The World Bank has approved a $68.00 million financing for The Gambia Inclusive and Resilient Agricultural Value Chain Development (GIRAV Project), with part of the funding coming from the International Development Association Crisis Response Window.
Aifa Fatimata Ndoye Niane, Senior Agriculture Economist and Project Task Team Leader, highlighted the importance of the funding, stating, “This funding boost for GIRAV will address various critical needs: replenishing diverted resources, tackling food crises with climate-smart solutions, enhancing rural infrastructure for resilience, and advancing land administration, particularly for female farmers."
Feyi Boroffice, World Bank Resident Representative, emphasized the project's commitment to inclusivity, saying, “This project will fully support the Gambian Government’s vision and objectives for the agricultural sector. The core of GIRAV is a commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that all stakeholders, including women, youth, and vulnerable communities have equal opportunities to participate and benefit from agricultural value chains."
The additional financing will expand the number of beneficiaries of the project, with 200,000 farmers set to benefit from access to water, innovations, and registered land rights.
GIRAV aims to enhance resilience in the face of climate change and environmental degradation, with a focus on providing improved technologies, innovations, and clean water to farmers. The project also seeks to facilitate the transition from subsistence to commercial-oriented agriculture and promote inclusive and resilient job creation in the private sector.
The International Development Association (IDA), which provided part of the financing for the project, is the World Bank’s fund for the poorest, supporting projects that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve the lives of people in the world’s poorest countries. IDA has been a key player in driving positive change in the lives of millions of people across the globe.