#Headlines

Outgoing WB specialist bids farewell to VP HE Dr Isatou Touray, PS Ceesay and the World Bank Officials

Feb 22, 2022, 12:29 PM | Article By: Sarjo M. Camara

Her Excellency (H.E.), the Vice President, Dr. Isatou Touray, on Monday, 21 February 2022 received the outgoing World Bank (WB), Senior Social Protection specialist and Task Team Leader, Ms. Penny Williams and her successor Christabel Dadzie, at her office at the State House.

They were accompanied by other specialists namely, Feyi Boroffice and Rebekka Grun.

H.E. Dr. Isatou Touray thanked the WB team for putting the Gambian agenda on their priority and supporting the creation and optimal capacity building of the National Social Protection Secretariat (NSPS). She also appreciates the efforts of WB in helping alleviating poverty across the various districts of The Gambia and urged it to keep supporting the country’s poor through the NAFA Programme being implemented by National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) and partners.

The outgoing Country TTL of WB, Penny Williams also thanked The Gambia government for promoting the rights of vulnerable people and the extremely poor and hopes to include 17 more districts in NPSP’s programme this year.

The US $31 million Safety Net programme is supported by the World Bank with a Gambia government counterpart contribution of US $1million.

At least 83,000 households in 30 districts have benefited from the “Nafa Quick” Covid-19 relief support. This “NAFA QUICK CASH TRANSFER” Project is aimed at building households resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic for vulnerable population.

Now the NAFA programme has been piloted in three districts, it will be expanded to further 17 making it 20.

The director of SBCC Department at NaNA, Abdul Aziz Ceesay, said the 20 districts will include Foni Bintang, Foni Bondali, Foni Kansalla, Foni Jarrol, Foni Brefet in West Coast Region (WCR); Nianija, Upper Saloum, Lower Saloum, Lower Fulladou West in Central River Region (CRR); Sandu, Kantora, Wuli West, Wuli East in Upper River Region (URR);Kiang Central, Kiang East, Kiang West in Lower River Region (LRR) and Sabackh Sanjal in North Bank Region (NBR).