The Gambia

Development Objectives

The development objective of the project is to ensure sustainable populations of targeted endemic ruminant livestock breeds in four West African countries in order to improve rural economies and ensure the conservation of these breed and their unique genetic traits.
The project also aims to establish effective models for community based management of endemic ruminant livestock and their habitat at project pilot sites, and strengthen production, market, and policy environments in support of these breeds.

Activities

• Constitute NPSC
  
• Inception workshop
  
• Identification, classification and inventory of the genetic structure of each breed.
  
• ; Improve livestock production and productivity through the training of livestock producers to apply improved management techniques.
  
• Implement measures to manage and control cross-breeding between endemic ruminant livestock and related ruminant species (e.g. training and awareness building among farmers and decision-makers)
  
• Establishment of systems for dissemination of information on management practices and genetic systems to farmers, extension workers and others.
  
• Identify and introduce appropriate Incentive systems for farmer participation in endemic livestock raising
  
• Identify market opportunities for endemic livestock and livestock products locally, regionally, and globally, including development of new markets for livestock products
  
• Support infrastructure establishment (market outlets, transportation, slaughterhouses, and milk processing units) at national and sub-regional level
  
• Strengthen capacity of local inhabitants to develop strategies to conserve and manage livestock habitat
  
• Recognition and implementation of locally adapted and supported norms and regulations for the sustainable management of habitat and resources important for livestock production and ecosystem services
  
• Establishment of a sub-regional system for cooperation, information exchange, and coordination support for the conservation of endemic livestock
  

Intended Results

By the end of its ten year period, the project will have produced the following results: (a) models for community-based land use planning and sustainable natural resource management to ensure the conservation of ecosystems for endemic ruminant livestock; (b) an increase in the relative share of endemic livestock breeds in herds of selected project pilot sites; (c) enhanced productivity of purebred species through selective breeding and production improvements, with a view to strengthening food security, increasing endemic livestock producers' incomes, and enhancing incentives for in-situ conservation; (d) incentive schemes to foster optimal valorization of endemic livestock established, such as building up prestige for owners (e.g., through certification, fairs, and competitions) and better marketing and distribution of dairy products and crafts; (e) increased off take and exports of endemic purebreds to neighboring countries; (f) a system of regional cooperation and exchanges relevant to endemic ruminant livestock; (g) harmonized sub-regional policies and legal frameworks for livestock management, including transhumance (herd movements); and (h) endemic livestock classified and inventoried using genetic markers (supplemented by indigenous systems of classification). Strengthening of the capacities of all relevant actors to promote in-situ conservation of livestock and their habitat will be integrated across all of the project activities.

Corporate Thematic Area :Environment/Biodiversity

Project Status : Operational

Location: Eastern Gambia

Period of the Project : 2008-2013 (6 Years) Initially

UNDP Program Officer: Almamy Camara, Programme Analyst

National Implementing Partner: Department of State for Agriculture

Project Director: Permanent Secretary Department of Agriculture

Major Sources of Financing: GEF resources US$10,000,000, ADB US$30,150,000 Total: US$46,586,000

Delivery: US$0 (2007) Others US$ 6,436,000