By Kebba AF Touray
The National Assembly on Thursday, March 20, 2025, deliberated on the National Research and Innovation Fund Bill, 2024, a legislative proposal aimed at enhancing research and innovation funding in The Gambia.
The bill was initially introduced on June 24, 2024, during the Third Ordinary Session of the Sixth Legislature by the Minister of Higher Education, Pierre Gomez. During the second reading, lawmakers engaged in a debate on its general merits and principles. Following this, the bill was read for the second time and referred to the Assembly Business Committee for committal to the relevant committee in accordance with Standing Order 68. The committee subsequently assigned the bill to the Select Committee on Education, Training, and ICT.
The Gambia currently hosts a modest research and innovation system with weak linkages among key stakeholders, including universities, public research organizations, enterprises, and civil society. Tabling the bill before the plenary, Minister Gomez highlighted that a major challenge identified through stakeholder engagements is the lack of access to funding for research and innovation.
He attributed this challenge to high interest rates, unfavourable credit terms, and strict collateral conditions imposed by financial institutions.
“It is important to encourage and fund research and innovation activities across priority sectors of the economy to enhance the generation of new knowledge, technologies, and innovations that contribute to The Gambia’s socio-economic growth and development,” Gomez stated.
He further emphasized that fostering research and innovation would enhance The Gambia’s competitiveness in the global economy by developing and deploying cutting-edge technologies, products, and services.
“Cognizant of this, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) has proposed the National Research and Innovation Fund Bill, 2024,” Gomez added.
The bill seeks to reverse the current challenges by providing access to financing for research and innovation activities across key actors in the ecosystem. According to Minister Gomez, the bill identifies priority areas for funding research and innovation projects in alignment with the MoHERST Strategic Plan (2021–2025) and the National Development Plan. Additionally, the proposed legislation ensures equal opportunities for all groups, including persons with disabilities, women, girls, and youth.
“Finally, the bill proposes governance and administrative structures for managing and coordinating the fund, ensuring its effective and efficient use to improve the country’s international competitiveness in science, technology, and innovation,” Gomez concluded.
The Select Committee on Education, Training, and ICT has proposed some amendments to the original bill. One key recommendation is that Clause 10 should stand with an amendment, now reading: “Clause 10 (2): Instead of Permanent Secretaries as representatives, the committee recommends that a person at the Director level with relevant knowledge in the area may serve as a representative from the ministries.”
Additionally, in Clause 10 (2) (j), the committee recommends the inclusion of “two representatives from the private sector with knowledge and experience in Research Fund Management,” with at least one of them being female. The committee has also proposed that Clauses 11 to 15 remain unchanged.
The bill is now set for its third reading, scheduled for March 28, 2025. As the first of its kind in The Gambia’s research and innovation ecosystem, the bill aims to introduce a sustainable funding model for scientific research, technological development, innovation, and entrepreneurship projects. Once established, the fund will help address the current low output of research and innovation by providing critical financing options.
