Press
release
The
Gambia Government has signed an agreement with the UNDP on the implementation
of the Programme for Accelerated Community Development (PACD) is part of larger
programme to bridge the gap between rural and urban on basic social
infrastructure, the pilot phase is to the tune of USD 5.71 million for a period
of one year and resources were jointly mobilized by GoTG and UNDP.
The
PACD model provides a vehicle for a multi-sectoral approach to addressing
poverty and inequality at community level. This will help government to respond
to social demands through a partnership with development partners to ensure
accelerated, multi-pronged, participatory, and accountable delivery of services
particularly to far-to-reach populations. This will revitalize and transform
the economy for the wellbeing of all Gambians and particularly address the
persistent and serious disparities between urban and rural areas in terms of
access to basic services including water, energy and road infrastructure as
well as addressing existing inequalities, and disparities and injustices in
access to socio-economic infrastructure.
The model aligns with international
development norms of aiming to keep people out of poverty through a
multi-dimensional approach. It will help unleash further opportunities to
strengthen national capacities, promote south-south cooperation and more
importantly, improve the conditions of the people, particularly women and girls
in poor communities. Gambia has not had a strong record of government cost-sharing
but with the entry of this government, faced with the capacity challenges, this
initiative provides an opportunity to move into this arena.
Furthermore, it will be a critical response to
inclusive development for greater equity and social justice in line with the
aims and aspirations of the National Development Plan and SDGs. This will
ultimately result in achieving true national and inclusive development that
enables all Gambians; wherever they are, to benefit from national resources in
order to improve their living conditions by developing their local potential
and enhancing access to basic social services and combatting COVID-19.Hence,
the PACD management structure will actively participate in the national effort
for quick response to COVID-19 outbreak.
The
aim of this program is to contribute to the significant improvement of the
living conditions of people in the rural areas through improving sustainable
access to basic socio-economic infrastructure and services, and the creation of
a local economy for sustained and improved socio-economic development, social
justice and equality. The programme will have five components as follows:
1. Improving access to portable water
2. Rural Electrification.
3. Rural roads Infrastructure.
4. Food Security (Post-harvest and
processing equipment and exotic livestock breed for milk production)
5. Sustainability of services and assets
The
expected results of the PACD are as follows:
1. Increased access to basic
socio-economic infrastructure and facilities (rural roads, energy and water).
2. Improved agricultural productivity and
livestock through improved access to production and processing equipment, and
improved livestock breeds.
3. Reduced disparities in socio-economic
wellbeing between rural and urban communities
4. Reduced work burden on women and girls.
5. Sustainability of the Assets beyond the
project implementation
Prepared
by:
Department
for Strategic Policy and Delivery
Office
of The President
State
House, Banjul.
8th
April 2020
