Local Govt. Minister opens CDDP mid-term review meeting

The Minister of Local Government and Lands, Pierre Tamba on Tuesday opened a two-day Community Driven Development Project Mid-Term Review meeting, at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.

The Community Driven Development Project is a five-year development intervention, aimed at contributing to the reduction of poverty at the rural areas, jointly financed by the International Development Association, the Japanese government and the government of The Gambia.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Minister of Local Government and Lands Hon. Pierre Tamba said the goal of the mid-term review is to re-assess the overall project performance, and to raise all critical issues that would ensure the achievement of the project development objectives.

He added that it also seeks to elaborate an action plan road map for better management of the grant towards the end.

According to the Minister, as partners and actors in the implementation of the project, there is need for stakeholders to reflect back and bring out the real issues that will help in redesigning the project to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness in terms of meeting its development objectives.

Tamba stated that due to the global economic recession experienced in the past years, the government has found it difficult to adequately fulfil its financial commitment to the project, and is fully aware of the challenge it has imposed on the smooth implementation of the project.

He stated that based on the results so far achieved in the key sectors of agriculture, health, education, water, his ministry is optimistic that the project can and will be implemented before the 30th April 2012 closing date.

In this regards, he added, "the government implored on the banks to think ahead for a second phase of the project so that we can reach out to the remaining villages and wards that have not been covered by the current phase."

For his part, Badara Joof, a representative from the World Bank stressed the need for the CDDP to be given to the community and take ownership of the project.

He said that the community should be given the opportunity to discuss their own issues and try to come up with their own development agenda.