EU CooperationThe Gambia-

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER EDITION, 2014

A BI-MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE GAMBIA - EU COOPERATION.

Follow us on Facebook (European Union in The Gambia)

INAUGURATION OF THE SOFANYAMA BRIDGE IN

PAKALIBA

THE EUROPEAN UNION SUPPORTS THE EMPOWERMENT OF GAMBIAN

WOMENThe European Union has recently launched the new project “Women’s Empowerment for Change”, which is one of three EU funded projects to improve women’s rights in The Gambia. The official launching ceremony of the project took place on the 11 September 2014.

Women’s Empowerment for Change is one of the EU’s latest initiatives to improve women’s rights in The Gambia. The initiative is part of EU’s commitment to fighting poverty and promoting women’s rights and fundamental freedoms in the context of sustainable development, including the pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Women’s Empowerment for Change has a specific focus on the economic empowerment of women, reducing violence against women, and eliminating female genital mutilation.

The initiative is financed by the European Union to the tune of 200,000 euros (approximately 11 million dalasis) and will be implemented over 36 months. It is one of three EU funded programmes donating more than 800,000 euros (44 million dalasis) to improve women’s rights in The Gambia.

During the project launching on the 11 September 2014 in Kalaji, Ms Agnès Guillaud, Chargée d’Affaires a.i. at the EU delegation in Banjul spoke about the commitment of the European Union to gender equality, the important role of women in Sub-Saharan Africa and the link between poverty and gender inequality. The EU representative underlined that “the European Union is committed to gender equality which is the key to sustainable development … We deeply believe that our contribution of 200,000 euros … will bring

The European Union has invested more than 4 billion dalasis (76.5 million euros) in The Gambia’s Road Networks.

On 30th October 2014, the Honourable Minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, Mr Ousman Badjie inaugurated the Sofanyama Bridge in Pakaliba in the Lower River Region on behalf of H.E. President of the Republic of The Gambia, Sheikh Professor Dr. Alhaji Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh Babali Mansa.

The Sofanyama Bridge is a crucial part of the Soma-Basse road providing access to the Eastern part of The Gambia. In the roads sector alone, the European Union through the 9th and 10th EDF has financed a total sum of 76.5 million euros for 276 km of trunk roads. The roads concerned are Barra-Amdallai (19.9 km); Madina Ba-Seleti (12.7 km); the Trans-Gambia Highway (25 km), and Soma-Basse (193 km) including the Sofanyama Bridge. This is nearly 50% of the paved road network in The Gambia.

In his inaugural statement, Minister Badjie expressed gratitude to the European Union for not only funding the Sofanyama Bridge but also for rehabilitating national and regional roads of The Gambia. The minister underlined the commitment of the Gambian government to working closely with the European Union as one of its leading development partners.

Honourable Minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, Mr Ousman Badjie commissioning the Bridge

Project stakeholders Speech by EU Chargée d’Affaires a.i. Ms Agnès Guillaud

Sofanyama Bridge in Pakaliba

In her speech, the Chargée d’Affaires a.i. of the Delegation of the European Union in Banjul, Ms Agnès Guillaud, gave a detailed overview of the EU’s contributions to the road and transport sector in The Gambia. Among other things she mentioned that “this project would not be possible without the generosity of all 28 member states of the European Union and the many hard-working European tax payers. Allow me to thank them for their important contribution to the improvement of the road network in The Gambia.”

The ceremony was also graced by the Honourable Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Ms Fatou Lamin Faye, Honourable Minister of Lands and Regional Governments, Momodou Aki Bayo, Ambassador of the United Kingdom, H.E. Colin Crorkin, and the Spanish Chargée d’Affaires, Ms Laura Mayoral.

Governor of the Lower River Region, Salieu Pouye, as well as Permanent Secretaries from the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure and from the Office of the President along with representatives from the EU Delegation, the National Authorising Officer’s Support Unit and the National Roads Authority were also present at the ceremony.

tangible results, foster women’s rights here in Foni Jarrol District and provide social and economic empowerment to vulnerable women in the region and beyond.”“Women’s Empowerment for Change” is implemented by SOS Children’s Villages UK in close collaboration with SOS Children’s Villages The Gambia, ChildFund The Gambia, and the Foundation for Research on Women’s Health, Productivity and the Environment (BAFROW). The project will specifically target the communities of Sintet, Kalagi, Kan Mamadou, Jarrol and Kampassa in the Foni Jarrol District.

“Equal opportunities and access to resources for both men and women are essential to eradicate poverty and to achieve all MDGs. Women play a critical role in addressing the main challenges humanity faces today, such as health, education, agriculture and nutritional issues as well as climate change.”

Ms Agnès GuillaudChargée d’Affaires a.i., Delegation of the European Union to The Gambia

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: THE NATIONAL AUTHORISING OFFICER SUPPORT UNIT (NAOSU)Tel: (+220) 439 9626/5 or Email: info@gambia-ec.gm | DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION TO THE GAMBIA

74, Atlantic Road Fajara, P.O. Box 512, Banjul, The Gambia. Tel: +220 4495 146 / 4497 846. Website: www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/gambia/index_en.htm

32

EU CooperationThe Gambia-

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION HELPS GAMBIANS MEET THEIR FOOD AND

NUTRITION NEEDS

Sophie Battas visits the Central River Region

By donating 400,000 euros ECHO has helped implement a cash transfer project in the Central River Region, which seeks to stabilize food consumption of vulnerable households in the most at-risk communities during the peak of the lean season. Through cash vouchers, these funds enable families in the districts of Niamina Dankunku and Niamina West to meet their daily food and nutrition needs. A total of 1,205 households, mainly poor, elderly and female headed, have each received GMD 3,350 during the first of three rounds of cash distribution. This amount is enough to cover the monthly nutritional requirement of a family of eight people. Along with the cash, beneficiaries also receive nutrition education through the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA). The cash transfer project is being implemented by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA).

The Central River Region is particularly vulnerable when it comes to food insecurity indicators: over 20% of the households in this region suffer moderate to severe food insecurity as compared to a national average of 18%. This is one of the main reasons why the cash transfer project has been implemented in this particularly exposed region.

From 22nd to 26th of September an ECHO team led by Sophie Battas was visiting the Central River Region and the cash transfer project. The purpose of the visit was to oversee the food security and nutrition activities supported by ECHO in The Gambia and to gain a better understanding of the opportunities and constraints faced by partners in implementing the programme.

The European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department (ECHO) donated 400,000 euros to food insecure households in The Gambia through the WFP. An ECHO team led by Sophie Battas recently visited the cash transfer project in one of the country’s most vulnerable regions.

About ECHOThe European Commission’s Humanitarian aid and Civil Protection Department (ECHO) aims to save and preserve life, prevent and alleviate human suffering and safeguard the integrity and dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises. Headquartered in Brussels with a global network of field offices, ECHO ensures rapid and effective delivery of EU relief assistance through its two main instruments: humanitarian aid and civil protection.

THE GAMBIA INTENSIFIES ITS FIGHT AGAINST DRUG

TRAFFICKINGOn 23 October 2014 the European Union and the Gambian Minister of Interior Honorable Ousman Sonko inaugurated the Joint Airport Interdiction Task Force (JAITF) at the International Airport in Banjul which aims at improving the Gambian capacity to fight drug trafficking.

On 23 October 2014 the Joint Airport Interdiction Task Force (JAITF) was officially inaugurated by Honourable Minister of Interior Mr Ousman Sonko and the EU Chargée d’Affaires a.i. Ms Agnès Guillaud. The ceremony took place at the Banjul International Airport in the presence of AIRCOP Programme Manager Ms Elena Abbati as well as representatives of all security agencies involved in the programme and two trainers for the Guardia di Finanza from Italy. The establishment of the JAITF is part of the Airport Communication Project (AIRCOP), which aims to build drug-interdiction capacity at 24 selected international airports in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. The JAITF will connect the participating airports to international law enforcement databases and communication systems allowing real-time transmission of operational information aimed at intercepting illicit shipments such as drug trafficking to other international airports. The JAITF will shortly be connected to INTERPOL’s I-24/7 Global Police Communications System.

Inauguration ceremony at Banjul Int. Airport Speech by EU Chargée d’Affaires a.i. Agnès Guillaud

In her speech at the inauguration ceremony EU Chargée d’Affaires a.i. Agnès Guillaud underlined that transnational organized crime is one of the major threats to human security, affecting the social, economic, political and cultural developments of many societies. Ms Guillaud also made it clear that The European Union is fully committed to support the fight against organized

“I am convinced that this initiative will be valuable to The Gambia and will help the Gambian authorities in the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking. The Gambian authorities have shown a strong commitment to this work, which is essential in order for the programme to be successfully implemented.”EU Chargée d’Affaires a.i. Ms Agnès Guillaud

The JAITF project in The Gambia is funded by the European Union’s Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace under the so-called Cocaine Route Programme. The project is being implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in partnership with the World Customs Organization (WOC) and INTERPOL.

The task force operating in The Gambia is composed of officials from the National Drug Enforcement Agency, the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority, the Gambia Police Force, the Gambia Revenue Authority, the National Intelligence Agency, the National Immigration Department, and the Gambia Armed Forces.

crime and drug trafficking. “In order to fight it, we have to fight back together at a national, regional and global level”, she said.