Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Women in the eleven communities surrounding the Kotu Stream are expressing renewed optimism as work progresses on a US$45 million World Bank-funded initiative aimed at rehabilitating the stream and supporting local livelihoods.
The West Africa Coastal Areas (WACA) Resilience Investment Project, financed by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources (MECCNAR), seeks to address long-standing environmental challenges along the stream while promoting sustainable economic development for residents.
For many women entrepreneurs and farmers, the project represents a long-awaited opportunity to stabilize and expand their income sources.
Women Entrepreneurs Welcome Livelihood Support
Mariama Drammeh, a 42-year-old tie-and-dye vendor in Dippa Kunda, said business has been in decline since the COVID-19 pandemic. Aside from reduced sales, she highlighted the absence of a proper wastewater disposal facility, forcing artisans to dispose of chemical-laden wastewater directly into the stream.
“Batik is very expensive. Sometimes a ballot costs D48,000, and to make the designs, you need at least D60,000,” she said. “This sector used to employ many people, but the market is slowly declining because imported products are becoming more common.”
Ms. Drammeh said the WACA project has assured them that designated washing points and empowerment support for artisans will be provided. She hopes that with modern equipment and better infrastructure, tie-and-dye producers will improve the quality of locally made products.
“We also need shaded areas because working under the sun affects our eyes, and the chemicals give us chest pain as we grow older,” she added.
Farmers Hope for Protection Against Saltwater Intrusion
Local farmers are also hopeful that the project will address the environmental threats affecting their production.
Ya Haddy Gibba, 66, who has been cultivating rice in the area for over six years, identified saltwater intrusion as a major challenge.
“Whenever we grow rice, salt water destroys it. I depend on this farm to feed my family. If the project does not affect our farmland, it will have a positive impact,” she said.
Ms. Gibba also urged the construction of storage facilities to protect harvested rice, noting that such infrastructure would prevent post-harvest losses and enhance food security.
Environmental Strain Threatens Birdwatching and Tourism
Environmental degradation has also disrupted birdwatching and tourism activities along the stream.
Mariam Kinteh, a birdwatcher and ornithologist, said pollution and poor water flow have pushed many bird species away from their natural habitats.
“Sometimes the water does not flow properly, and the birds move away. Tourists adjust their plans to visit other areas, which affects business,” she said, explaining that parts of Kotu and surrounding wetlands once known for rich bird activity are now experiencing sharp declines.
She expressed optimism that the restoration works expected to begin early next year will help maintain water flow, preserve trees, and revive ecotourism opportunities for the community.
Women Remain the Most Affected
According to Alhagie Haruna Cham, Social Development Specialist for the WACA Project, women bear the brunt of the environmental and economic burdens along the stream.
“Women are affected because of where they live or because the stream is prone to flooding, especially during the rainy season. When this happens, many businesses are disrupted,” he said.
Flooding often affects women’s access to markets, forcing them to wade across the stream to sell their produce. Those engaged in vegetable farming also struggle to maintain their activities during periods of heavy rainfall.
However, Cham noted that the project’s social investment component aims to change this dynamic.
“We are targeting different types of women involved in various activities. The project aims to benefit at least 4,000 people, with women and youth as our priorities. We aim for at least 40% women beneficiaries, and this figure can be surpassed,” he added.
He encouraged women to form groups that could later evolve into cooperatives, ensuring stronger collective economic power.
Women along the stream engage in diverse trades, including urban agriculture, petty trading, handicrafts, tie-and-dye, and solid-waste recycling, many of which will receive technical and financial support under the project.
Cham said the WACA project, working alongside local councils and the National Environment Agency (NEA), will deliver technical training at both community and institutional levels, including initial capital support for women and youth interested in waste recycling.
“These approaches ensure sustainability and continuity of livelihood support after the end of the project,” he said.
Monitoring and Enforcement to Protect the Stream
In addition to livelihood support, the WACA project strengthens NEA’s monitoring and enforcement efforts to curb illegal waste disposal into the stream. The agency works through environmental inspectors and a dedicated police unit to ensure compliance.
Omar Sey, Director of Technical Services at the NEA, said the agency conducted a major enforcement exercise between 6 and 14 October 2025, during which 161 environmental cases were recorded—107 related to wastewater violations and 54 to solid waste.
Inspectors issued 118 improvement notices, forwarded 23 cases for prosecution, and secured 17 charges.
The NEA also conducts waste-management training for institutions such as Banjul City Council, Kanifing Municipal Council, Brikama Area Council, and other partners.
Sey said the agency applies the Anti-Littering Regulation for individuals and compounds that discharge pollutants into the stream, urging residents to avoid contact with the water and to promptly report environmental violations.
Ongoing Threats from Pollution
Restoring the Kotu Stream remains a major priority under the WACA project, which aims to introduce environmentally friendly engineering and ecosystem-based solutions.
According to Sey, pollution continues to threaten soil quality, water health, and public safety, mostly due to improper wastewater discharge and indiscriminate dumping.
“The stream receives a range of harmful substances, including wastewater and organic waste that decomposes and releases chemicals that degrade water quality,” he noted.
Pollutants travel downstream, affecting soil, water, wildlife, and aquatic organisms. Children who come into contact with contaminated water are especially vulnerable to skin infections, diarrhea, and—if heavy metals are present—long-term illnesses including cancer.
“These actions contribute to contamination as the waste is carried downstream,” Sey warned.
