Introduction - UNDP The Gambia

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the country’s development goals such as the
MDGs. However, currently although they
lack the institutional capacity to deliver
effectively, they can be strengthened to work
effectively if empowered.
Within the framework of the decentralisation
process, these structures can guarantee the
capacity necessary at the community level to
effect sustainable development. Also, the
dwindling financial support from the
international community calls for concerted
efforts to reactivate or revisit these structures
to tap from the energies of such existing
social structures.
In the context of The Gambia’s development
policy framework, the VDCs are created
within the context of the enabling
environment for the role of traditional
structures and actors. Thus the realisation of
Vision 2020 is being fulfilled through this
mechanism in the community.
increasing trends in poverty, the country’s
poverty reduction strategy should emphasise
the important role that traditional structures
can play in reversing this situation.
To reduce the population that is food poor, it
is important to create an enabling
environment to allow the citizenry to engage
in taking responsibility. Lack of resources to
achieve this is a challenge, even though there
is an explicit policy commitment to fighting
poverty.
In agriculture, for example, on which the
rural communities at the moment greatly
depend, the burning issues related to
ownership of land have to be addressed if
food poverty is to be alleviated. Similarly,
low agricultural productivity due to
subsistence agriculture, lack of improved
agricultural inputs and the premature
marketing of produce to earn a reasonable
income are issues have to be addressed.
However, it is important to note that some of
these structures are politicised. Some VDCs
exist as formalised links with government
and development agents with little impact on
the community, while the individual kafoo
work as alternatives to the VDCs.
5.2 Traditional Structures and the
Implementation of the National
Development Strategies within the
Context of the MDGs
The Gambia’s national development is
embedded in Vision 2020, which also
resonates with the current programmes within
the framework of the MDGs. Currently, the
MDGs and the PRSP are yearning for
community participation in fulfilling the
objectives of these programmes.
5.2.1 Reduction of Poverty:
Challenges
The biggest challenge facing The Gambia is
that poverty is on the increase and household
food security is becoming more and more
uncertain, given the high inequality of income
and the feminisation of poverty. To avert the
The current policy environment seems to be
directed at creating an enabling environment
to facilitate the privatisation of land
resources. This process is targeted at the
private individual entrepreneur. The land is
removed from the traditional landowners who
need the resources to produce food or use
them as collateral for their other socioeconomic
activities. Current conflicts over
land resources are a result of Government’s
insensitivity to the circumstances of the poor
communities who could have been
empowered to make effective use of the land.
5.2.2 Achievement of Universal
Primary Education and Gender
Equality Challenges
While the policy context has been enabling in
this area there are still some challenges faced
in this sector. The enrolment ratio in the
country has increased but there is still a
gender gap and significant geographical
disparities. At the same time the resources
necessary to address them are not readily
available to the communities.
While expenditure in education is increasing,
socio-cultural beliefs and practices still affect
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Building Capacity for the Attainment of the Millennium Development Goals in The Gambia National Human Development Report 2005
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