The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security, through the GIRAV Project, has convened a three-day training on environmental and social safeguards management, monitoring and reporting at construction sites.
Held from 6 to 8 October at Bakadaji Hotel, the training brought together contractors and supervising consultants engaged by the project. The initiative aims to strengthen their capacity to effectively monitor, document and report on environmental, social, occupational health and safety performance in line with GIRAV Project requirements.
Speaking on behalf of the Coordinator of the Central Projects Coordinating Unit, Mr Fafanding Katiri Kinteh, Social Development Specialist of the GIRAV Project, highlighted the importance of the training. He noted that the World Bank, which funds the project, places significant emphasis on environmental and social safeguards.
Mr Kinteh urged participants to actively engage in the sessions and collaborate to enhance compliance with the project's safeguard requirements.
Mr Lamin Samateh, Programme Manager at the National Environment Agency, emphasised that project implementation is closely linked to environmental sustainability and the livelihoods of communities. He explained that Gambian law requires projects to undergo environmental and social safeguards screening, making the training both timely and necessary.
Delivering the opening remarks, Mr Lamin Darboe, Social Development Specialist at the World Bank, underscored the critical role contractors play in achieving the GIRAV Project's development objectives.
He encouraged participants to take ownership of the project's commitments and performance indicators, stressing that the World Bank closely monitors contractors' compliance with environmental and social safeguards standards.
The training is expected to strengthen compliance, promote sustainability and ensure that GIRAV Project interventions contribute positively to both the environment and the communities they serve.
