By: Kebba AF Touray
The European Union has provided D73 million (1,353,120 EUR) to fund a long term technical assistance team, to work in support of the National Environment Agency and Department of Water Resources in mitigating the consequences of climate change and helping The Gambia to adapt to it.
The 36 months contract will provide capacity building and support to a range of ongoing climate mitigation and adaptation activities, as part of the European Union’s D286 million (5.3 MEUR) Global Climate Change Alliance GCCA+ Climate Resilient Coastal and Marine Zone project.
The Union indicates that climate change is a contributing factor towards decline in agriculture and rural livelihoods in the Gambia, due to the fragile nature of the coast and marine environment zone.
The fragile nature of the coast and marine zone has made the zone to become vulnerable to the effects of climate change and increase the fragility of the most disadvantaged populations which over-exposes them to the consequences of the COVID19 pandemic.
The EU says this has made it prudent that the county’s coast and marine environment are capacitated to transform it into a more formidable zone.
According to EU in a press statement “While in developed countries the COVID-19 health crisis precedes the economic crisis, for many developing countries, such as The Gambia, the order is reversed.
EU added “Some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa already face a massive flight of capital, a fall in income from tourism and agriculture, and a fall in remittances due to COVID-19. We have to address this robustly, and this is exactly what we do”.
EU Ambassador to the Gambia, Attila Lajos said “There will be an after-Covid-19 in The Gambia as anywhere else in the world, and we need to get ready for it. Right now! The beautiful green nature of The Gambia is one of its main assets. It is in The Gambia’s interest that it not be spoiled, and that it be preserved from climate change.
He concludesd “TeamEurope wants to work hand in hands with The Gambia on this. There is only one future, and that is a sustainable and green future. Let’s go for a Green Gambia”.
