The monitoring mission to The Gambia under the Fund for Regional Stabilization and Development (FRSD) Pilot Program by the ECOWAS Commission has been successfully completed. The mission, conducted from 24th June to 29th June 2024, aimed to evaluate the progress of ongoing infrastructure investments and ensure their timely handover to women and youth beneficiaries.
The delegation, composed of representatives from the ECOWAS Commission, ECOWAS Representation Office, National Implementing Partners, and technical support team from KfW Development Bank, visited various project sites across different regions of The Gambia. These visits were crucial for assessing initiatives focusing on socio-economic empowerment for women and youth in The Gambia.
Key sites visited during the mission included Taibatu Youth in Taibatu, Wuli West (Poultry House), Mansajang Youth Development in Basse (Poultry House), Nyakoi Medina Horticultural Garden in Nyakoi Medina, Tesito Women’s Garden in Mansajang (Horticultural Garden), GTTI student dormitories in Julangel (40 beds) and Mansakonko (80 beds), Center for Learning, Research and Self Improvement in Kiang Jattaba (Poultry House), and Berekonku Youth Association in Pakalinding (Poultry House). In addition, the delegation assessed Poultry Houses and Fish Ponds at Kundam Youth Garden, as well as the Brufut Fish Landing site where new infrastructure is being constructed for women involved in fish smoking. The findings on infrastructure activities status are as follows:
Agro-processing Training Centre: 98% completed, aimed to train at least 200 youth yearly.
Student Dormitories: 97% completed, one with 40 beds and another with 80 beds.
Fish Ponds: 95% completed, with 7 ponds constructed.
Fish Smoking Houses: 90% completed, with two new smoking houses at the Brufut fish landing site along with supporting infrastructure.
Poultry Houses: 50% completed, with 34 houses being developed.
Horticultural Gardens with solar-powered irrigation: 50% completed, with 47 gardens established for youth and women-led projects.
The mission concluded with a debriefing session where partners discussed the findings and committed to enhancing technical support for beneficiaries to ensure the continued success of FRSD initiatives in The Gambia.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).