The Gambia Country Strategic Plan (2019-2024)

CSP approved by EB.2/2018

Revision 01 approved by the CD in July 2019.

Revision 02 approved by the RD in July 2020.

Revision 03 approved by the EB in November 2021.

Revision 04 approved by the RD in December 2022.

The Gambia has made remarkable progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, notably with respect to primary education. Poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition, however, remain unchanged or have worsened in the last decade. Agriculture is a major contributor to gross domestic product but the sector barely meets local demand and is constrained by weak investment and limited access to capital. The new Government is committed to addressing chronic social and development issues despite high levels of national debt.

The National Development Plan (2017–2021) combines with sector-specific strategic plans and prioritizes investment in drivers of gross domestic product such as agriculture, tourism, infrastructure and the empowerment of young people. WFP will support the Government in reaching the plan’s goals through investments in sectors relevant to Sustainable Development Goal 2. A critical new focus area will be support for development of a social protection system focused on mainstreaming the national school meals programme as a national safety net.

To guarantee continuity in the face of government financial and capacity constraints, this country strategic plan combines direct implementation and capacity support in the enhancement of the national transition process. WFP and its United Nations partners will continue to harmonize their work under the country’s United Nations development assistance framework for 2017–2021.

A 2018 zero hunger strategic review calls for the harmonization of policies, improved coordination and investment in agriculture and enhanced social protection mechanisms. This country strategic plan positions WFP as an enabler for the Government through direct operational support, knowledge transfer and technical assistance that contribute to WFP's Strategic Results 1, 2, 3 and 5 in line with the National Development Plan (2017–2021), the National Social Protection Policy and the United Nations development assistance framework for 2017–2021.

• Strategic outcome 1 will focus on contingency plans for response to shocks.
• Strategic outcomes 2, 3 and 4 will complement the work of the Government in building the resilience of vulnerable populations through nutrition-sensitive and gender-responsive social safety nets for children in primary and early childhood education, pregnant and lactating women and girls, children under 5 and smallholder farmers.
• Strategic outcome 5 involves capacity strengthening to facilitate the alignment of national policies through an integrated approach to food and nutrition security that includes the school meals programme, nutrition interventions, social protection, disaster risk reduction and early-warning systems.