The Chairman of the Council
The President of IFAD, H.E. Lennart Båge
Excellencies
Distinguished Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen

I feel deeply honoured to be called upon to deliver a statement on behalf of the Government and people of The Gambia at this august gathering of the IFAD Governing Council for which we are most grateful.

Mr Chairman

Since the mid 1980’s as well documented by both IFAD and the Government of The Gambia, our country has been implementing economic policies favouring macroeconomic stability, market liberalization and private sector development. In 1998, the Government adopted a long-term strategy, The Gambia Incorporated Vision 2020, a blueprint for accelerated and sustainable development, which aims at transforming the nation into middle-income country.

Mr Chairman

The Gambia’s medium-term strategy is outlined in the Second Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper II (PSRP II, 2008 - 2012), which is the country’s poverty reduction strategy paper.

The strategy highlights a dual approach: to undertake actions in the three key sectors of agriculture, health and education, and to foster macro-economic growth to support those actions. It also aims to empower communities to respond to their own development needs. The Government’s strategic approach is consistent with IFAD’s poverty reduction strategy in the region.

Mr Chairman

IFAD has financed seven projects in The Gambia since 1982, benefiting over 70,950 rural households. All the projects have had an agricultural focus and have pursued the overall goal of reducing rural poverty by improving household food security, especially among small-scale farmers and women. Another stand-alone IFAD funded Rural Finance Project has recently being declared effective and will soon be launched as a nationwide project on micro finance development in The Gambia to succeed the Rural Finance Community Initiatives Project (RFCIP).   

Mr Chairman

IFAD funded projects in The Gambia have become more demand driven, increasingly developing rural poor people’s participation in planning and implementation.

For the purpose of accumulating know-how and reducing the risk of failure, IFAD assisted projects in The Gambia provide for innovative pilot operations with potential for scaling-up. Outstanding features of pilot activities include the Village-based Savings and Credit Associations (VISACA) concept, access to and water management in swampland and lowland rice cultivation and community led self-help groups.

These activities were tested and adapted and have become successful models for implementation in newer projects.

Mr Chairman

Since the mid 1980’s, IFAD has strongly supported rural micro finance projects in The Gambia as a corollary to support for agricultural development. Expansion of the VISACA system has led to a more professional micro finance sector and to the creation of a Micro Finance Department within the Central Bank of The Gambia to oversee the policy and regulatory aspects of micro finance in The Gambia.

Mr Chairman

IFAD continues to fund activities to strengthen farmers and community based organisations, investing in programmes and projects in The Gambia, IFAD provides leadership and attracts co-financing, forming strategic partnership with key stakeholders.

Through new loans, the organisation helps consolidate and continue activities such as rural financial services, community-initiated self-help and lowland rice development.

Looking towards the future of agricultural development in The Gambia, new projects feature innovative approaches that can be tested and scaled up to support more effective and efficient activities.

Mr Chairman

In programmes and projects in The Gambia, IFAD tackles the causes of poverty. Through development of agriculture in the fertile lowlands and adjacent uplands, it addresses poverty that is related to land as a productive asset and to factors such as yields and soil fertility.

Diversification of on-and-off farm income generating activities can reduce poverty related to failing and low commodity market prices. By strengthening institutions and communities and developing services such as credit, IFAD funded programmes and projects can reinforce poor people’s efforts to overcome poverty.

Mr Chairman, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen

To conclude, please allow me to finally convey the deep appreciation of the Government and people of The Gambia for a timely response to our priority needs in rural poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs. I am sure we will continue to count on IFAD as one of our high valued development partners to enhance our socio-economic development for the benefit of our needy citizenry.

I thank you for your attention.