FAO Priorities in Gambia

PARTNERING TO ACHIEVE FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION

“End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture”.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation’s (FAO) work on Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG2—Zero Hunger), represents 80% of what FAO does worldwide, and is at the heart of FAO’s efforts since establishing in The Gambia in 1978. Since then, FAO has provided vital technical support to the Gambian Government for the sustainable development of agriculture and natural resources sectors. Over the years, FAO implemented more than 130 projects. The organization is currently supporting the country in policy formulation, most recently the Gambia's Food Fortification Regulation 2020, launched in 2021. FAO also implements programmes and projects for improved food security, nutrition and resilience in agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors. With its vast and unexploited farming land resources, The Gambia has the potential to increase agricultural production, reduce imports of fruits and vegetables, and drastically reduce levels of food insecurity that affects 4.6% of the total population in the analyzed regions of the Gambia according to the October 2021 Cadre Harmonise data.

PRIORITY AREAS

As a specialized agency of the United Nations, FAO is leading international efforts to defeat hunger through its technical capacity, monitoring expertise and rich experience building partnerships and shaping policy. FAO’s current Country Programming Framework is aligned to FAO Strategic Framework 2022 – 2031 which seeks to support the 2030 Agenda through the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable, food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life.

Leaving No One Behind. At the sub-regional level, the strategy for achieving these laudable goals is anchored on four Priority Areas:

1) Promoting inclusive, competitive, sustainable and nutrition-sensitive agri-food systems.

2) Reducing disaster risk, building resilience to shocks and crises to contribute to sustainable peace.

3) Sustainable management of the environment and natural resources.

4) Promote youth employment and women empowerment in food systems.