ADB funded project draft report validated

The African Development Bank (ADB) funded projects under the Ministry of Agriculture draft report on the assessment of the implementation of environmental and social management plan (ESMP) for the AFDB funded Agricultural portfolio in the Gambia was recently validated.

The validation that attracted participants from Forestry, Agriculture Department, NEA, and other sectors was organised by the Ministry of Agriculture at the ITC in Kerr Sering.

The ESMP of five AFDB Agricultural funded projects include the Gambia Fisheries Development Project (GFDP), the Participatory Integrated Watershed Management (PIWAMP), Farmer Management Rice Irrigation Project (FMRIP), Sustainable Management of Endemic Ruminant Livestock of West Africa (PROGEBBE), and Livestock and Horticulture Development (LHDP).

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Babucarr Njie, said the gathering was to validate the ESMP of the AFDB Agricultural Funded Projects under his ministry.

He added that the Environment and Social Management Plan is an action taken that stipulates what specific activities needed to be taken to ensure that identified mitigation measures are duly implemented. 

“These ESMP are aimed at integrating environmental and social issues of these projects with their existing programmes, activities and other components to promote an overall development through an effective coordination and implementation of the mitigation measures in the Plan in a timely manner,” he said.

According to the permanent secretary, the ESMP, if properly implemented will go a long way with the strides towards the achievement of the MDG 1 - poverty alleviate and food security.

“I have no doubt whatsoever that at the end, these paper would help to assess, develop and promote effective implementation of ESMP Safeguard for the said AFDB Funded Projects in order to achieve an effective and beneficiaries environment and social result for The Gambia in general,” he said.