Launching of the EU Funded NGO component of the “Agriculture for Economic Growth and Food Security/Nutrition to mitigate Migration” Programme

Launching of the EU Funded NGO component of the “Agriculture for Economic Growth and Food Security/Nutrition to mitigate Migration” Programme

On June 12th 2019 at the Youth Monument in Westfield took part the official launch of the NGOs component of the action entitled “Agriculture for economic growth and food security/nutrition to mitigate migration programme”. This action is part of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Phase I which allocated 20.5 Million Euro to the Gambia. This programme has three components and its distributed between FAO, WFP and NGOs, Component 1: FAO “Agriculture for Economic Growth”, Component 2: WFP Schools meals and disaster Risk Management”, and Component 3: “Support to the 11th EDF agriculture for economic growth and food security /nutrition to mitigate migration programme”.

The overall aim of the Programme is to create growth and employment opportunities, in particular for women and youth, through improved agricultural productivity as well as access to food, whilst at the same time increasing the participation of most vulnerable smallholders in value chains therefore mitigating migration flow to Europe.

Component 3 is implemented by four NGOs, namely European Research Institute, ActionAid International The Gambia (AAITG), Action Against Hunger Gambia and SOS Children’s Village. During the official launching the on behalf of the EU Ambassador and head of the EU Delegation in The Gambia, Mr. Darrell Sexstone, Programme Manager said that “at the beginning of the 2017 the EU took the decision to allocate 20.5 MEUR from the 11th European Development Find to the programme to take into account the potential the agriculture sector offers for inclusive growth, improved food security and poverty reduction and recognizes there are area of potential improvement in the agricultural sector such as improved extension, better pest control availability of improved seeds as well as improved performance of agriculture value chains”.

In conclusion, Mr. Sexstone informed the gathering that these four contracts were awarded after a competitive call for proposals and represent the most innovative and creative of the many project proposals that were submitted to the EU and that “the professionalism of these organizations will ensure prompt follow up of activities as well as coordination at local and national level.”