Gambia, Saudi Sign $92.5Million OIC Funding Agreement

Signing Ceremony at State House 

State House, Banjul: June 20, 2019 – His Excellency, President Adama Barrow today presides over the signing of a $92.5million funding agreement between the Saudi Fund for development and the Republic of the Gambia at the State House. Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Saudi Fund for Development, Dr. Khalid S. Alkhudairy and the Gambia’s Finance Minister, Mamboury Njie penned the agreement on behalf of their respective countries.

The funding is meant for several priority infrastructure and energy projects that will facilitate the Gambia’s hosting of the OIC Summit in 2022. Among these projects are the construction of a 50kilometre road network within the OIC concentrated area, enhancement of the transmission and distribution network for the electricity grid, enhancement of water production, treatment and distribution and the Construction of a new VVIP Lounge at the Banjul International Airport.

On Nema Project’s Largesse to 14 Youth Groups

Musa Bah from Wassu, Central River Region North (GYINer)

By Mariam Saine

As part of its intervention to support youth and women in agricultural production and productivity, the National Agricultural Land and Water Management Development Project, dubbed Nema, on Friday, 21 June, 2019 handed over sixteen (16) rice and cereal processing machines and accessories to fourteen (14) youth groups across the country.The presentation of the items was held at a colorful ceremony at the Nema office in Abuko.

The provision of the said equipment, made possible through the Nema Matching Grant facility, is geared towards ensuring that the intended services are provided to the smallholder farmers.

ELIT Alumni turns Champion Cashew Farmer

Modou Lamin Sanyang, C.E.O ML Business Venture

Introducing Modou Lamin Sanyang, a Cashew Farmer cum Poultry Producer. He is the proprietor of ML Business Venture in Foni Bulock Village, West Coast Region.

As an uprising young entrepreneur in his native Village, Sanyang was motivated to venture into cashew farming after attending the first edition of GYIN Gambia’s Entrepreneurship Leadership Information and Technology (ELIT) National  Youth Summer Camp in 2016, during which he expanded his father’s cashew farm as a fulltime business.

Jainaba Saine’s Foundation poised to support people with disability

Founder Jainaba Saine

A Gambian-based charitable foundation, Jainaba Saine’s Charity for Disable (JSCD) is out to give a helping hand to the vulnerable people especially those living with disability with educational materials, wheel chairs and among a host of other valuables.

The foundation, which is scheduled to be launch in January 2019, is initiated by a Gambian based in Holland by the name Jainaba Saine to change vulnerable lives.

 “We want to enable all children and disabled persons to reach their optimum potential so that maximal function is achieved, deformity prevented or reduced and the effect of disability minimized so that they may overcome many of the barriers that they and their families face,” says the founder.

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE GAMBIA’S PRESIDENT BARROW ON HIS FIRST DAY IN OFFICE

Dear President Barrow,

 

Welcome. It’s your first day behind the desk and you have an enormous job on your hands.  Former President Yahya Jammeh has finally left the country after a tense stand-off; many of the people who fled in fear of violence last week are returning; businesses reopening; and the whole nation is preparing to listen to what your first moves will be. 

Your Excellency, I’d like you to take a moment to think about that. I’d like you to imagine a little girl standing alongside her parents in the crowd listening to you address the public.  This little girl’s future is now in your hands. 

For the past 22 years, her parents, like all of our citizens, have been forced into silence. They were unable to complain when they could not access basic services such as healthcare or education and saw their rights being derailed by a dictator.  If they did have the courage to speak out they may well have faced arrest, disappearance or torture. This silencing, this fear, this terrible way of operating must stop. Now. 

INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF H.E. ADAMA BARROW PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA 19th January 2017

President Adama Barrow

Fellow Gambians and friends of The Gambia, I am humbled to stand before you to address the whole world on this historic occasion. This is a day no Gambian will ever forget in one’s life time. This is the first time since The Gambia became Independent in 1965 that Gambians have  change their government through the ballot box.

I must take this opportunity to thank the entire electorate of the Gambia and Gambians in the Diaspora for making this day possible.

I thank the entire campaign team of Coalition 2016 and the stakeholders for putting aside their political differences to unite us for the national interest.  

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to register special appreciation to Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, and the Chairperson of Authority of Heads of States of ECOWAS, for her personal commitment and tireless efforts towards resolving the political crises in The Gambia. The sam sentiment goes to H ;EMuhammadou Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and H.E John Draman Mahama, former President of Ghana.

I must also express profound gratitude to ECOWAS, AU, the Security Council of the United Nations and all friendly nations who stood by us during our time of greatest need. 

President-elect Barrow welcomes Jammeh’s move to peaceful dialogue

President-elect Adama Barrow

The office of the president-elect Adama Barrow has welcomed the outgoing President Jammeh’s recent move calling for a peaceful dialogue with the coalition party, saying, ‘is done at the right time’.

This statement came after the incumbent gave a televised speech on Tuesday calling for peaceful dialogue and also appointing of Musa Jallow as Secretary General & Minister of Presidential Affairs and Mediator General between the APRC Government and the Coalition.

The office of the President-elect Barrow is of the view that dialogue is necessary to reach mutual understanding on the peaceful way forward.

His words: “The Office of the President Elect is now waiting for the initiatives of the Secretary General who is appointed Mediator General of the Government.” 

According to him, the decision to release those arrested in connection with political matters and the commitment not to effect new arrests are steps in the right direction.

ECOWAS Heads of State Summit: FAO and ECOWAS promote initiative toward achieving Zero Hunger Challenge

Agricultural growth and transformation must fully benefit and empower women

Bukar Tijani, FAO Assistant Director-General

16 December 2016, Accra - FAO and ECOWAS have demonstrated strong commitment towards meeting the Zero Hunger Challenge in the West Africa region by implementing a joint project on gender-responsive regional and National Agricultural Investment Plans (NAIPs) for meeting the Zero Hunger Challenge in the ECOWAS region. 

The project responds in concrete terms to women’s constraints, needs and priorities in agricultural production, value chain development, food security and nutrition.

World Food Day is not a day for reflection; it is a day for action- FAO Boss

Dr. Perpetua Katepa-Kalala

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Country Representative in the Islamic Republic of The Gambia, Dr. Perpetua Katepa-Kalala  delivering a statement on World Food Day, has said that World Food Day 2016 is not a day for reflection; it is a day for action.

According to her, World Food Day 2016 is an opportunity to refocus our efforts and partnerships as we work towards mounting an immediate and comprehensive response to climate change.

Without concerted actions, millions more people could fall into  threatening to reverse hard-won gains and placing in jeopardy our ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Gambia: Deputy agriculture minister says GNAIP should be inclusive

The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) in collaboration with ECOWAP, NEPAD and CAADP Horizon 2025, convey a three days workshop from the 27^th to 29^th September, 2016 at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.

  

The deputy minister of Agriculture, Mr. Sherriffo Bojang, presided over the official opening on behalf of the minister.

The restitution workshop is to launch the development process of the second generation of the Gambia National Agricultural Investment Plan-GNAIP 2.0 for agricultural transformation in The Gambia. 

GNAIP is the national blueprint for the development of Gambia’s agriculture sector.

‘Fishing in the morning helps our sea’

Says Bakau fisherman

Mr. Saikou Mendy, a fisherman in Bakau has called on the fishermen folk to adapt to best fishing practices especially fishing in the morning in a bid to protect and safe the sea for posterity.

Speaking to Mansa Banko Blog, he said, this is the best way to protect the sea instead of fishing throughout the day (Morning, afternoon and evening).

Bakau town includes the Cape Point promontory, and its northernmost coastline marks the point where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Gambia River. It is part desirable suburb, part shanty town and part coastal resort.

The coastline is fringed with palm trees however, the beach area is composed of rocky, laterite cliff edges and at high tide the sand can disappear altogether.

AU-IBAR, World Bank in collaboration with USAID to edified journalists on African Fisheries

The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) and the World Bank in collaboration with USAID and the West Africa Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission will jointly host the Fisheries Communication Workshop, according to a media alert made available to Mansa Banko blog. 

The Ghana, workshop will be held in Elimina, Accra from 29th February – 4th March, 2016.
 
The workshop will bring together print, online, radio and TV journalists under the theme “Harnessing the Power of Media to Raise Awareness on Africa’ Fisheries”.

The AU/IBAR and World Bank will cover the cost of participation for sponsored participants including air tickets and accommodation.

Participants attending the high level workshop to gather more than 140 journalists with vast experience in reporting and broadcasting from the print, electronic, online and TV from 40 African countries. 

Gambia’s Honorary Consular to Egypt courtesy call on Minister Bojang

From L-R: Hatem Raslan & Minister Sheriff Bojang

The Gambian Honorary Consular in Egypt, Hatem Raslan on Monday 22^nd February, 2016 paid a visit to Honorable Sheriff Bojang, Minister of Information and Communication Infrastructure in his office at GRTS Building, MDI Road in Kanifing.

The Honorary Consular is currently in the country for an official visit to meet government with government officials as well as to discuss with top government officials on opportunities avail in Egypt in the ‘best interest’ of The Gambia.

Speaking in his office, Minister Bojang welcomes Raslan and congratulates him on his appointment to serve his country- The Gambia.

Mr. Bojang stated that The Gambia and Egypt has a long relationship and the relationship of the two countries has also been very coordinal saying that His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhagie Dr. Yahya A.J.J Jammeh has always been empathizing in his statements that Egypt has been very supportive to his government.

Minister Bojang assured the Gambia's Consular that the two countries will continue working together to promote the development agenda thus improve the socio-economic development of the Islamic Republic of The Gambia.

REVCEL Training for 50 Youth Opens in LRR

REVCEL LRR Rural Youth session

A 12 days (Dec. 11-22, 2015) training on entrepreneurship dubbed the Rural Entrepreneurial Venture Creation and Experimental Learning (REVCEL) for 50 rural youth kicks-off at Pakalinding, Lower River Region (LRR) on Friday.

Organized by the Creating Opportunities for Rural Youth (CORY) Gambia project, it is being implemented by the Global Youth Innovation Network (GYIN) - Gambia chapter.
The training, which is meant to equip young men and women with entrepreneurship skills, focusing on project and enterprise development, is underway at the Trans-Gambia Lodge in Pakalinding.

It is jointly funded by CORY Project The Gambia and the National Agricultural Land and Water Management Development Project (Nema) and officially opened on December 14, 2015.

Evaluation of IFAD's programme in The Gambia points to good project design but pitfalls in targeting

Participants at IFAD Evaluation Workshop

Development projects carried out in The Gambia by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) – the UN agency specializing in rural development – have been well designed, but faced challenges during their implementation, an evaluation report produced by IFAD’s Independent Office of Evaluation (IOE) revealed today at a national workshop in Banjul.

The evaluation assessed five IFAD-financed projects carried out between 2004 and 2014. According to the report, the projects had an overall positive impact on the rural population. For example, they enabled families to purchase items that gradually covered the households’ needs and made them more self-sufficient. Village savings and credit associations encouraged families to invest more time in income-generating activities, such as producing groundnut paste, tie and dye fabrics, and soap,  resulting in an increase in basic household assets. Through the Participatory Integrated Watershed Management Project (PIWAMP), food-crop production grew from 4,503 to 50,481 metric tons (MT) from 2006 to 2012, a 41-fold increase.

CORY Gambia project completes 2nd badge of REVCEL in CRR

By Madi S. Njie

Group picture of the REVCEL participants, dignitaries and Facilitators at the opening

On 3^rd  December 2015, 27 participants drawn from various parts of the Central River Region North and South completed an entrepreneurship training organized under the Creating Opportunities for Rural Youth (CORY) Gambia project, coordinated by the Global Youth Innovation Network (GYIN) Gambia.

The twelve days training meant to equip young men and women with entrepreneurship skills, focusing on project and enterprise development was held at the Forestry Camp Bantaba hall in Janjanbureh, the administrative capital of CRR.

Governor urges rural youth to utilise opportunities as CORY Gambia project REVCEL training starts

Participants at the CORY REVCEL Training in Basse

The governor of the Upper River Region has called on youth of the region to tap the opportunities provided by The Gambia government for personal growth and development.

Governor Omar Ceesay said almost all the entire projects that the government has implemented have youth component which if utilised by the youth would help them to contribute meaningfully towards personal and national development.

He made this remark during the official opening of 12-day training for 27 young people under the Rural Entrepreneurial Venture Creation and Experimental Learning (REVCEL) underway at the regional education conference hall in Basse Mansajang, 

BAJ Gambia Director of Programmes off to Paris

BAJ Gambia Director of Programmes

Mamadou Edrisa Njie, director of programmes, Biodiversity Action Journalists The Gambia (BAJ Gambia), has left Banjul for Paris, France, where he is invited to attend a three-day annual youth conference on climate change. The conference, 11th Conference of Youth (COY11), is scheduled for 26 - 28 November 2015 at the Parc des Expositions of Villepinte, in Paris. 

COY11, organisers said is to present the youth voice just before the Conference of Parties (COP21) and it is expected to gather more than 5,000 young people across the world.

Speaking to Mansa Banko shortly before departure, Mr Njie thanked the management of BAJ Gambia for giving him the opportunity to participate in the conference, saying this is the first time BAJ Gambia is participating in COY.

He said he would serve as a rapporteur in one of the COY11 Working Groups, noting that his eight years of experience in journalism and blogging will make the work easy.

He said COY11 will be a “decisive step” for youth climate mobilisation ahead of COP21.

Mr Njie explained that the conference aims to help young people understand climate negotiation process and also enhances their capacity for action on the field.

Government of The Gambia and United Nations agency IFAD to review findings of evaluation of their country programme

Moses Abukari IFAD

Rome, 20 November 2015 – On 3 December 2015, the Independent Office of Evaluation (IOE) of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the UN agency specializing in rural development, will present the conclusions and recommendations of an independent evaluation of IFAD’s country strategy and programme in The Gambia.
During the national workshop, which will take place at Kairaba Hotel in Banjul, the Government of The Gambia and IFAD will discuss key evaluation findings and how issues such as targeting, value chain development and sustainability contribute to transforming rural areas and reducing poverty. The findings of the evaluation and the exchange between and among partners taking part will inform the development of IFAD’s new strategy in the country.

‘Listening is very difficult for managers with authority’ ---Says GYIN-Gambia Coordinator

GYIN Gambia Ambassador Njie

The Global Youth Innovation Network (GYIN) Gambia Chapter national coordinator, Mamadou Edrisa Njie has observed that listening is very difficult, especially for managers with authority and a ready audience within their departments or companies.

In a recent presentation on leadership skills and qualities during the GYIN Senegal coordinator, Aisha Padane’s visit to the country on the 24 August 2015 at the GYIN office in Churchill’s Town, he called on the masses to listen four times as they speak because the surface area of the two ears is four times as much as the lip.

“The mammalian ear is a master of detecting very quite sounds,” he noted, while saying: “Yet we humans do not listen too well. Husbands do not listen well to wives, bosses do not listen too well to employees and parents do not listen too well to their next-generation children.”