The Gambia: NGOs Get D85 Million Support from EU

By Development Diaries
June 14, 2021

European Union (EU) has provided around D85 million grant to three non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) in The Gambia.

The fund was provided to enable the NGOs – ActionAid International The Gambia (AAITG), Action Against Hunger The Gambia, and ‘Mbolo’ Association – to implement the ‘Civil Society Organisation as Actors of Governance and Leadership’ project in the West African country.

Development Diaries gathered that the NGOs had launched their EU-funded contracts to deliver good governance and accountability, social cohesion and a transformed economy, for the well-being of all Gambians.

It is understood that the three-year programme aims to increase the participation of CSOs in tackling climate change and promoting environmental sustainability, with focus on labour-intensive work.

The programme, which commenced in 2020, is expected to end in December 2022.

European Union Ambassador to The Gambia, Corrado Pampaloni, said CSOs were assets and key actors for the development of any country.

‘In the past, CSOs played a critical role in filling the gaps where government was unable to provide services adequately’, he said.

‘This programme aligns many priorities at the core of the EU programme from mitigating climate change and promoting environmental sustainability, to women and youth empowerment, support to CSO and citizen participation to the development of human capital’.

In his keynote address, the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Lamin Dibba, emphasised the need for active participation of NGOs and other development partners to complement government’s climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.

While recognising the great contribution of the three NGOs, the minister assured that government will continue to provide the much-needed protection and safe environment.

The ceremony was attended by dignitaries and other stakeholders involved in the promotion of a green economy and environmental sustainability, heads of various NGOs, governors from various regions, and project beneficiaries.

Source: Foroyya