Gambia

The Gambia is the smallest mainland country in Africa, and is ranked 155 out of 177 in the United National Human Development Index 2005. In 2004 the annual GDP growth rate was 8.3% but poverty remains high with an estimated 59% of the population living on less than one dollar a day.

Political and Economic Situation

The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. Some 75-80% of the population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood, and the agricultural base is vulnerable to drought and locusts. Small–scale manufacturing activity includes the processing of groundnuts, fish and hide. Re-export trade to neighbouring countries makes a significant contribution to the economy. Tourism is the second largest employer and is the main foreign exchange earner. The Gambia became independent in 1965; a military takeover led by Captain Yahya Jammeh in July 1994 interrupted the country's democratic process, and it was not until early 1997 that, following parliamentary and presidential elections, the country returned to constitutional rule with Jammeh elected as President and again in 2001. In September 2006 Jammeh was re-elected for a third five year term in elections which were judged by international observers as being conducted in an orderly and peaceful manner and, despite some reported irregularities, of reflecting the will of the people. Legislative elections were held in January 2007.

Gambia and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Progress towards the MDGs to date has been mixed, with a high proportion of Gambians living below the poverty line. There is a discernible difference in progress between rural and urban areas favouring urban dwellers. However there has been progress in some sectors, particularly towards achieving universal primary education, with 79% (2002) of children now enrolled in school, and an improvement in the ratio of girls to boys in primary and secondary education to 89% (2002).

The Government of The Gambia recognises that progress has been slow and efforts must be scaled up if the MDGs are to be met, particularly in the countryside. The Government is currently revising its Poverty Reduction Strategy in a drive towards meeting the MDGs. This increase in effort is being accompanied by an update of human development statistics to enable proper monitoring against the MDGs.

DFID Development Programme

The UK is one of the few bilateral donors to have a country office, and has a development programme allocation of £3 million for 2007-08. The UK also provides development assistance to The Gambia through contributions to multilateral organisations, such as the European Union, World Bank and United Nations agencies.

DFID is working in partnership with the Gambian Government and other donors to support the national Poverty Reduction Strategy. The UK’s bilateral development programme currently focuses on the following main areas:

• Basic Education – a programme (2005-2010) to enhance the capacity of the Department of Education to deliver quality education and support the development of national education policy.
• Legal Capacity Building (2004-2010) seeks to improve the accessibility, impartiality and efficiency of the judicial system for the rural poor majority, and includes training for professional and administrative staff in the judiciary and Department of State for Justice.
• Financial Governance (2006-2009) will help strengthen public financial management and ensure best use of financial resources. Training for the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee and capacity building in the Department of State for Finance will also be provided.
• Civil Society Capacity Building - including increasing civil society’s role in monitoring and tracking planned and actual budgetary expenditure against Government policies, and empowering civil society organisations through capacity building support to an NGO network organisation.
• Debt Management - assisting the Government with the design and implementation of a domestic debt management strategy.
• Foreign Private Capital Capacity Building: The Gambia was one of the beneficiary countries in the first phase of this programme (2002-04) which used a census approach to measure private capital investment. A second phase of support to consolidate this work and ensure sustainability is currently underway

Links

• Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• World Bank
• UNDP
• UNICEF
• European Commission
• African Development Bank

Last updated: 19 April 2007