The field trip accorded PSC members the opportunity to engage with project beneficiaries on how the interventions have been transforming lives and communities since its inception.
Funded by the Joint Sustainable Development Goal Fund and jointly implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the World Food Programme, the project seeks to transform local food systems by addressing systemic challenges in governance, market access and sustainability.
In addition, the project intends to leverage home-grown school feeding programme by integrating farmers into the value chain to build more sustainable and resilient food systems.
PSC delegates emphasised that to achieve this, the project is working closely with smallholder farmers by strengthening their capacities in sustainable agricultural practices, food safety and market access.
Stakeholders also revealed that the project is also supporting local authorities through training on the human security approach and advocating for sustainable measures, including the introduction of school feeding budget lines within council budgets.
During the visit, members had the opportunity to interact with beneficiaries who spoke highly of the impact of the trainings and study tours organised under the project.
Beneficiaries highlighted how these interventions have enhanced their knowledge, strengthened their capacities and improved their practices.
A key highlight of the engagement was the commitment from local councillors, who assured the committee that they would take steps toward introducing a budget line for school feeding programmes within council budgets to sustain the initiative.
Speaking on behalf of the councillors of Brikama Area Council, who participated in the training, Tijan Manga, Councillor for Kanilai Ward, shared how the trainings had changed their mindset, particularly at the local level and helped them better understand their responsibilities.
“The trainings have made a difference,” he said and explained that immediately after the training, discussions were initiated within the Council on creating a budget line for the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme in the 2027 council budget.
“We are committed to creating a budget line for the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme next year, even if it means starting with a few schools,” he added.
Seedy K. Touray, Chief Executive Officer and Hon Ismaila Jallow, deputy chairman of Brikama Area Council, both expressed commitment to working with stakeholders to ensure this becomes a reality.
The delegation also met with women who are horticultural producers at Ndemban Women’s Garden. These women are among over 100 rural smallholder farmers, who earlier on received market readiness training from ITC and WFP.
Through the training, they gained knowledge in food safety, sustainable agricultural practices, market access and financial literacy.
Mamanding Colley and Kaddy Jadama, who spoke on behalf of the women, explained that they are now applying the knowledge gained in their farms and adopting more sustainable practices.
In a related development, the PSC team also visited the Regional Education Directorate, Sintet Kabombu Women’s Garden and Jomo Primary School.
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