Six UNDP-Gambia government backed projects with a cumulative allocation of US$3.039 million were yesterday signed at a ceremony held at the conference room of the State House in Banjul. The projects - which are an important milestone in the operationalisation of the new UNDP Country Programme and Action  Plan for 2007-2011 - aims at addressing development challenges in the country and accelerate efforts towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.
 
The projects comprised Assistance to the Establishment of the National Planning Commission, Capacity Development for Achieving Environmental Sustainability, the Gambia Priority Employment Programme (Gamjobs), Rapid Advisory and Capacity Building Facility (RACBF), Capacity Development of the National Assembly, and Capacity Building of Mass Media and Civil Society. The government of The Gambia pumped in a counterpart funding of US$100,000 equivalent to D2.8 million to the Gamjobs project.
 
Ousman Jammeh, Secretary-General and Dr Adama Guindo, Officer-in-Charge of UNDP in The Gambia, led the signing of the projects, before the heads of various implementing agencies inked their signatures.
Speaking at the ceremony, Secretary-General Jammeh, who is the Head of Civil Service, expounded on the importance to implement the projects effectively and on time. Mr. Jammeh spurred the implementing agencies to ensure that the expectations of the project are realised.
 
SG Jammeh used the opportunity to urge the agencies to learn from the lessons and experience in the previous country programmes in order to maximise outcomes. He singled out unemployment among Gambian youth and women saying, the government is concerned about the gainful employment to this vulnerable group.
He thanked the UNDP for being a partner that values dialogue in its engagements with the government. He then informed the ceremony that President Yahya Jammeh has given his full support and blessing to the projects to accomplish the targets within the time frame.
 
Delivering his speech, Dr Adama Guindo, Officer-in-Charge of UNDP in The Gambia, said the projects focus on capacity development at individual, organisational and policy levels, adding that these three elements are necessary for an endogenous process of change and sustainable development.

Dr Guindo said the support to the establishment of the National Planning Commission aims at addressing its immediate needs for its quick functioning. “Support will also cover the development of a comprehensive institutional capacity development strategy and programme to strengthen aid coordination, including organisation of resource mobilisation meetings,” he added.

“The support to the environment sector”, he continued, “focuses at assisting the NEA to implement anti-littering regulations, development of The Gambia’s Environmental Action Plan Phase II and the second State of the Environment Report, as well as provide training in Strategic Environmental Assessment as a tool for mainstreaming environment in the development process.” He expressed hope that this support will assist the government to initiate activities on climate change.
 
According to him, the support to the Gamjobs project will create an enabling environment for employment creation in order to develop a skilled and efficient workforce, thereby creating opportunities for wages and self employment in both formal and informal sectors. He disclosed that this project will address illegal migration among the youths through training on personal development and leadership skills that would contribute to change their mindset and engage in productive activities.
He said the RACBF project will provide rapid advisory services and technical expertise to selected government and public institutions, as well as civil society organisations to enhance capacity.
 
“The parliamentary support project”, he said, “aims at providing assistance to the National Assembly by addressing the most pressing capacity gaps; and formulate long-term assistance project to support sustainable capacity development of the National Assembly”.
The UNDP Officer-in-Charge said the mass media and civil society project - funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund - aims at improving professional standards and economic viability of media houses and civil society organisations.
He said the US$3 million (D18 million) provided by the UNDP is meant to trigger and attract other efforts and investments needed for the successful implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.
 
Dr Guindo then commended the government of The Gambia for its counterpart funding of US$100,000 for the Gamjobs project, and reminded the implementing agencies that the successful implementations depend on them to achieve the goals.

Hon Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, Speaker of the National Assembly, who delivered the vote of thanks, thumbed-up the UNDP for its partnership, and then lauded the cordiality that continues to exist between them. Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay expressed hope for the continuity of the partnership for more collaboration and assistance to the development aspirations of the country.