The event was held to ensure the entire education sector plans (strategic, medium-term, and policies) are successfully implemented, within the framework of the Paris Declaration and the Accra Agenda for Action commitments on aid effectiveness, especially concerning national ownership, harmonisation, use of country systems (financial and procurement), and aid alignment with national and international development agenda and priorities.
The theme for this year's Joint Donor Review is
"Accessible, Equitable, Transforming Education, Striving for Excellences & Unleashing Potentials".
The one-day convergence was graced by the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Claudiana A. Cole, who said the project came at a time the education sector needed it most, particularly the additional financing when the world over was struck with many economic difficulties; a period when the world was going through turbulence, much aggravated by Covid-19.
Highlighting difficult moments during the implementation process of the project, Minister Cole thanked the World Bank and all local and international partners for their “unwavering support” and together, she said they swallowed all the pills just to ensure they reached “where they are today”.
Outgoing Task Team Leader, World Bank and Global Partnership for Education, Allison, expressed gratitude for serving The Gambia, pointing out that the joint donor review was an opportunity to take stock of the progress so far made.
“It will also give them the chance to continue collaborating and work together,” she said, adding: “There is a lot of tremendous development that works in the education sectors in The Gambia such as the building and furnishing of schools and a lot of teachers being available.”
Professor Pierre Gomez, the Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, in his remarks on the occasion, emphasised the importance of educational transformations, especially the higher institutions “which are going to be more flexible”.
Specifically, he added, the Management Development Institute (MDI) “which is known for training civil servants has been doing a great job but “every civil servant should go through induction training at any level”.
Speakers at the event included the Deputy lead in-country partner, UNICEF, and Deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs.
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