projects and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of The Gambia adding that the annual event is an important knowledge-sharing event, which enables IFAD funded projects,and development partners from the region to meet,network and share experiences and review performance with the objectives of improving the lives of the rural poor.

She adds, it is also an important portfolio management process, and mechanism for the West and Central Africa Division (WCA) to continuously improve the performance of projects and grants interns of relevance, effectiveness, and efficiency.

Key objectives of the annual regional WCA, she said are; hi light and share the knowledge, experience and lessons that have evolved during the project implementation period, including areas of strength, challenges, opportunities and threats to further and sustained progress, strengthen the knowledge base for effective Programme/ project delivery and renew trust, relationships, share commitment and common ground and agree on approaches and needed action necessary in a more comprehensive manner, implementation and scaling-up process for sustained effort and far reaching impact.

She gave a run-down of the draft agenda of the planned forum, saying that their will be official opening ceremony of the workshop, keynote address, portfolio session followed by discussions, presentations, plenary sessions on project experiences to be followed by discussions, working groups, field visit, lessons learned from field visit, clinic on PPP, procurement, AWPB, M&E/RIMS, and closing ceremony.

She told journalists that they are invited to cover the official opening ceremony, share fair and coffee break, cocktail to be organized by the government of The Gambia, plenary session on project experiences followed by discussions, field visit and closing ceremony.

She spoke at length on the objectives of the forum as well as the role of the Gambian media in covering the event and also posting news on the blog.

The press conference was coordinated and chaired by Mr. Mamadou Edrisa Njie acting editorial assistant and newsroom coordinator The Gambia News and Report weekly magazine who is also the national coordinator GYIN Gambia chapter.

According to Njie, the Media's role is very crucial in such as forum citing that the role of the media is to inform the general public on issues happening The Gambia an they (the journalists are very pleased to be covering the event).

A pre-press conference is schedule 10th  November, 2012 with Gambian journalists from the print, electronic, online and bloggers. The planned per-press conference to be coordinated by journalist Mamadou Edrisa Njie.