Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Government of The Gambia, in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Gambia Red Cross Society, has signed a landmark Project Cooperation Agreement to support Persons of Concern across the country, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees, returnees, stateless persons, asylum seekers, and their host communities.
The agreement was officially signed on October 17, 2025, in Banjul, bringing together key national stakeholders such as the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, the Gambia Refugee Commission, the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA), and the Gambia Red Cross Society.
The initiative underscores The Gambia’s growing commitment to inclusive humanitarian response and regional solidarity.
Funded by the ECOWAS Humanitarian Department, the six-month project—valued at US$699,425.09—is expected to benefit more than 2,100 vulnerable individuals across all seven regions of The Gambia.
The program will provide life-saving assistance and sustainable livelihood support to those most affected by displacement and economic hardship.
Under the agreement, the Gambia Red Cross Society will lead project implementation in partnership with NaNA, the Gambia Refugee Commission, and the Ministry of Trade.
Major interventions will include cash assistance for vulnerable households, the construction of solar-powered boreholes to ensure clean and sustainable water access, and the establishment of community gardens in Foni to strengthen food security and resilience.
Beyond addressing urgent humanitarian needs, the project also seeks to promote long-term social cohesion, gender equity, and peaceful coexistence through community engagement platforms, protection training for local authorities, and initiatives to foster harmony between refugees and host populations.
Officials described the initiative as a vital step in reinforcing the region’s shared commitment to human rights, dignity, and stability. It aligns with ECOWAS’s broader humanitarian mandate to assist member states in tackling displacement and crisis through coordinated and inclusive action.
