FAO's Forest and Farm Facility transforms lives in The Gambia
The Forest and Farm Facility (FFF), an initiative under the aegis of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has been instrumental in propelling climate-resilient landscapes and enhancing livelihoods. Operating in collaboration with significant partners such as the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and Agricore, the FFF is geared towards positioning Forest and Farm Producer Organizations (FFPOs) as pivotal agents of change.
Established within the Forestry Division of FAO, the FFF is designed to address the dual imperative of climate resilience and improved livelihoods. The initiative sides with the broader objective of transforming FFPOs, with the focus on inclusivity by incorporating women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples into the fabric of sustainable change.
Inception in The Gambia
The Gambia, selected as one of the six pilot countries in 2013 and subsequently included in FFF Phase II in 2018, stands as an indication of the program's impact. National Farmers Platform (NFPG), National Coordinating Organization of Farmer Associations Gambia (NACOFAG), and The Gambian Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources (MECCNAR), representing FFPOs across five regions, are central to the implementation. FFPO’s membership is 60% female, the members have become the vanguards of sustainable agricultural and sustainable forestry practices.
The goal of FFF in The Gambia is to empower FFPOs to navigate climate challenges effectively, fostering resilient landscapes and improved livelihoods. The initiative contributes to national priorities outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP), particularly in areas such as modernizing agriculture, human capital development, and youth and women empowerment.
Notable Achievements in 2023
Under Outcome 1, FFPOs successfully advocated for The Gambia's first Traditional Medicine Act and heightened awareness of the Cooperative Policy through regional dissemination meetings. Outcome 2 witnessed the establishment of Cooperative Credit Unions, offering internal finance, and the provision of Business Incubation support, resulting in enhanced income and reduced overhead costs. Additionally, Contact and Collaboration Fairs facilitated linkages to markets and business services.
Outcome 3 saw FFPOs actively contributing to climate resilience by adopting early maturing crops and formulating Climate Resilience Plans. These initiatives were further embedded in national climate change agendas, while Outcome 4 emphasized FFPOs' establishment of systems for providing social and cultural services to vulnerable members, aligning their development agenda with national Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) processes.
Anticipated Developments in 2024
As the FFF project progresses into 2024, a pilot testing of Direct Beneficiary Grants to address FFPOs' priority areas is on the horizon. Collaborations with the Department of Cooperative Development aim to fortify the functioning of Cooperative Credit Unions, and to enhance internal finance mechanisms. Anticipated focal points are on active participation in Agriculture Natural Resources (ANR) Working Group meetings, to review and integrate the ANR Policy, and conclude forest tenure arrangements with local communities.
Meanwhile, efforts are underway to facilitate the Business Incubation hub, increasing the number of trained Business Incubators, and organizing Refresher training on Market Analysis and Development (MA&D). Key elements of the anticipated initiatives are collaborative endeavours with line Ministries to provide Social Safety Nets to FFPOs during disasters, mangrove restoration, and small-scale tree growing in degraded landscapes.
The FFF, resourced by a budget allocation of US$120,000 in 2023, continues to be a beacon for sustainable development. The strides made in 2023 and the forthcoming initiatives in 2024 affirm the commitment of FAO and its partners towards ushering in positive transformations in agriculture, forestry, and climate resilience in The Gambia.