Governor Bah made these remark in an exclusive interview with The Point at the official launch of the Promoting Resilience and Optimised Tools for Emergency and Community Transformation (PROTECT) project, held on 25 June 2026 at the Governor’s Office in Mansakonko, Lower River Region.
The project was inaugurated with the disbursement of over USD 300,000—equivalent to approximately GMD 22 million—through multipurpose cash transfers to 1,450 vulnerable households affected by disasters in 2024. Each beneficiary received D14,526 via APS service. The PROTECT package also includes the drilling of six boreholes in six identified communities across the region.
Launched by NDMA in partnership with CRS, the nine‑month humanitarian and resilience‑building initiative aims to enhance the capacity of vulnerable communities in The Gambia to anticipate, withstand, respond to, and recover from floods and windstorms. The project aligns strategically with government priorities on disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, and sustainable development, while building on the National Disaster Risk Management Plan (NDRMP), supported through the CRS Empower programme.
It also draws on lessons from the 2024 ECOWAS sustainable development flood response, which delivered lifesaving assistance to more than 3,000 flood‑affected households nationwide. By combining humanitarian support with resilience‑building, the PROTECT project seeks to strengthen communities against seasonal hazards while advancing long‑term development goals.
Speaking to The Point, Governor Bah described his region as “the land of hope” and praised CRS for its intervention in disaster management in partnership with NDMA. He noted that the collaboration would significantly reduce disaster challenges in the country, particularly in the Lower River Region. He further emphasised that the Barrow administration continues to create an enabling environment for institutions and stakeholders to thrive, as demonstrated through ongoing development initiatives nationwide.
Meanwhile, Governor Bah described NDMA as a vital government sector in disaster management, underlining the importance of its collaboration with CRS. “CRS is definitely alleviating poverty by supporting these disaster victims, injecting millions to help them, which is truly amazing,” he remarked.
Dr Amulai Touray, CRS Country Representative, also highlighted that the project is designed to address both immediate humanitarian needs and the underlying drivers of vulnerability. He explained that CRS aims to strengthen the resilience of flood‑ and windstorm‑affected communities by improving household stability, enhancing preparedness, and increasing access to safe water. Dr Touray reaffirmed CRS’s commitment to supporting The Gambia’s development aspirations and serving the most vulnerable with dignity and compassion.
