By Ndey Sowe
The Nafa Cash Transfer program, a key component of The Gambia’s Resilience, Inclusion, Skills, and Equality (RISE) project, has rolled out the Positive Playful Parenting (PPP) initiative to 17 additional districts.
The program, combining direct financial assistance with Social and Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC), aims to empower vulnerable households and improve developmental outcomes for children.
PPP, a parenting approach that emphasizes love, support, and play to aid children’s learning and growth, was piloted in Njanija under the Social Safety Net Project (SSNP). This rollout marks its first expansion under the Nafa program, implemented by the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA), the Department of Community Development, and the Directorate of Social Welfare.
At a payment point in Nawdeh, Sandu District, on January 18, 2025, Fatou Gibba, Director of the Department of Community Development, emphasized the program’s impact:
“The PPP was piloted in Njanija, and for the first time, it is being extended to other districts through the Gambia RISE project. Our department plays a key role in community mobilization and SBCC implementation, focusing on behavioral change models at each pay point.”
Gibba assessed the program as transformative, noting the joy it brings to poor and vulnerable communities. She added:
“Each beneficiary receives 3,000 dalasis every two months. We are thrilled to see the smiles this initiative brings to the faces of our people.”
Modou A. Sowe, Environment Safeguard Specialist at the Ministry of Finance’s Central Project Coordination Unit (CPCU), highlighted the inclusivity of the RISE project:
“The project targets the most vulnerable, ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to benefit. It includes components like foundational learning through MoBSE, TVET under MoHERST, the Nafa Cash Transfer, and emergency response mechanisms.”
He elaborated on the Ministry’s oversight role, managing finances, procurement, and safeguards, while technical implementation lies with partner agencies.
Beneficiaries like Sarjo Keita and Gibba Conteh, from Nyankui village in Sandu District, expressed gratitude for the support:
“We can now pay our children’s school fees, buy food for our families, and save for emergencies. The program is a lifeline for us,” they said.
The current bi-monthly cash transfer round, covering WCR, LRR, CRR North and South, and URR, is underway from January 15 to 21. The expansion of the Positive Playful Parenting initiative is expected to enhance the program’s impact, fostering better developmental outcomes for children across The Gambia.
NAFA Officials on the ground interacting with the communities.
