Gov’t utters gratitude as GIZ ECOWAS FRSD project fades out

 

Author: Pa Modou Cham

The government of the Gambia through the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Hon. Seedy Keita, extended gratitude to the GIZ ECOWAS FRSD Gambia Pilot projects for its support to socio-economic stability by improving income opportunities in horticulture, poultry, and fishing.

 

The GIZ Technical Cooperation (TC) component of the Fund for Regional Stabilization and Development in Fragile Regions within ECOWAS Member States (FRSD) on behalf of The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has over the past 4 years successfully implemented numerous intervention measures in The Gambia.

 

In a closing ceremony of the project held today at the Sir Dawda Conference Centre, Minister Keita underscored the importance of the project while reiterating that the project was timely by addressing the poor groups of youth and women. He added that since 2019, the project has successfully showcased the effectiveness of the fund and paved the way forward for the implementation of the fund in other ECOWAS member countries.

 

“We hope that the pilot has lessons learned and that would be used to properly design the project in other countries. As a Co-chair of the steering committee, I would like to express our unwavering support for the FRSD programme and I believe the programme has the potential to address the unemployment issues in the Sub-Region,” he said.

 

Hon. Keita thanks the German government for their continued support of the country’s national development while thanking ECOWAS. He said Gambia is a success story of ECOWAS and touches the lives and livelihood of the vulnerable.

 

Among the most sentimental moments is the testimony of beneficiaries who doubled their income since the commencement of the project. Given his testimony, Alagie Camara, a 2017 migrant returnee who ventured into farming in the North Bank Region said he started seedlings production last year because of the financial crisis. He said: “I benefited from several training with GIZ that included mental health and fund support. Last year, I benefited in the trade fair to portrait my products which has boosted my potential.” 

 

Kaddy Jaw, a beneficiary from the Upper River Region explained that she was trained in horticulture, and livestock management while adding that she later started her own horticultural garden.

 

“I later came to know about the GIZ project and I applied for the fund for which I was shortlisted. I was asked to draw my budget which I did and they visited my garden. They asked which support I needed, I told them I wanted fish fond and they supported me,” she testified.

 

Other beneficiaries that expressed gratitude to GIZ ECOWAS FRSD include Dawda Saho, a returnee from Libya and Famara Jabbi of the Upper River Region.

The project that started in October 2019 with a budget of €7 million lasted for 4 years. It targeted over 3750 beneficiaries 50% of which were female ages between 16-35 drawn from the Greater Banjul Area, LRR and URR. Over 1383 young people, including returnees, have been reached through dialogue and information systems on migration and sustainable integration while 842 entrepreneurs received business starter kits.

 

Among other achievements, 12 user-friendly training curricula and manuals based on the three value chains have been developed and disseminated while 30 government personnel including security personnel, and health and social workers trained in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MPHSS).

 

The project also introduced the innovation of Nopale Fish Smoking Stoves in the Greater Banjul and URR to at least six women groups consisting of over 120 members. In both three regions, the project also trained 150 migrants in MPHSS while 75 were trained in life skills and 32 trainers and coaches are now qualified in the SME Loop methodology.