The UNDP monthly Development Forum is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 7 November at the Kairaba Beach Hotel, a press release signed by the Public Affairs Analyst of the organisation has revealed.

The UN system in The Gambia launched the monthly Development Forum series three years ago as a way of promoting development dialogue and sharing best practices.

According to the release this first forum for 2006 will also be used to launch the 2005 National Human Development Report, NHDR, the fourth in a series produced by UNDP, The Gambia. The said report focuses on the themes: Building Capacity for the Attainment of the Millennium Development Goals in The Gambia.

The release stated “The NHDR provides a useful opportunity to assess the impact of UNDP and other partners’ interventions in the development process of the country. It affords both government and its partners an opportunity to realign their priorities and formulate new programmes to address any inherent deficiencies that may become apparent”.

It further announced that the Vice President Dr Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy will launch the 2005 NHDR, with the Director of MDI Juka Jabang , the Director of Action Aid, Yaya Sanyang, and the President of the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bai Matarr Drammeh, as presenters. Ms Fadzai Gwaradzimba, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative is to deliver the welcome remarks and also chair the ceremony.