By Alieu Jallow

The Regional Disaster Management Coordinator for the North Bank Region (NBR), Lamin Saidy, has called for increased budgetary allocations to the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), citing persistent funding challenges that hinder effective disaster response in the region.

In an exclusive interview with The Fatu network, Mr Saidy highlighted how financial challenges affected their disaster response mechanism, citing the recent assessment following flash floods and windstorms that affected all seven districts in the NBR, particularly in 2021, where 10 people lost their lives, noting the efforts put in place to strengthen resilience.

“In Kerewan, there is a community hard hit by flooding, and so we tried to rehabilitate one of the roads that is heavily impacted by flooding as a process of building resilience, which is community-led with support from NDMA. We also established district committees, which include local authorities within the district, with plans to establish village-level disaster committees.”

Saidy reported that over 100 households were impacted, with 12 families displaced and currently sheltered by neighbours and relatives.

Despite efforts to enhance disaster response capabilities, including the procurement of essential equipment through international aid, the NDMA continues to face significant financial constraints. In January 2025, the French Development Agency (AFD) allocated €1 million to support flood recovery efforts and strengthen the NDMA’s institutional capacity. The funds were used to procure equipment such as tablets for data collection, motorbikes for rapid mobility, water pumping machines, and pickups to bolster the agency’s capacity.

Furthermore, the NDMA, in collaboration with partners like Catholic Relief Services and Future in Our Hands The Gambia, received $603,616 from ECOWAS in May 2024 to implement the Post-2022 Flood Recovery Response Project. This initiative aimed to provide multipurpose cash assistance, water, sanitation, and hygiene support to flood-affected communities across all eight local government areas in The Gambia.

Despite these interventions, the NDMA’s efforts are often hampered by limited financial resources. The Gambia’s National Disaster Risk Management Policy 2024-2032 acknowledges the challenge of scaling up financial resources for disaster risk reduction (DRR) implementation, emphasising the need for increased budget allocations and access to international funding. Against this backdrop, Saidy calls for an increased allocation to make their work effective and efficient.

“Government needs to increase its budget and allocation for disaster operations in the country because, looking at the cycle of the DRR, which talks about disaster reduction prevents on preparedness, mitigation recovery. So, it’s a whole lot of operations. So, there’s a need for budget-free allocation to do our work, as you know, expected,” he states.

As part their preparation efforts in disaster response Mr Saidy underscore the importance of capacity, especially for their data collectors, for effective and timely response to disaster incidents.

“We’re strengthening all the regional structures in North Bank. We’ve identified the data collectors, our disaster collection tools are prepared, they are all set, but now we call for budgetary allocation so that when we have a disaster incident, there could be a rapid response towards that disaster”.

As climate change continues to exacerbate the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, stakeholders in the North Bank Region and across The Gambia are urging increased investment in disaster preparedness and response to safeguard vulnerable communities.

By Alieu Jallow

In the rural heartlands of The Gambia, where fear and silence often defined the relationship between civilians and security forces, a new approach is taking root—one conversation at a time.

ActionAid International The Gambia (AAITG) recently organized a Community Security Bantaba in the North Bank Region, bringing together police officers, soldiers, youth leaders, and community elders. For many, it was the first time they sat face-to-face with security personnel not in fear or conflict, but in honest conversation.

Omar Trawally, a member of the North Bank Regional Youth Committee, emphasized that security is a national concern and cannot be left to government institutions alone.

“Citizens must understand the role and challenges of our security services. In return, the security forces must also be responsive to the rights and needs of the people they protect,” he said.

Held under ActionAid’s Local Rights Programme 9 (LRP9), the forum wasn’t just a platform for lectures. It was a space where fears, questions, and frustrations were aired without judgment. The message was clear: peacebuilding is a shared responsibility.

“I now realize that I have a role to play,” said Adama Nyan, a youth leader from Jokadu. “Reporting suspicious behaviour, educating my peers about drug abuse, and promoting peace are part of my civic responsibility. I used to think security was just a police issue, but today I changed that.”

Inspector Almameh E. Susoh, Regional Taskforce Commander in Farafenni, noted that this shift in thinking didn’t happen overnight, but dialogue is changing how communities and law enforcement relate.

“Civilians are the majority, and we can’t be everywhere at once. Through collaboration and communication, we can detect and prevent crime early. This isn’t just about policing; it’s about building a safer Gambia together,” he said.

For Inspector Susoh, proactive engagement isn’t optional—it’s essential.
“We believe in preventing crimes before they happen. These bantabas help build trust, clarify our roles, and allow us to listen to the community’s concerns,” he added.

Saikou Darboe, Manager of LRP9 at ActionAid, said the idea behind the bantaba was born out of rising tensions and misunderstandings between security forces and civilians.

“We saw the rising tension and misunderstanding between young people, the public, persons with disabilities, and law enforcement. So, we created a safe space where both sides could listen, learn, and reconnect,” he explained.

He added that the transformation is already visible.

“Young people who once feared the police now see them as partners in peacebuilding. These sessions are not just dialogues—they are seeds of transformation. And we are committed, inshallah, to sustaining this momentum.”

For Mariama Secka of Ngene Sanjal, the experience was personal.

“We all want the same thing—peace. But for that to happen, we must communicate, collaborate, and commit to understanding each other,” she said.

As ActionAid prepares to expand these security dialogues across other regions, the message is unmistakable: real peace starts with real conversations.

In the words of Omar Trawally:
“This dialogue is not charity; it’s our right. Peace starts with understanding, and understanding begins with conversation.”

Written by: The Fatu Network Newsroom

BRIKAMA – The University of Applied Science, Engineering, and Technology (USET) held its inaugural convocation ceremony on Saturday, with President Adama Barrow officiating the joint commissioning of the College of Science and Engineering (CoSE) Building and the graduation of the institution’s first cohort of engineering students.

Twenty-eight students graduated from the Departments of Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering during the ceremony held in Brikama.

“The occasion represents not only the overwhelming development of our tertiary education sector, but also a new chapter in our ambition to transform The Gambia into a knowledge-driven, technologically empowered, and self-reliant nation,” President Barrow said at the event.

The ceremony included the conferment of an honorary Doctor of Engineering and Technology (Honoris Causa) degree upon President Barrow by USET. According to the State House statement, the honorary degree recognized “not just his tangible achievements but his enduring legacy of integrity, vision, and service—a true architect of national progress.”

The event marked the commissioning of the new College of Science and Engineering building alongside the graduation ceremony. USET focuses on applied science, engineering, and technology education as part of the country’s tertiary education sector.

The graduation represents the first group of engineering students to complete their studies at the Brikama-based institution.

Written by: The Fatu Network Newsroom

President Adama Barrow delivered his 2025 State of the Nation Address to the National Assembly on June 19, outlining what he described as his administration’s key achievements and policy priorities as The Gambia marks its 60th year of independence.

Barrow reported that The Gambia’s economy grew by 5.8% in 2024, with a projected growth rate of 5.9% by December 2025.

“Despite global and regional challenges, the growth rate was five-point-eight percent (5.8%) in 2024, with a projection of five-point-nine percent (5.9%) by December 2025,” he told lawmakers.

He said inflation declined significantly from 17.3% in 2023 to 10.2% in 2024, crediting improvements in financial services, trade, construction, and mining. Remittances, which he described as a vital source of foreign exchange, reached $775.6 million in 2024—a 4% increase from the previous year’s $746.8 million.

Barrow acknowledged fiscal pressures, reporting a deficit of GMD 6.7 billion, or 4.7% of GDP. He noted a reduction in the debt-to-GDP ratio from 75.7% in 2023 to 71.8%, though still above the 70% sustainability threshold.

The President highlighted infrastructure development as a major focus, pointing to the completion of the first two phases of the 22-kilometer OIC Highway.

“This attractive infrastructure has transformed the face of urban Gambia forever,” he said.

He added that 365 kilometers of roads are expected to be completed nationwide by the end of 2025, including the 50-kilometer OIC Urban Roads and the Kiang West Roads.

In the ports sector, Barrow said a concession agreement with Albayrak Company became effective in February 2025. He stated that operations will eventually move to Sanyang following the construction of a deep-sea terminal.

Barrow said assessments show 90% of Gambians will have electricity access by the end of 2025. He reported that the country’s first utility-scale solar park—a 23-megawatt facility in Jambur—has been commissioned, with a 50-megawatt plant planned for Jarra Soma.

To expand household access, he noted that electricity meter prices were reduced from D8,500 to D500 in project-covered areas, enabling 72,000 new household connections by December 2024.

According to Barrow, the agriculture sector received extensive support through subsidized fertilizer and seed distribution. He said 28,000 tons of fertilizer were procured, with the price reduced from D2,500 to D1,150 per 50kg bag in recent farming seasons.

“Through various agricultural projects, the government distributed eight thousand six hundred and ninety-seven (8,697) metric tons of fertiliser, over one thousand (1,000) metric tons of certified rice seeds, three hundred (300) metric tons of certified maize seeds, and one hundred and forty thousand (140,000) litres of herbicides to farmers across the country, free of charge,” Barrow reported.

Barrow said the tourism sector showed positive momentum, citing 227,000 tourist arrivals in 2024—a 10% increase compared to 2023. He said the government projects continued growth toward a target of 336,787 air arrivals, as outlined in the Recovery-Focused National Development Plan.

The President cited the launch of several social protection initiatives, including the Skills, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Fund with an initial GMD 396 million allocation. He said the Women’s Enterprise Fund disbursed GMD 15.88 million to support 138 women’s groups between June and December 2024.

He also reported that 88 graduates completed the National Youth Service Programme, while 100 University of The Gambia students were placed in various institutions as part of their civic engagement.

On health, Barrow announced ongoing construction of the National Emergency Treatment, Blood Transfusion, and Diagnostic & Imaging centres near the Brusubi roundabout. He said the government procured 32 ambulances, seven trucks, and 61 motorcycles to improve emergency response.

He further reported the expansion of the National Health Insurance Scheme to 13 public health facilities across the country, aimed at easing financial barriers to healthcare.

Barrow emphasized what he described as The Gambia’s growing international profile, referencing the successful hosting of the 15th OIC Summit in 2024 and the country’s assumption of the chairmanship. He also noted The Gambia’s re-election to the UN Human Rights Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council.

On regional conflicts, he stated:

“As Chairman of the OIC, I express grave concern over the recent escalation of Israeli attacks on Iran, resulting in the killing of military and non-military officials. I call for restraint and a return to peace in the region.”

Domestically, Barrow acknowledged persistent challenges such as irregular migration, border security, and drug trafficking. He said the Drug Law Enforcement Agency recorded over 1,000 drug cases in 2024, with 126 convictions.

Looking ahead, Barrow said his administration plans to strengthen digital infrastructure through a second subsea cable rollout by 2026, modernize the civil service through salary reforms, and continue expanding access to essential services.

The President concluded with a call for national unity:

“In unity lies our strength and success. Conversely, disunity exposes us to obstacles and troubles.” He urged Gambians to “remain steadfast in our collective mission to build a better nation” as the country celebrates its Diamond Jubilee.