The Gambia is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa, with most residents concentrated around urban centres and at risk of increasing extreme heat. The country is also vulnerable to floods, droughts and desertification brought about by changes in rainfall, and rising sea levels, all of which effect major economic sectors such as agriculture and tourism. However, the country is making considerable progress in addressing these issues through comprehensive risk management approaches.
Since joining REAP in 2023, The Gambia’s National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has been working with the Target 1 Working Group (on Comprehensive Risk Management) to share good practices and identify opportunities for crowding in international support for the country's existing efforts. The Gambia has already built a good foundation: in addition to the NDMA, the National Climate Change Policy (2016) established a Climate Change Secretariat which has the mandate for, among other things, “establishing procedures to integrate and mainstream climate change in all relevant national policies and programmes...and procedures for including climate considerations in government and administrative processes, procedures and systems”.
The political support for comprehensive risk management in The Gambia has resulted in mainstreaming disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) as critical components of the National Development Plan for 2023-2027. The plan underscores building community resilience to shocks and crises, promoting environmental sustainability, and enhancing climate resilience. The plan includes strategies to mitigate the effects of disasters and improve the living conditions of affected populations. Adequately resourced, the National Development Plan has the potential to build a climate-resilient society.
However, the gap between political will and the realities of implementation is widening, as resources do not increase to match growing needs. As a result, despite the progress, The Gambia faces several challenges in fully implementing comprehensive risk management approaches:
- Capacity and resources: There is significant need for technical expertise, financial resources, and institutional capacity to support the ongoing integration of DRR and CCA efforts and to institutionalise comprehensive risk management.
- Inadequate risk mapping and understanding: Effective planning requires detailed and comprehensive risk mapping, which is currently inadequate.
- Stakeholder engagement: Limited capacity and resources among stakeholders hinder active participation across relevant Ministries and agencies in comprehensive risk management activities.
The Gambia’s efforts to date demonstrate a strong commitment to implementing comprehensive risk management approaches to make people safer from disasters, in line with REAP's Target 1. By integrating disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation into national policies and development plans, The Gambia is taking significant steps towards building a resilient and sustainable future. However, continued support from international actors, both technical and financial, will be crucial to overcoming the challenges and ensuring effective implementation at scale.
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For more information on The Gambia's approach to comprehensive risk management, please contact Lamin Saidy, Gambia NDMA, laminsaidylamin@gmail.com