The Gambia

Crises Prevention & Recovery

Crisis Prevention and Recovery is one of UNDP's core practice areas. Consistent with UNDP's mission to promote sustainable human development, the focus is on the development dimension of crisis situations. UNDP works to prevent armed conflicts, reduce the risk of disasters, and promote early recovery after crises have occurred. For the 2007- 2011 Country Programme, support will be provided to establish a national early warning and disaster preparedness system

Prevention & Risk Reduction

UNDP works to prevent and reduce the risk of two types of crises: natural disasters and armed conflict. While the dynamics of disaster and conflict situations differ, there are approaches which are common to both. UNDP seeks to build national and local capacity through the development of tools and training of personnel.

Latest News:

Crop Failure in The Gambia

The Minister of Agriculture on behalf of The Gambia of The Gambia on Tuesday 6th March 2012 has declared 2011-2012 farming season a failure resulting from severe crop failures and a corresponding soaring of food prices. The declaration continues to state: On behalf of the People of The Gambia and the National Council on Disaster and Food Security, the plight of Gambian farm families who depend entirely on rain-fed farming for their livelihood is brought to the attention of all development partners. The post harvest assessment of the 2011 farming season, which was characterized by below normal and poorly distributed rainfall, indicated a reduction in total crop production of more than 70%. Very poor harvests, varying from nothing harvested in some of the villages and regions to unsatisfactory harvests of rice, groundnuts, millet, maize and sorghum in others, could barely guarantee self-provisioning of 2 months. In an average year, self-provisioning is put at 4-6 months.

This poor harvest is also exacerbated by the soaring world food prices which turn have resulted in rapid depletion of household incomes particularly of the poor households hence their access to food. In response to this emergency crisis, the government of The Gambia is mobilizing all available emergency funds for immediate action to assist the most affected. The government could not match the needs to tackle the current food crisis and prepare farmers for the 2012 growing season and hereby calls on the international community and NGOs to assist in addressing current needs and preventing further deterioration of the situation. A post harvest assessment report has been prepared identifying food, seed and farm inputs deficit for the upcoming 2012 cropping season totaling to about 23-30 million US dollars.

Resident Coordinator of the UN System in The Gambia is engaging the donor community to mobilize support to the Government’s call and UNDP is taking an active role in this process.